3 minute read

The rail is out 12m 900m to the winning post and 10m the remainder. The form has been done for a good track.

Race 1 - 11:20AM ATC THANK YOU STABLE STAFF HANDICAP (1300 METRES)

Siding with the lightly-raced 9. Skedaddle as we don't know her ceiling yet but we'll get a much better line on where she sits talent-wise after Saturday. That, of course, doesn't help here but she is potentially a grade or two better than BM72 company. The daughter of I Am Invincible made a big impression on debut showing too much toe for her rivals. She was beaten first up, at an odds on quote, this time back but was posted deep throughout. She bounced back second up straight out to 1300m, rallying under the pressure. She looked in trouble half way down the straight but kept finding and the best part of her race was the final 50m, surging clear to win by a length. Has to improve again but she has the scope to.

Dangers: 6. Super Effort would've got much closer to Fastconi last start with a clear crack. He is flying since being transferred to Ryan and Alexiou. Out to 1300m third up looks a lovely progression. 1. Vreneli pulled up lame last start. Forget that. His first up run prior to that over 1100m suggested that he has returned well. The blinkers go on here, he steps out in trip and looks the likely leader. 4. Seleque has won three of her past six and will make her own luck. 5. Magic Ruler found a couple too sharp staying at 1100m last start.

How to play it: Skedaddle WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Race 2 - 11:55AM TAB HIGHWAY CLASS 3 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

2. Mr Hussill was in the right spot to win first up but he was near a year between runs and he draws to get the same run second up. Trainer Cameron Crockett hasn't hid his admiration for the gelding, suggesting the son of Husson is as good a horse he has ever saddled up at the races. Mr Hussill is three from three since being transferred to Crockett, and hasn't looked under threat in any of them. It's no surprise that Kerrin McEvoy sticks given the further improvement this horse potentially has. That last start win sets him up well to tackle the same track and trip again as there is a little query over the 1200m with a couple of his key rivals.

Dangers: Stablemate 8. Commando Hunt should appreciate the likely good speed here first up. Has had three trials and intriguingly, there was only two days between the latest two. Rattled home in a Randwick 1200m Highway last campaign, just isn't blessed with early speed. 11. Sunrise Baby as won three from her four starts and was reported post-race to have shown signs of lameness at her only defeat. Won in a track gallop at Albury last start and the runner up subsequently bolted in herself. 10. Moetta the best roughie on the back of a forgivable eighth behind Hellenism where she was posted throughout. Maps well this time.

How to play it: Mr Hussill WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS

Race 3 - 12:30PM ATC THANKS FRONTLINE WORKERS HANDICAP (1800 METRES)

2. La Chevalee powered clear to record a strong win in the same grade of race as this last start, over the same track and trip. She rises 4kg from that but gets 2kg off after the claim of Tom Sherry and is back against her own sex. That was on a heavy track and she has a reputation as relishing wet conditions but her record suggests that she is just as capable on top of the ground. Tim Clark gave La Chevalee a perfect ride last start and drawn to advantage again, Sherry, will be out to emulate parking in behind the leaders before giving her plenty of room to work through her gears. She won't want to be cluttered up as she builds into her finish.

Dangers: The last time 10. My Demetra ran over the Randwick 1800m she ran third to Sacramento, rattling home from last. That was on the back of a solid tempo but she is a capable mare that has looked good over middle distance journeys in the past. She's tied to the hip form-wise with the lightly-raced 11. Raccolto, with nothing between the pair last start. 1. Zing was no match for La Chevalee last start but that's the obvious form line for this. Might lack killer instinct but she rarely runs poorly. Pending tactics on 3. So Wicked, 7. Margie Bee could get an easy time up front which gives her the chance to pinch it. 4. Bring The Ransom, 5. Oakfield Missile and 6. Savigne are all place hopes.

How to play it: La Chevalee WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS

Race 4 - 1:05PM THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP (1800 METRES)

5. Mr Gee is back on track, winning back-to-back races. The latest of those a dominant win over subsequent impressive winner Shuffle Up. The rising four-year-old parked in behind the speed before winning eased down. Drawn low here, Tommy Berry should have him in a similar spot. That should see him settle at least a couple of lengths in front of 1. Criminal Code who draws to settle out the back. Mr Gee showed a lot in his first racing campaign before failing to recapture that form in his second campaign. Such was trainer John O'Shea's faith in the young stayer, however, he still pushed on to a Queensland Derby campaign. Expect him to hold his form, and given the set up of this race, that makes him the horse to beat.

