3 minute read
Track likely Soft 5 and rail True for Showcase Cup day meeting.
Race 1 CLASS 3 HCP (1450m):
We start Cup day on a track that will just have the edge off it with a few showers around. Ultra consistent mare 2. Oh Say looks well placed third-up over more ground. Can push forward from a handy gate, and comes through superior races. Won only previous start at this track on a soft rating.
Dangers: Honest mare 7. Innervoice sneaks down in the weights after a fair closing effort at Taree; four-year-old 6. Red Beryl is up in class fourth-up but draws the inside and gets significant weight relief; while tough five-year-old 4. Wine O'Clock was disappointing last start, but carries his lightest weight in a long time.
How to play it: Oh Say to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1450m):
Same trip for the maidens, and progressive Duporth filly 12. Inspiration gets all the ticks in a moderate line-up. Has twice hit the line impressively this prep against better opposition, and draws to get a lovely trail just off the speed.
Dangers: Keep safe lightly raced mare 10. Sanchez who resumes without publicly trialling, but that's a common tactic for the leading local stable. Liked the way four-year-old 2. Barren Jack attacked the line last time, and will relish the longer journey.
How to play it: Inspiration to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
Improving four-year-old 4. Zoom Outcome can immediately pay back punters after things didn't go to plan on debut as a hot favorite in heavy ground. Drawn better here, with a key gear change.
Dangers: Another one continuing to improve, 6. Hauraki Gulf draws the inside gate fourth-up, and will also appreciate a firmer surface. Big watch on provincial filly 10. Noble Flame who resumes off two trials, but has to overcome a tough barrier. Included in exotics at bigger odds 14. Xtra Approval second-up.
How to play it: Zoom Outcome to win and box exacta 4,6,10. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 4 MAIDEN HCP (1250m):
Decent depth in this maiden. Taree three-year-old 7. Seething Seb hasn't raced since autumn, but progressed into a recent second trial. Blinkers have been applied, and a 2kg allowance makes him one of the better treated runners in the race, and the stable is underrated.
Dangers: Keep safe consistent filly 8. Swamp Nation who is ready to strike fourth-up. Yet another one from down the freeway at Taree, improving filly 9. Wokenwithakiss is bursting for this longer trip after attacking the line in two runs back at Port. Watch the market on five-year-old 1. Golden Doubles who finally makes his debut behind two recent solid trials. Included in wider exotics 14. Thunder Knob first-up since May.
How to play it: Seething Seb to win and box exacta 7,8,9. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1250m):
Tough eight-year-old 10. Mosh Vain can rebound here coming back in trip and down in grade, with blinkers back on. Stuck on well in a BM 66 two runs back before dropping out after working from a wide barrier just under two weeks ago. At peak fitness, and gets a much more economical run from this draw.
Dangers: Improving four-year-old 2. Apache Blue has enough tactical speed to overcome an awkward draw, and he can give a big sight upfront also dropping back from a tougher race deep into the prep. Capable four-year-old 6. Nicci Knee Knack draws the inside fourth-up with a senior rider back on; while 9. Capanello hasn't been far away in and around this class all prep, and draws to get a soft run just off the speed.
How to play it: Mosh Vain to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 6 BENCHMARK 74 HCP (1900m):
Fairly open affair, although progressive four-year-old 4. Laphroaig can go back-to-back rising through the grades. Swept home from well back to easily beat a BM 66 field, and the third horse from that race won at Grafton on Wednesday. Has more scope than any of these, despite coming back in distance.
Dangers: Hard fit and dropping significantly in grade, five-year-old 3. Battle Guardian will be hard to hold out from the soft draw after working home in Highway company; while 8. Italian Tune draws to get good cover.
How to play it: Laphroaig to win and quinella 3 and 4. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 KEMPSEY CUP (1450m):
Feature race. Tough provincial mare 1. Think Free hasn't won for a long time and is saddled with 61kg, but her best would win this. Found some form hitting the line late in the stronger Jungle Juice Cup, and sitting back from this draw, he can peak fourth-up. The softer the track the better.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by progressive 4. Top Me Up Again who flew home fourth-up in a good quality sprint at Port, and has trialled since. Provincial five-year-old 5. Camp Rifle gets a significant drop in weight after charging home to narrowly miss in his last two.
How to play it: Think Free to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1000m):
We wrap it up over the sprint trip, and Coffs Harbour flyer 4. Pace Stick can return off a near 10-month break with a bang. Has been given two trials, and has speed to utilise the low gate, and looks well placed at the weights after a 3kg allowance.
Dangers: Handy four-year-old 6. Schiller Bay is the immediate threat from a good draw. Sailed home for an easy CL1 win two starts back before sticking on well in a deeper race 12 days ago. Watch the betting on 3. Tallis second-up off a lengthy break, and has been kept up to the mark at the trials; while 11. Zapluck can run into a place at bigger odds.
How to play it: Pace Stick to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
