3 minute read

The track is a Heavy 8 with the rail out 3m the entire circumference. Weather is overcast with just a slight chance of a shower.

The maiden sprinters get summer racing underway on a track that won't get much chance to improve with possible showers hanging around, and all the key runners are either on debut or resuming. Star Turn three-year-old 2. Derry Grove ($5 on TAB) has taken a while to arrive, but kicks off his career at home. Has won both lead-up trials, and the second horse in the most recent then scored a dominant provincial win on debut. Drawn wide, but has serious tactical speed, and bred to relish the conditions.

Dangers: Rival Your Song home tracker 1. Boomsong ($4.20 favourite) has also been a real eye-catcher at the trials, winning twice here in the last four weeks, while talented 4. Sir Crackle ($6) also resumes off two winning trials and has plenty of natural speed. Include in exotics both 6. Kipsbay ($6) resuming behind a smart trial win, and Written Tycoon filly 9. Miss Glenn ($6) who has also spent plenty of time at the trials, significantly winning one of those comfortably on a heavy rating.

How to play it: Derry Grove to win and trifecta 1,2/1,2,4,6,9/1,2,4,6,9
Odds and Evens: Split

The maidens again over a bit more ground at set weights and it doesn't get any easier. Promising three-year-old 5. Pizarro ($3.10 fav) did it tough from the gate on debut at Hawkesbury but still kept finding to be beaten just over two lengths. Drawn wide again but that shouldn't be too big a disadvantage in the conditions and he has good scope.

Dangers: Big watch on Godolphin three-year-old 6. Retrieval ($5.50) who returns as a gelding with the blinkers coming off and behind two improving trials. Also keep safe Lonhro three-year-old 4. Gulf Of Panama ($6.50) who ploughed through the mud to win the second of two trials and drew the inside. Watch the betting around Star Witness three-year-old 8. Roma Avenue ($11) who debuts off two controlled trials with a 2kg claim and is trained on the track.

My Betting Attack: Pizarro to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Progressive four-year-old 1. Oceanic Flash ($4.60 fav) can make it three on the bounce. Was very strong getting home in a provincial Class 1 and is by one of the great all-time heavy trackers.

Dangers: Honest four-year-old 3. Zudin ($5) is the clear threat deep into the prep. Worked home okay from the back in tougher metro grade and while he shoots up 4kg for this, will appreciate the drop in class and longer trip. Improving three-year-old 10. Tea Leaves ($4.80) was heavily backed third-up before being run down in the last couple of strides by the top selection, and from the inside draw he's right in the race again. Tough front-runner 2. Microna ($7.50) keeps aiming up, although was no match for an impressive winner in the Taree Cup 10 days ago. Will naturally roll forward from a handy gate, but even with a crucial 3kg allowance, debatable whether he can beat these on the heavy ground.

How to play it: Oceanic Flash to win and box exacta 1,3,10
Odds and Evens: Split

Progressive mare 9. Al Sahara ($5.50) is on the rise and can make it two straight stepping up from an impressive Class 1 win at Scone where she swept home from midfield. Not overly well treated at the weights back in city company, but she has a nice turn of foot and is building a very strong wet track record.

Dangers: Unbeaten and tough three-year-old 5. This'llbetheone ($2.25 fav) was well backed into a hot favourite at Hawkesbury before digging in hard under pressure and fighting off all the challengers. Will again roll forward from a wider gate and is bred to handle wet tracks, but shapes like he'll go around under the odds. Honest mare 10. Obvious Step ($7.50) has hit the line in her last two and also bred to relish the conditions but may be looking for a bit further, while both 12. Carolina Fire ($10) fourth-up and at big odds 6. Socrates ($18) are worthy exotic players.

How to play it: Al Sahara each-way
Odds and Evens: Odds

Good quality sprint with several chances. Like the stable approach here with promising provincial four-year-old 7. Viennoiserie ($4.40) who comes straight to town off a smart debut win at Gosford where she swamped them from the back in soft ground. Beat Penopera by three lengths and she scored convincingly at her next start.

Dangers: Another three-year-old progressing nicely, 8. Hollywood Gossip ($2.90 fav) will zip forward and give a big sight on speed. Was only collared late in stronger grade last time and likes it wet. Country mare 2. Lady River ($9) comes to the 'Big Smoke' at the right time third-up after charging home to win a handy Class 3 at Scone. Loves rain-affected ground, just not convinced she'll be at home around a tighter turning track. Keep safe home track mare 1. Russbuss ($6) who can improve sharply third-up dropping in class. Progressive filly 5. Tillotson ($7.50) will face a task getting over from the wide draw under the biggest weight of her brief career, but she's a typical Deep Field and won a handy maiden in heavy going three weeks back.

How to play it: Viennoiserie to win
Odds and Evens: Split

The boys' edition is not quite as open due to lightly raced four-year old 5. Rule Of Law ($2.90 fav) who resumes as a gelding for a new home track stable. Looked terrific bolting in the second of two lead-up trials on soft ground and is ready to erupt nice and fresh.

Dangers: Expect 11. Don Luigi ($11) to hit back fourth-up after being well beaten in tougher Saturday grade at Kembla. It was very hard to come from the second half that day and this is a significant drop in class. Big watch on three-year-old 12. Walkin'Talkin' ($4.60) who resumes off a nice trial win with blinkers removed. Stablemate to top selection 2. Ocean Emperor ($6) has had three runs back in tougher company, although a query on rain-affected ground. Speaking of coming to the city at the right time, tough front-runner 1. Bombdiggity ($9.50) can give them something to catch in suitable ground after churning through a bog track to win first-up on Gundagai Cup day and huge weight offset with a 3kg claim.

How to play it: Rule Of Law to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Another one around the same grade to finish and it stacks up well for emerging Capitalist filly 14. Comrade Rosa ($2.30 fav) who closed off strongly second-up in a deeper metro race when rock-solid in the market. Well in at the weights carrying half kilo more and is already a soft track trial winner, so should be advantaged getting to the outside in these conditions.

Dangers: Godolphin filly 12. Honeycreeper ($5.50) returns for her first run since mid-winter behind two progressive trials and has a smart fresh record. Improving filly 15. My Snow Queen ($8.50) can hit a peak third-up after two solid provincial runs back. Include in wider exotics 10. Mihocek ($17) second-up and improving four-year-old 19. Fiordland ($13) with a key gear change if he gets a run.

How to play it: Comrade Rosa to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

BEST BETS
R6 5. - RULE OF LAW ($2.90)
R7 14. - COMRADE ROSA ($2.30)

BEST VALUE
R4 9. - AL SAHARA ($5.50)