Dangers: Criminal Code was suited by a fast early tempo at Randwick last start but he put his rivals away in good style. His first up run was terrific too, while he pulled up lame second up, so forgive him that. He has obviously returned in great order. 8. Bethencourt is rarely far away but Papal Warrior beat him fair and square two back and Criminal Code put five lengths on Papal Warrior last time out. 3. Badoosh should have finished closer to Le Chevalee last start and has raced his way back into form. He is a player despite being well held by Papal Warrior and Bethencourt two back. 4. O'Mudgee was too close to a hot speed last start in that Le Chevalee race.

How to play it: Mr Gee WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Race 5 - 1:40PM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1300 METRES)

6. Zorocat is the high percentage play. The speedster ran her rivals into the ground in a Midway Handicap last start. It was a brilliant show of sustained speed. She was paddling late but it gassed the rest of the field and she won by three lengths. That was on a heavy track but she has shown to be equally comfortable on top of the ground in the past. So she brings winning form, was a winner three weeks ago over this same track and trip and will be in front again. Like the extra week between runs to freshen her up too. She jumps 3kg with her rating going from 66 to 72 but doubt that stops her. Jason Collett links up with the Damien Lane-trained filly for the third time, having won on her at Wyong back in April last year.

Dangers: 4. Foxborough looks the best at odds. Her racing pattern is largely why she has only won four from 29 starts but she has been aggressively placed at times in her career too. The 1300m is as short as she wants, especially on a dry track, but she fits in well here class-wise. 3. Lord Zoulander only managed to run eighth in Zorocat's Midway before backing up to win his won in dominant style seven days later. 2. Catapult was too bad to be true last start through that same form line. Hugh Bowman goes on. 9. Serena and 10. Rock My Wand are capable on their day but are hard to trust.

How to play it: Zorocat WIN ($3 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS

Race 6 - 2:15PM ATC THANK YOU OWNERS HANDICAP (1500 METRES)

2. Canasta has been right around the mark all preparation and there was merit in his last start fourth despite being beaten near five lengths by Steely. The fast speed and the way the day played out with it being hard work for leaders, means there were genuine excuses. That was out to 1800m. That's a little query coming back to 1500m with only two weeks between runs but Josh Parr, who has ridden Canasta six times for three wins and two seconds, will know he is on a very fit horse so he'll make this a genuine test of stamina. Being a front runner those tactics can offset the drop in journey. Canasta also drops back to 78 grade having run in two BM88 grade races. He lumps 61kg because of that but he is well placed to win again.

Dangers: 11. Wairere Falls is another horse that has been knocking on the door all campaign with the key to his chance here the good draw and James McDonald jumping aboard. Surged late at Canterbury last start to run fourth. His seconds behind Great House and Oscar Zulu stack up well for this. 5. Monegal always runs well fresh but needs to hold that form second up now, something that she hasn't really done in the past. Keep an eye on lightly-raced import 3. Dick Whittington. Has only ever raced over 2100m or further but he looked quite sharp winning a Warwick Farm trial over 1200m recently.

How to play it: Canasta WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Race 7 - 2:50PM MOËT & CHANDON HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

6. Le Gai Soleil was never in the race last start in the Winter Stakes. The meeting was abandoned immediately after that race and the winner Bandersnatch took no prisoners from in front with a showing of sustained speed throughout. Be very forgiving. More was expected from her the start prior at Doomben starting $4.40 but that was in a Group Three behind the likes of Nudge and Greysful Glamour. Go back to her second up run and she smashed the line behind Lina's Hero running the fastest closing splits across the meeting. That was on a dry track. Despite her breeding, she might be more effective on top of the ground? At double figure odds, happy to find out.

Dangers: 9. Madam Legend produced a booming finish to win brilliantly first up over 1100m but she's now five weeks between runs jumping straight out to 1400m. It's not an ideal set up. 2. Surf Dancer was well backed at his first Australian start but faded late on the heavy track with 8. Blondeau sweeping past him late. Strips fitter and Blondeau won't be camped right on his back this time given the tricky draw he faces. Blondeau has a short, devastating sprint so the barrier hurts his claims. 7. Vitesse defied the pattern of the day to win well last start. It was a courageous victory from the hard fit front runner. 1. New Arrangement has come back as well as ever but might be best to wait until fourth up as the big weight, wide draw and coming back in trip look against.

