3 minute read
Tips and race by race preview by Brad Gray for Tamworth.
Race 1 - 1:10PM TAMWORTH PROPERTY CO / ARMIDALE ROOF TILERS MAIDEN SHOWCASE PLATE (1000 METRES)
4. So Country is going to knock off his maiden sooner rather than later. He was just touched off on debut at $1.60 at Armidale before again running second as favourite at Armidale two weeks later when $2.60. Has trialled sweetly since and is on his home track.
Dangers: 6. Small Town has only had one race start and liked the way the three-year-old worked to the line over 1000m. The barrier is much kinder for him at start number two and he has untold upside.
How to play it: So Country WIN ($1.45 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS
Race 2 - 1:45PM LAING & SIMMONS REAL ESTATE / TONY WILLIAMS MACHINERY MAIDEN SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
8. Pucker Up Palmer has done his best work late in both of his runs to date, over 1000m and 1200m, so the 1400m looks a logical progression now. Aaron Bullock rides from an inside draw and and he'll get a firm enough track to hit the line again.
Dangers: 7. Metal Bar ran second over 1300m at Taree two weeks ago on a Heavy 10. Interesting that the blinkers come off and the winkers go on now fourth up. 2. Den Moss hasn't done much wrong in his two starts to date either.
How to play it: Pucker Up Palmer WIN ($6 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 3 - 2:20PM JOCK MCPHEE AM CLASS 1 & MAIDEN SHOWCASE PLATE (1600 METRES)
6. The Fringe was well beaten at Grafton last start but the winner there Hichaux has struck a real purple patch. The Fringe rolls forward to make his own luck, handles all conditions and finds himself in a very winnable race.
Dangers: 4. La Roca perhaps has more upside than The Fringe and there was merit to his last start third given he jumped from 1175m straight to the mile. Should be at his top now third up.
How to play it: The Fringe WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 4 - 2:55PM ARMIDALE SERVIES CLUB BENCHMARK 66 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
It's been nine weeks since 3. Ballast tailed off in the Coonamble Cup having endured a wide run. Prior to that the evergreen nine-year-old had won three straight, all of those with Jackson Searle in the saddle. There's a fitness query but this looks suitable.
Dangers: The classy 1. Ecker Road finds himself in the weakest race he has contested for some time and could improve sharply at big odds. Draws well and is at the right trip having dropped back from 1600m to 1200m last start.
How to play it: Ballast WIN ($12 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS
Race 5 - 3:35PM MARIA RIVER CATTLE CO CLASS 2 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
Lightly-raced galloper 4. Golden Point has the talent to race his way through the grades and love the booking of senior hoop Grant Buckley. Draws a perfect gate to settle down midfield and has handled all types of tracks in the past. Keen on his chances.
Dangers: 7. Prue's Prophet beat Golden Point two starts ago, albeit where Golden Point was a touch unlucky, before having no luck herself at Grafton. Big market watch on 1. Highlights having his first start run for Cody Morgan.
How to play it: Golden Point WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 6 - 4:10PM DEBORTOLI WINES ARMIDALE NEWMARKET HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
10. Ice In Vancouver hasn't quite lived up to his early promise but everything sets up perfectly for him in this. The 1000m, a dry track and at Tamworth, where he has won so impressively in the past. If he brings his best, he wins.
Dangers: 15. Macleay has raced mainly in town when trained by Gerald Ryan. He is now with Cody Morgan and after two trials, steps out in country class. The 1000m will be on the sharp side for him. 7. Time For Victory is working his way towards another win.
How to play it: Ice In Vancouver WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 7 - 4:45PM TOOHEYS ARMIDALE CUP (1600 METRES)
3. Point Counterpoint tackles this Cup on the back of a determined Highway Handicap win over the mile, where he outpointed Lord Desanimaux, who has run well again since. Stays at 1600m and draws awkwardly, but he's the horse to beat.
Dangers: 2. Beckford has won two of his three starts this time back. The draw dictates that he'll be giving most of this field a head start but he's hard to discount on that alone given how well he has returned.
How to play it: Point Counterpoint WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 8 - 5:20PM ROBERTS & MORROW CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS BENCHMARK 58 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
16. Foxstorm has won one race from his 10 starts but it's not a fair reflection of his talent. It's been seven weeks since we saw him run second to subsequent Highway winner Brave Enough, which is the query. However, another win is very close.
Dangers: 3. Makuba was never in the hunt last start at Mudgee. His runs prior to that would put him somewhere in the mix in this, and at big odds. Handles all track conditions and the 1100m is his pet trip (14:2-5-3).
How to play it: Foxstorm WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
