3 minute read
Track Good 4 and rail True.
Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (1000m):
Very tricky opener, but keen at the value on Hampton Court mare 5. Thunder Rose resuming for only her second start off a dominant provincial trial win.
Dangers: Improving four-year-old 2. Lambdona Energy was heavily backed on debut when sticking on okay after leading in a better maiden, but has to overcome an awkward gate. Don't be concerned about 8. Boss Shelby not having publicly trialled ahead of his first run in 14 weeks. Done plenty of work and draws a soft gate; while included in exotics 4. Super Freds at third start with winkers added; and at longer odds Star Witness filly 11. Maslina on debut behind three trials.
How to play it: Thunder Rose each way and first four 2,5,8/2,4,5,8,11/2,4,5,8,11/2,4,5,8,11. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2100m):
Moderate staying contest augurs well for improving provincial mare 5. Buckin' Lucky who can strike from the inside gate. Finished well in a deeper race at Taree 24 days ago after missing the start, and right at her peak now.
Dangers: Capable four-year-old 1. Calaveras narrowly saluted in that same Taree race two starts back before just missing at BM 58 level. If he slots in from the wide draw, will be right in the finish. Improving 2. Oh No Bro will roll forward, and give a big sight coming back in distance off a fighting BM 58 win, although up sharply in weight. Keep safe provincial mare 8. Fluttershy who has been finding the line all prep in deeper races; while the rest are going around for practice.
How to play it: Buckin' Lucky to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1200m):
Local mare 7. Robarge hasn't missed a place in three runs to start her career, only pipped by a head in a deeper contest at Taree two weeks back. Drawn wide, but this is a weak race after a couple of fancies came out.
Dangers: Provincial four-year-old 2. Bonython can peak fourth-up over a little more ground; while 3. Not Fazed will find this easier after a fair first-up run at big odds in deeper provincial company.
How to play it: Robarge to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 MAIDEN HCP (1400m):
Another open and tough maiden. Ex-Victorian four-year-old 5. Pulitzer Prize will need to find a position early enough from a wide barrier, but his form reads well third-up in this region. Has worked home late in better maidens than this, and winkers replace blinkers for his first run on home track.
Dangers: Improving provincial filly 7. Antarctic Pride can peak third-up out in trip. Likely to be ridden a bit quieter here, and this is the easiest race she's stuck ahead of her fifth start. Scratched from Hawkesbury on Thursday to run here. Provincial four-year-old 1. Coolmeans has been held back since a poor second-up run in tougher company. Has early tactical speed but must be a query at the distance. Include 12. Sea Boss third-up and 10. Our Domino Queen with a claim in wider exotics.
How to play it: Pulitzer Prize each way. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 5 CLASS 1 HCP (1400m):
Strong and very open race for this grade. Provincial mare 7. All That Sass has mixed her form across four runs this prep, but her best would be good enough. Gets in well at the weights after the claim, and suspect they'll ride her a little more conservatively back up to this distance.
Dangers: Consistent four-year-old 1. Poseidon Ruler was a heavily backed and impressive maiden winner two starts back before a good closing effort in a similar race. Doubt the drop in trip will be any concern, but carting a big weight from a wide draw leaves him under the odds. Hard to believe talented provincial mare 10. Unearthed still has only won win from eight starts given what she showed early in her career. Her first-up run closing off late was solid, and blinkers have been added for what looms as an ideal next trip. Improving mare 5. Ciccina was a dominant first-up winner before close-up in a handy BM 58, although will need to find cover early from a tough draw.
How to play it: All That Sass each way and box exacta 1,7,10. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 6 TUNCURRY BENCHMARK 58 HCP GOLDEN MILE (1600m):
A stack of chances in this one too headed by progressive Taree four-year-old 8. Glenburn Hotel who has improved many lengths over the last month. Circled from near last for a dominant maiden win two runs back before again charging home in a handy Class 1. Tougher here, but he's still on the rise, and one of the better weighted contenders after the weight claim.
Dangers: Improving five-year-old 1. Oakfield Hiawatha is over the odds dropping in grade fourth-up from a soft draw, and with a much-needed 3kg claim. Frustrating five-year-old 2. We All Agree is longer overdue for a third win, and while this is a step up in depth, winkers come off a from a better draw. No doubting 5. Hubble has way more to offer than his poor three wins from 44 starts suggests. Has been mixing form in tougher races, and will need everything to go his way up to 60kg from a wide draw. Keep safe local five-year-old 10. Powering who won narrowly fourth-up, and suited by the longer trip.
How to play it: Glenburn Hotel each way. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 TUNCURRY-FORSTER GOLD CUP (2100m):
Feature race being a weak edition stacks up nicely for provincial six-year-old 1. Onemore Sapphire despite a sharp rise in weight. Finds his easiest assignment all prep coming off two strong closing efforts in much tougher metro BM 78 grade when drawn wide. Can settle closer from the draw here and be very strong late
Dangers: Capable mare 7. Birdonawinningpost was very ordinary fourth-up after some solid form in deeper Highway grade, but looking for this journey now and blinkers come off. Tough six-year-old 2. Arabolini has been up for a long time, and just starting to show signs of being over the top after two straight dominant wins in winter, although has been racing predominantly in tougher metro grade of late. Include in exotics 4. Joe's Joy from the inside draw; and 6. Ausbred Cooee who won two straight through winter.
How to play it: Onemore Sapphire to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 8 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1200m):
Super keen on lightly raced six-year-old 4. Free Rider who should have won first-up off a seven week break at Muswellbrook when lost his spot and found trouble before hitting the line late. Not surprisingly, a new rider is booked, and draws to get plenty of cover.
Dangers: Honest six-year-old 8. Dr Demon rarely runs a bad one, and gets a handy claim; while 15. Yulong Monoceros is the best of the rest after a last start win in weaker grade.
How to play it: Free Rider to win. Odds and Evens: Evens.
BEST BETS:
R7 1. ONEMORE SAPPHIRE
R8 4. FREE RIDER
BEST VALUE:
R6 8. GLENBURN HOTEL