How to play it: Le Gai Soleil WIN ($7 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Race 8 - 3:30PM PRECISE AIR HANDICAP (1000 METRES)

8. Miss Dior fits into this race well second up staying at 1000m from a perfect draw. She'll be stalking this genuine speed and get her chance. First up she was no match for the race fit Our Bellagio Miss with the heavy track playing further into the hands of the winner. The other thing to note is this isn't any harder than last start either so although she rises 3kg, she wouldn't need to improve a great deal off that performance. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained mare won three of her four starts the campaign prior to this one, which included beating Shaik at Kembla Grange over this trip. Her record over 1000m reads 5:3-1-0 now. Looks well placed in a very even race.

Dangers: Outside of the obvious, 14. Battleground presents as an intriguing runner. The gelding split Hightail and Splintex in the 2019 Gosford Guineas as a maiden, at just his second race start. Resumes here for Matthew Dale after nearly a year on the sidelines. Has never raced below 1200m so there are plenty of question marks but there is no question regarding his talent. 2. De Grawin has only ever seen a dry track once so don't peg her as a wet tracker. Back to 1000m suits as all four of her wins have come over the short course trip. 1. Van Giz brings that same form line. 3. Nikohli Beagle is a sharp improver back onto a dry track but the gate is awkward. 7. The Neon Knight another good roughie.

How to play it: Miss Dior EACH WAY ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS

Race 9 - 4:10PM FUJITSU GENERAL HANDICAP (1100 METRES)

It's been 41 weeks since we've seen 5. Best Stone at the races but everything has aligned for her to resume a winner. The market will tell us if she is forward enough first up after just one trial but it's only 1100m. Looked sharp in her trial too, which was on a Heavy 10, not her preferred surface. The speedy mare trained by John Thompson is much more dynamic on top of the ground. The other obvious plusses here are that she has drawn a lovely gate to trail what should be a genuine speed while James McDonald does the steering. McDonald has never ridden her in the past so it's a telling booking. It could suggest that she's ready to go fresh. There's no questioning her talent in a race like this.

Dangers: 2. I Am Power was disappointing last start but it was the first time he had raced on a heavy track and he was back to 1000m with four weeks between runs. There's a couple of excuses for that effort behind 6. Our Bellagio Miss. His win over Blondeau prior to that was impressive. Our Bellagio Miss is chasing a hattrick but her good track record (6:0-1-0) comes into question here. 1. Spaceboy was just nabbed last down the Flemington straight with 61kg. This is the easiest race he has contested in Sydney for a while. Is another one that probably prefers it wetter though.

How to play it: Best Stone WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Race 10 - 4:50PM ATC THANK YOU TRAINERS HANDICAP (1300 METRES)

What you see is what you get from 5. Snitzify. He'll put himself into a prominent position from the low draw and give it everything he's got. He won two from six last campaign with a first up second to Dame Kiri reading well enough for this. He also ran a close up fourth to Blondeau at Warwick Farm and second to subsequent Group placed filly Flexible at the midweeks. The Snitzel gelding has trialled up twice for Peter and Paul Snowden, catching the eye in the latest of those working through the line to run third. His two trials were over 1080m and 1050m too so there's a solid base ahead of his resumption. Hugh Bowman takes the ride and should lob in the first couple without having to do any early work. Could prove the difference in a tricky race. Each way.

Dangers: There was more merit to the last start fifth from 1. Kordia than meets the eye but unfortunately the bookies noticed that too. He sprinted home well late in a slowly run race. Maps to give away another start here and will need everything to fall into place but should be at his top now and James McDonald rides. 6. Night Of Power has presumably been kept fresh between runs on purpose as he appears to race best this way. Hasn't won for 11 starts now and has jumped $7.50 or shorter in eight of those so punter patience is wearing thin. 3. Cuban Royale and 7. He's A Hotshot ran one-two in a similar race last Saturday. This isn't much harder.

How to play it: Snitzify EACH WAY ($9 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS