3 minute read

Neil Evans' Tips

Track Good 4 and rail out 3m:

Competitive maiden to get us rolling on a track that may get a shower or two, but should remain in Good range. Keen on improving home track three-year-old 2. Frosbie who ran home well here at his second start, and can park a little bit closer in the run from a softer gate.

Dangers: Naturally lightly raced rival home tracker 6. Sir Godric is a threat second-up after fighting on well behind a hot favourite at Newcastle 11 days ago; while watching the betting on both 8. Ahead Of the Game who draws well on debut behind two improving trials; and 4. Rabairneach who can improve sharply at his second start coming out of that same race as the top selection.

How to play it: Frosbie to win and trifecta 2,6/2,4,6,8/2,4,6,8
Odds and Evens: Evens a special

Over a longer journey now for a tricky battle with a few chances. Sticking with tough five-year-old 1. Bob despite a somewhat disappointing and flat finish in the country fifth-up a fortnight ago. Previous efforts in races with more depth had been sound, and the stable has called in the "Raging Bull" to break a long drought. Racing like he wants more ground, and should park a little closer this time from a better draw.

Dangers: From a soft draw and dropping back from tougher metro class, 4. Mum's The Boss is the big threat third-up. Naturally climbs in weight for this, but has plenty to offer and should get a peach of a run right behind the speed with cover and a key gear change. Must respect too lightly raced metro-based four-year-old 3. Vincenzo third-up; while improving filly 9. Who's In Winny heads the rest fourth-up.

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

Always intriguing betting affairs over the mile for the maidens at set weights, but city-based emerging Pierro three-year-old 8. Jamrock looms as the best value in the race. Was soft in betting when just fair to the line on debut at Newcastle, but ridden a bit quieter here over more ground and suitably in a bigger field, he can produce a sweeping final 400m. Suited under the set weight scale carrying 55.5 kgs.

Dangers: Improving four-year-old and early favourite 6. Spitfire is a logical threat third-up after a solid closing effort in provincial company, but threatens to go around under the odds over 300m further from a wide gate. Keep a big watch on country mare 11. Kaisa who improves third-up from a softer draw and back on dry ground; while both Proisir four-year-old 5. Sir Smitty on debut behind two improving trials; and improving three-year-old 13. Among Us second-up from the inside draw; can run into the minor end of the money.

How to play it: Jamrock each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Still with the maidens but over the short course, and nothing is better suited than promising and light raced provincial filly 11. Ishani second-up. Loved the way she chased home hard into a place fresh at Newcastle behind a smart winner in her first outing for 31 weeks, and under the same weight she can settle back here off the fence and produce a barn-storming finish down the middle.

Dangers: Strong metro three-year-old 6. Ramones looks ready to go a second prep having won the second of two recent trials. Beat all bar the winner in three metro runs to launch his career, and he has enough tactical speed to off-set a wide and challenging barrier. Keep very safe I Am Invincible filly 9. Anavinci who debuts for a strong metro yard from a soft draw off two progresive trials; while well-bred 10. Fanagoria second-up; and local Deep Field filly 12. She's A Bad Girl fifth-up and down sharply in weight; both go into exotic bets.

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

One of the tougher and more open races of the day. After breaking through third-up from well off the speed in dominant fashion, improving four-year-old 1. California Press can go back-to-back over a little further. Had been threatening to win all prep, and despite going from bigger tracks to this tighter circuit, he can park closer in the run from a soft draw, and produce that powerhouse finish from the 300m. Relishes the dry going.

Dangers: Impressive debut winner 4. Invictus Lad was backed like he was unbeatable that day at Gosford, and may well end up being the best horse in the race. That said, plenty more depth in this, and he has to slot in from a tougher and much wider draw. Another emerging one on the rise, 6. Sebring Sunset swept home for a dominant second start win at the provincials, but also challenged by a wider draw around a tighter track. Included in exotics 2. Shines third-up off a seven week freshen and trial win; and last start provincial maiden winner 9. Ponca who draws to get a charmed run third-up.

How to play it: California Press to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Ultra competitive sprint battle for this grade, and could develop into a three-horse war for favouritism. Leaning clearly to the exciting potential of metro filly 10. Meod who was dominant from the front here on debut two weeks back, running virtually 33 secs flat for her final 600m, and looked to have something in hand. Draws to roll forward again and park just off the fence, and she can nail down a metropolitan start by winning this.

Dangers: Big watch on returning metro filly 11. Tsarina Sophia who has trialled well, and won her only previous start on very heavy ground at the provincials back in early May. Watch the market closely too on 1. Boomsong third-up after being swamped in a deeper metro race, and preferred here to Wednesday's Warwick Farm meeting; while 5. Midnight Oasis heads the rest third-up and nearly six weeks between runs via a quiet trial.

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

Similar graded horses over the mile to wrap the meeting, and it stacks up nicely for locally-trained mare 7. Lady Superspy who peaks third-up staying at the distance. Like the way she hit the line from well back at Gosford in a slightly deeper affair, and a senior metro jockey takes over.

Dangers: Tough and fit home tracker 2. Da Nang Star led all the way in a weaker country race two starts ago before being run down in a similar race to this. Scratched from Warwick Farm on Wednesday to be saved for this. Provincial mare 8. Mussenphere is a big watch fifth-up from a soft trailing draw; while 9. Oakfield Warpaint peaking third-up; and 10. Sian deep into his prep, with significant gear changes; can both run into a place.

How to play it: Lady Superspy to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BETS BETS:
R1 2. FROSBIE
R6 10. MEOD

BEST VALUE:
R4 11. ISHANI