3 minute read
The rail is out 3m from the 1100m to the winning post and is true the remainder. The form has been done for a good track.
Race 1 - 11:15AM TAB HIGHWAY CLASS 3 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
9. Commando Hunt has had three runs in Highway Handicaps ain his eight race career with slow starts, wide draws and bad luck denying him winning one. He is yet to run poorly in any of them, however. First up at Randwick he didn't see daylight until the race was over. It was a slowly run race and the field packed up half way down the straight. Sunrise Ruby proved to be an impressive winner but this four-year-old would've been thereabouts had he got a crack. He at least jumped on terms with his rivals last start and if he can do that again on Saturday, the barrier should give Kathy O'Hara the chance to park midfield. With his booming finish, that should see him settle within striking distance.
Dangers: 3. Philipsburgh beat home Commando Hunt last start and he was also first up with improvement to come second up and out to 1400m. His advantage again here is that he is likely to settle a couple of lengths ahead of Commando Hunt in the run. 11. Danzadel comes through that same form race and was posted throughout. 4. If You Think So has a history of improving sharply when she gets out to this trip. Expect her to lead over 1400m and take catching. 6. Whatsin was unlucky at Forbes last start having been held up slightly before missing by a nostril to Kattegat, a proven Highway performer.
How to play it: Commando Hunt WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS
Race 2 - 11:50AM RANVET HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
2. All Time Legend had his chance first up in the July Sprint but found the 1100m a touch too sharp. That form has since been franked in the Missile Stakes with the winner Chat running second to Phobetor at Group Two level under set weights and penalties conditions. This is a much better set up for All Time Legend as he'll get a tag into the race from 1. Big Parade as opposed to being left a sitting shot in front. All Time Legend charged through the grades last preparation with excuses offered for his two defeats. Has plenty of weight in this but on what he did first up, there's still no reason to think that he won't find himself in Group company himself sooner rather than later.
Dangers: Big Parade is fast if not a touch one dimensional. That's no knock on his talent but regular rider Josh Parr needs to get the timing spot on. Go quick enough to get his rivals out of their comfort zone, and ensure he doesn't have anything else eye-balling him, yet at the same time conserving enough to hang on late. He has had six starts for Mark Newnham, winning three of them with the longest SP being $2.80. Twelve months ago 3. Mamaragan charged to line first up in the San Domenico launching a Golden Rose tilt. He hasn't been able to replicate that same finish since. Resumes as a gelding and has trialled well on two occasions. Big watch.
How to play it: All Time Legend WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 3 - 12:25PM DRINKWISE PREMIER'S CUP PRELUDE (2000 METRES)
3. Ziegfeld should get complete control of this race from in front and has James McDonald in the saddle. The French import showed good improvement first up to second up this preparation, running second in the Winter Challenge three weeks ago. Order Again produced a big sprint to run him down. That was having sat outside of True Detective in a truly run race. This will be the firmest track he has raced on in Australia but he has a Listed win to his name at his only overseas run on a Good track. Liked how he came again late first up over 1400m on a heavy track after Bandersnatch dropped him at the 300m mark. Yet to run beyond 2000m but he shapes to relish it. Gets his chance.
Dangers: 2. Laure Me In has been freshened up since his Grafton Cup second with the five weeks between runs negating the drop back to 2000m. Won the Scone Cup over the mile only four starts back. The small field suits here as he'll be close enough to use his big sprint. 4. Pancho has been racing well in Melbourne this campaign without winning, which has somewhat been the story of his latter career. Stablemates 6. Mubariz and 7. Criminal Code aren't true open company horses yet but the duo are both racing as well as ever and respect the placement of Chris Waller here.
How to play it: Ziegfeld WIN ($2.25 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 4 - 1:00PM PRECISE FIRE HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
9. Starman jumps from maiden two-year-old company but the Zoustar colt was impressive on debut for Chris Waller, earning the praise of James McDonald. Drops 5kg and should be able to use the low draw to park midfield. Didn't show much early speed on debut so the barrier could prove significant. Has to improve on what he did a couple of weeks ago as the times and sectionals don't jump off the page but looks to have the scope to and out to 1200m looks in his favour too. The fifth placed Rocklily has franked the form since, powering home to just miss at Wednesday's Newcastle meeting. Monitor market confidence.
