3 minute read
Track is rated a Soft 7 with the rail in the True position.
Race 1 (12:15pm) PARKER AND KISSANE 2YO SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1050m)
We start the transferred Showcase meeting with the youngsters on a track that will continue to dry out. Like Jukebox gelding 5. Shaggy Rogers ($4.20 on TAB) who resumes for a leading country stable as a gelding behind a forward trial.
Dangers: Press Statement filly 8. Dolly Jayne ($2.80 favourite) is third-up on preferred ground and Sizzling filly 12. Sizzle Nickel ($4.80) is on debut off a trial win.
How to play it: Shaggy Rogers to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 (12:50pm) WAL'S CONCRETING MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
One of many tough and open contests on the card across a full field of maidens. From a soft draw, improving filly 7. Amazonite ($7.50) gets an ideal trail and is over the odds fifth-up.
Dangers: Capable mare 9. Attestar ($4) is on the seven day back-up after holding her ground into a place at this track. Deep into a second prep, 4. Pontoon Pete ($3.60 fav) is consistent and fit, and should find this a little easier, although drawn off the track.
How to play it: Amazonite each-way and box exacta 4,7,9
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 3 (1:25pm) NORTHERN RIVERS CONCRETING MAIDEN SHOWCASE HCP (1400m)
Very open maiden again where early tempo and plenty of luck will play roles. The form of Coffs Harbour mare 7. Hellion Of Cluster ($5.50) is much better than it looks, and she gets her chance here to break through fourth-up. Has worked home okay from well off the speed in her last two against deeper opposition, and the more the track dries out the better she's placed.
Dangers: Keep safe 5. Dimitri ($4.80) who has been hitting the line and will relish the extra 200m fifth-up. Watch the betting on 11. My Sonny's Faith ($3.90 fav) who also has more to offer than his record suggests, placed nine times from 20 starts, but also drawn wide. Both honest mares 9. Indiana Falls ($9.50) and 12. Papal Miss ($11) with blinkers applied, are worth including in trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Hellion Of Cluster to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 4 (2:05pm) PROFESSIONALS CASINO CLASS 1 & MAIDEN SHOWCASE PLATE (1800m)
Doesn't get any easier here over a testing middle distance, but nothing is better suited than four-year-old mare 9. Cranach Dreaming ($4.20 equal fav) deep into her second prep. Charged home for a dominant Class 1 win in heavy ground three starts back before two fair closing efforts in stronger company. Back in grade here and drawn to get cover, she's on top in a wide race.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by underrated five-year-old 2. Bold Contender ($5) who likes to settle well back and rattle home. Been a long time since he won a maiden, but drops back from metropolitan level over the border. Consistent filly 14. Cupid's Kiss ($4.20 eq fav) has to overcome a tough draw, but hasn't missed a place hitting the line in four runs this prep and well weighted down on the limit. Lightly raced 8. Sheriff Cody ($7) has been given four weeks since finally snapping his maiden, while 6. Half Crown ($5), who finished best to win his maiden at second start but draws the extreme outside gate, and the honest 5. Turn Table ($8.50) dropping in grade fifth-up, both go in wider exotics.
How to play it: Cranach Dreaming to win and take the first four 2,9,14 to win from:
2,5,6,8,9,14/2,5,6,8,9,14/2,5,6,8,9,14
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 (2:40pm) JUST BRAKES AND EXHAUSTS CLASS 3 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1400m)
Good quality race for this class and again stacked with chances. Very forgiving of underrated three-year-old 1. Peregrination ($5) who can bounce back sharply after tailing off in the much deeper Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas. Got nothing to suit there and much better placed here on improving ground and carrying the same weight after the claim.
Dangers: Third-up and coming back from tougher city grade, 2. Royale Return ($3.60 fav) is a clear threat from the inside draw third-up, and especially if the track really starts to dry out. Keep safe 4. Superdeel ($4.60) second-up and down in weight after hitting the line late at Tamworth in similar company. Back from two fair Highways runs, 5. Jousting ($5.50) finds his right grade from a soft draw, while 11. China Grove ($18) is best of the rest fourth-up.
How to play it: Peregrination each-way
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 (3:20pm) CASINO FOOD CO-OP CASINO SHOWCASE FLYING (1050m)
Another competitive market for the feature sprint. Got plenty of time for underrated six-year-old 4. Gidgee Guy ($7.50) who can go back-to-back dropping significantly in weight. Stalked the speed before beating a very handy BM 66 country field first-up and relishes soft ground.
Dangers: Street Boss four-year-old 6. Street Power ($3.20 fav) has been disappointing in three runs this prep despite tackling stiff opposition, but from a nice draw and carrying only half kilo over the limit, surely can give this an almighty shake. Big watch on the consistent 9. Bozeman ($8) who returns off a year-long break, but normally comes to hand quickly and reportedly has been working well. Include 1. Perigord ($9.50) first-up behind two progressive trials and 14. Blue Sky Moon ($11) from the inside draw.
How to play it: Gidgee Guy each-way
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 7 (3:55pm) CASINO RSM CLUB BEEF WEEK CUP (1400m)
Feature race is also an open affair. Armidale mare 12. Deep Mirror ($9.50) looms as the best value in the race shooting for three wins from her last four. Dropped in grade to win at home last start and gets a massive drop in weight for this. Just needs to hold a forward enough position from the inside gate.
Dangers: No doubt Scone five-year-old 3. Eiger ($2.80 fav) can pick and choose his day, and will need plenty to go his way back in the field around this smaller track, but his best would take serious stopping. Charged home to beat a superior field at home last start and loves rain-affected ground, but four of his seven career wins have come in his own backyard. Talented three-year-old 9. Buffet Buster ($5.50) won three straight before finishing right behind the placegetters in a country BM 84, and is also very comfortable on soft ground, while Include in wider exotics 5. Swanston ($10) from a low draw, 6. Northern Wilderose ($6.50) and 13. Previso ($8) right down in weight.
How to play it: Deep Mirror each-way
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 (4:35pm) THE HOTEL CECIL BENCHMARK 58 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1200m)
Progressive mare 15. Hasalake ($1.80 fav) only needs to find cover anywhere off the speed from the wide and she's the one to beat on the quick back-up. Swept home to destroy maiden opposition here seven days ago and thrives on soft ground.
Dangers: Big market watch on four-year-old 1. Remorseless ($4) who resumes for a new Scone stable behind a nice trial, while 8. Cassia Lane ($11) is capable of running into a place at big odds third-up.
How to play it: Hasalake to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
