3 minute read
Track Heavy 9 and rail out 6m from 1600m to 300m where a cut/away applies.
Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (1175m):
We start with the maidens on a rain-hit track. Like Canberra two-year-old 4. Kelvedon Road who resumes as a gelding off a nice heavy track trial. Debuted behind high class filly Pretty Woman in summer when specked at a price, and bred to relish these conditions.
Dangers: Local colt 1. Scarlet Prince went under narrowly on debut as an easing favourite, and despite a weight rise, can go close with that experience and back at home. Rival home track filly 2. Black Lavender was okay on debut over the border in a deeper race, and can also improve returning home with a significant jockey change.
How to play it: Kelvedon Road to win and box trifecta 1,2,4. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1175m):
Progressive local three-year-old 2. Sunrise Ruby was impressive first-up off a long break surging home from well back to beat a similar field. Given four weeks since then, and being by stand-out wet track sire Casino Prince, she can repeat the dose.
Dangers: Victorian three-year-old 1. Mescaminto got going late in a stronger metro BM 64 at Sandown following a dominant maiden win. Up sharply to 61.5kg, but her form cannot be knocked in this grade with the leading regional jockey aboard. Gap to the rest headed by stablemate five-year-old 3. Volere who is hard fit and sailed home to win a similar race at Echuca; while included in exotics eight-year-old 9. Enconti who rises in grade, but drops in weight.
How to play it: Sunrise Ruby to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
Another one from the local Mitch Beer yard, tough five-year-old 2. Sydney Blue is primed to end a string of placings third-up this prep. Charged home in a weaker race first-up before floundering late when ridden in front last time on a bog track. Suspect they'll settle back off the speed this time, and with a 2kg weight drop and much stronger rider aboard, he's the one to beat.
Dangers: Canberra filly 9. Lady Of Fortune has been working home okay in some deeper races. Well treated only half kilo over the limit third-up, and can run the quinella. Victorian three-year-old 6. Nuclear Energy can improve sharply back in grade and off the synthetic.
How to play it: Sydney Blue to win and quinella 2 and 9. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1175m):
The males edition of this race is far more open, with likely good speed on. This sets up nicely second-up for local four-year old 3. Seventh Seal who charged home late resuming at Wagga. Much more experienced and stronger rider takes over, and he's already a heavy track winner.
Dangers: Expecting a big run fresh from Victorian five-year-old 4. Last Hope who hasn't raced for seven months, but best form is clearly fresh. Another border-hopper six-year-old 2. O'Reg was well beaten in a stronger race at Bendigo, but still well over the odds in this grade, and three runs back produced a gallant CL1 win here weaving late between traffic. Big watch on three-year-old 8. Claptone having his first run for the new Wangaratta stable since switching from the NSW Far North Coast where his form was consistent in similar company. Improving four-year-old 10. Underthespotlight will enjoy the extra ground third-up.
How to play it: Seventh Seal each way and trifecta 2,3,4/2,3,4,8,10/2,3,4,8,10. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 MAIDEN HCP (1400m):
The debut run of home track three-year-old 1. Forsureusay on a heavy track was better than it looked behind a couple of youngsters who will win plenty of races. Had won two previous trials prior, and is better served over a bit further and drawn to get to the middle of the track.
Dangers: Victorian three-year-old 5. If You Say So has worked home okay in his last couple either side of the border, and is also looking for this trip. Big market watch on ex-Kiwi and Shocking filly 4. Kimmy Be Cool who hasn't started since being beaten a long way in the Group 3 SA Classic mid-May. Now based in Victoria, and naturally will be getting home late.
How to play it: Forsureusay to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 6 CLASS 1 HCP (1000m):
Tough sprint with plenty of chances. Emerging Victorian four-year-old 2. Sunshine Moshe has to overcome the outside barrier, but has beaten all bar the winner in his last two here, and relishes wet ground. A month between runs is typical of his prep pattern, and already a proven weight carrier over the sprint trips.
Dangers: Progressive and former NZ filly 5. Autobahn has been freshened up since a dominant maiden win from off the speed at Moruya, and he's a pure wet tracker. Improving filly 3. Redneck Princess has only one win from 14, but placed a further seven times, including twice at this track, and also loves rain-affected ground. Victorian mare 6. Little Miss Grace finished best here in heavy going two runs back before having little luck at Bendigo. Draws to get a nice trail, but taking on some smarter ones.
How to play it: Sunshine Moshe each way. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1500m):
Home track four-year-old 3. Packer's Bond is going great guns this prep, and finds his easiest assignment fourth-up. Ran home late in the Corowa Cup before changing home from a mile back in a handy CL2, and then again did his best work late without much luck in a Highway at Randwick. Naturally back up sharply in weight, but he's reliable in the ground, and has a real class edge on this lot.
Dangers: If there is one it's improving five-year-old 5. Okra who drops back in distance and down in weight after surging home to win a weaker race at Wagga. Keep safe 1. Willybeafactor who drops in grade, and has a 50 percent win record from eight starts on soft ground.
How to play it: Packer's Bond to win. Odds and Evens: Odds a special