Dangers: 1. Rustic Steel has 61kg, a wide draw and is five weeks between runs but he is a four-year-old building a handy record. There has been substance to his wins too. Shouldn't have too much trouble crossing to an on speed position with an agressive ride, looking at the likely map. 5. King Of Sparta proved his own worst enemy last start, refusing to settle. J-Mac goes on for his third up run. His form through Military Expert stacks up. 7. Toomah thrashed his rivals in a Gosford maiden while respect 11. Bacchanalia and 3. Selburose.
How to play it: Starman WIN ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS
Race 5 - 1:35PM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
16. Tocomah had been trialling like a jet and he took that trial form to the races at his second start, putting a space on his rivals in a Gosford maiden. He covered ground throughout but once Grant Buckley pushed the go button the four-year-old exploded clear. Second and third from that race haven't troubled the scorers since but the fifth placed Haven has since won. The Gary Frazer-trained sprinter was expected to do that on debut when an even money favourite but went back from the wide and was no match for Agrum on the heavy track. The four-year-old takes on a capacity field of battle-hardened sprinters so the query is whether this has come a preparation too soon but he does look to be a gelding capable of charging through the grades.
Dangers: 8. Bowery Breeze is winless in eight cracks on good tracks and although there is no denying she's better suited on wet ground, she isn't as hopeless on top of the ground as the form guide suggests. Has trialled sweetly alongside Private Eye since she won at Warwick Farm eight weeks ago. 4. Awesome Lad hasn't run too many poor races in his career. Has won two from three first up and draws to get the right run. 11. Prince Invincible was a slick winner at Wyong last start but he was gifted complete control. Is unlikely to get that here and has to stretch that brilliance to 1200m. 6. Just Field will be running on late.
How to play it: Tocomah WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS
Race 6 - 2:15PM QUAYCLEAN HANDICAP (2000 METRES)
Sounds a bit odd labelling a six-year-old as the horse here with the most scope but that could be the case with 4. Mayfield Spirit. The import made a big impression at his first start for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace at Sale, travelling deep throughout yet still running the winner to 0.4L. That was in BM70 company so this is slightly tougher but despite the size of the field, with due respect, most of these have just about found their level. Out to 2000m looks to suit, strips fitter from his first run in 40 weeks and Tim Clark has been booked. Won six races overseas, from 1600m to 2300m, and off a 74 rating he looks to have some room to move as far as working his way through to better races.
Dangers: 10. Bethencourt has a string of seconds to his name but he sets up well out to 2000m on another good track. Was brave last start as he covered ground. 16. My Demetra kept closing last start. She's a tease but fourth up out to 2000m with 52kg on her back from a good draw is an appealing scenario. She comfortably held 2. Zing at bay last start and meets her 1.5kg better off. 8. Gemmahra absorbed plenty of pressure last Saturday to win a Midway, relishing the longer trip and firmer surface. Draws barrier 1 again and is on her home track. 9. Accountability had been building up to something before two poor runs. The dry track and James McDonald booking could see a turnaround in his form. Wary.
How to play it: Mayfield Spirit WIN ($7 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS
Race 7 - 2:55PM THE AGENCY SPRING PREVIEW (1400 METRES)
Taking the gamble that 6. Cepheus can hit the ground running in his first Australian preparation. The 1400m is as short as the five-year-old wants it but he did win his maiden over that trip back in 2019. Has caught the eye in two trials since joining Matthew Dunn's stable, matching motors with Spirit Ridge in the latest of those. The pace should be quick up front with the likes of 5. Frosty Rocks and 3. Man Of Peace rolling along while the other thing in his favour is the dry track. The son of Sea The Stars is 4:2-1-0 on good tracks but is unplaced on soft ground. He is being aimed at some rich races over much further than this over the spring but suspect he has the quality to make an immediate impression.
Dangers: Control freak Frosty Rocks got it too easy in front first up and he did enough to hold off Bigboyroy and Poetic Charmer. His best certainly gives a race of this depth a shake but this is another step up in grade and he has shown in the past that he is one dimensional. Then there's the usual suspects in this sort of race. 1. Order Again produced a big finish back on top of the ground last start. Coming back 100m is a little knock but finds James McDonald. Liked how 2. Gaulois chased late over 1100m first up but we know his level now. 8. True Detective is better suited back to 1400m but he has had enough chances now. Do we forgive 9. Oscar Zulu for last start? Monitor market confidence.
How to play it: Cepheus EACH WAY ($10 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 8 - 3:35PM DARLEY UP AND COMING STAKES (1300 METRES)
1. Tiger Of Malay has 61kg and is first up. To offset that, however, is the class edge, James McDonald riding, an inside draw and the fact that he has trialled so well ahead of his return. The positives look to far outweigh the negatives when assessing his chances. His benchmark rating is 12 points clear of the next highest. The Richard and Michael Freedman-trained colt mixed it with the best two-year-olds in his seven starts, highlighted by beating a fast finishing Converge in the G2 Sires Produce at Eagle Farm before running third in the G1 JJ Atkins. He also ran second in the Pago Pago at his third start. The Extreme Choice colt cruised to the line in a Randwick trial that had plenty of star power.
Dangers: Silent Impact would've been mighty hard to beat had he accepted here so respect the form of stablemate 9. Concocted given how well he finished off behind Silent Impact last start. His late strength was the best part of his race so 1300m looks ideal, draws well down in the weights and Tim Clark jumps aboard. 7. Coastwatch comes through that same race and boxed on well given the torrid run he had throughout. The run has been found in early markets, however. 2. Subterranean has been no match for Tiger Of Malay in their two previous meetings but gets a 3kg weight swing here.
How to play it: Tiger Of Malay WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS
Race 9 - 4:15PM BOWERMANS COMMERCIAL FURNITURE HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
9. Glorious Dream is a five-year-old but suspect there is still more to come from the Luke Pepper-trained mare. The obvious niggle is the firm deck as all four of her career wins have come on soft or heavy ground but her last start third in town on a Good 3 was excellent. She was forced back from the wide draw and had to loop the field. She goes up in grade slightly but this isn't a deep BM78 and comparing the set up to last start, she profiles better for this carrying just 51.5kg after the claim of Ellen Hennessey and the low draw should see Glorious Dream take up her more customary on speed position. Maps to box seat. It's taking some time for her to mature but having crafted her trade at country level, she is up to this now.
Dangers: 3. Hastobegood was unsuited by the sit-sprint shape of the race she tackled first up over 1200m. That was her first start for Joe Pride and there was a lot to like about how she dashed home. Punters Intelligence reveals that her last 600m of 34.12s was equal to that of the winner Starla, who has since won again, and a length quicker than the next best which was 2. Stellar Pauline, the early favourite for this race. The 1400m is much more suitable. Just wish she drew a gate! She's top pick otherwise. Looking outside of the obvious, 10. Layla Of Monaco could run a race over 1400m fresh with 52kg on her back. Liked her most recent trial.
How to play it: Glorious Dream EACH WAY ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS
Race 10 - 4:55PM ELITE SAND & SOIL HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
10. Pale King has won three of his four starts and has it still all in front of him. After an arrogant debut win in the UK he was picked up by Australian connections. First up here he landed a plunge at Kembla Grange, just doing enough. A spell followed and he did a similar thing at Sandown first up. The Hawkes stable have said that the five-year-old is better than a benchmark level horse. Love the way he cruised to the line in a recent Rosehill barrier trial suggesting he is ready to go right on with it this campaign. Tommy Berry has options from the perfect draw but wouldn't expect to see him too far away in the run. Might have only scraped the surface in terms of what this galloper is capable of.
Dangers: 4. Ashman won a Midway last start with sustained speed. Don't underestimate how strong he was late despite being there to be beaten late. Ashman and Nash Rawiller look a perfect marriage as Ashman steps out to 1400m third up. 3. Blondeau's chances hinge on the ride from Tom Sherry. The barrier does him no favours as he isn't a horse that can sustain a long sprint. It's a sharp devastating dash best used after being cuddled up, as we saw last start. 2. Rule The World was very good first up despite running sixth. It was a slowly run race over 1200m and he lumped 61.5kg. 7. Smart Image pulled up with cardiac arrhythmia last start.
How to play it: Pale King WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS
