3 minute read
Track Good 4 and rail out 2m from 1600m to 300m into a Cut/Away & True the remainder:
Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1609m):
Resuming provincial-based and ex-Victorian staying mare 4. Fantastic Galaxy can get punters off on the right foot over a middle distance. Hasn't started since last winter when her form was all over the place in handy maidens, but she's been given plenty of time since transferring to Gosford. Fitted with two quiet trials up to 1000m, stable has a good record when coming off a break, and she starts life in the country's premier racing state from the inside draw.
Dangers: Keep safe improving filly 8. Jaex fourth-up over more ground, and regular jockey back aboard; while lightly raced 6. Fine Example and 9. Pair Of Hearts can both run into the minor money.
How to play it: Fantastic Galaxy to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1005m):
Back to the short course, and it stacks up nicely for improving mare 7. Alegna who reboots third-up back in a weaker race, and six weeks between runs. Was only a long neck from the winner against the older and better maidens at the provincials when ridden close last time, and she's already gone close to winning here last winter.
Dangers: Resuming for only his second start after nearly 13 months off the scene, 3. La Sevuvius looks ready to go off two trials, winning the latest and running a slick time for his last 600m. Another one first-up, 2. Canny Prospect is also a big market watch coming out of that same trial as the former, but will need some luck from a wide barrier. Include in exotics, 5. October Revolution deep into his first prep with gear changes; and 13. Viv who will find this a bit easier.
How to play it: Alegna to win and quinella 3 and 7
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 3 MAIDEN HCP (1308m):
Tough six-year-old 7. Mallee Boy Express gets his chance fifth-up and back in distance. Was right there to win in a deeper maiden at Coffs 17 days ago before feeling the pinch late, but looks well treated here dropping 3kg having been placed in three of his last four.
Dangers: Any number lining up, headed by improving 8. Papal Miss who is also hard fit having hit the line late fourth-up over the same trip. Lightly raced home tracker 1. More Than Xtra looms as a genuine each-way chance after leading for a long way here 16 days ago. Include lightly raced 2. Uncertain Terms drawn inside with winkers added; 5. He's A Copy Boy second-up; and 9. Poetic Impact resuming off a long break and forward trial; in trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Mallee Boy Express to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 CLASS 1 HCP (1408m):
One of the more open races on the card. The draw and subsequent speed map is the big key for provincial mare 8. L'Esperance Rock peaking fourth-up. Has enough early speed to find a trail just off the speed, and has been hitting the line well enough in deeper provincial fields. Looks to have beaten the handicapper too, dropping down to the 55kg limit.
Dangers: Equally jumping from a handy barrier, hard fit 3. Razzama has been freshened, and gets a nice run a few lengths off the top. Keep very safe first-up maiden winner 1. Barcoo River who was scratched from Monday's Tamworth meeting to be saved for this; so too emerging stablemate filly 5. Klisha who landed her maiden at this track 16 days ago. Both 9. Rothrock and at even bigger odds 10. Rubiland can add further value into exotic returns.
How to play it: L'esperance Rock to win
Odds and Evens: Split
RACE 5 HANNAM VALE CUP (1609m):
A typical middle distance slog for the older gallopers here, and most have a shot. Settled on local four-year-old 8. King Kikau who guns for three wins on the bounce at home. Has kept going from the front to win both times in soft going, and the rise in class is more than off-set by a significant 4kg drop to the limit weight.
Dangers: Super honest 1. Reward Seeker comes off a surging BM 80 win second-up in the Quirindi Cup, but has to carry 61kg from the outside draw; while watching the betting on stablemate 3. Sea Of Flames who was well beaten in that same Cup race, but won two starts prior over the mile, and has trialled okay since. Include progressive front-running mare 5. Moon Over Alice who is also hunting a third straight win, although she's at her best on wetter tracks. Trained on the course, 4. Casirina has been up for a long time, but screaming for this distance now after hitting the line in a BM 66 here over 1250m; while another last-start country cup winner in 2. Acoustix goes into wider exotic plays.
How to play it: King Kikau to win and first four: 1,3,5,8/1,3,5,8/1,2,3,4,5,8/1,2,3,4,5,8
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1005m):
No getting off powerhouse and exciting sprinter 2. Bulls Blood who made a long-awaited and dominant return to the track 19 months after debuting at Kembla, parking in a leading group here before sailing away to win by nearly five lengths. Asked to carry 61.5kg from a wider gate, but this isn't much stronger, and with the top country hoop sticking strong, he can go on his merry way.
Dangers: Doubt there are any if the top selection jumps cleanly, but keep watch on progressive filly 11. Elini who finished best to win her maiden fourth-up; while hard fit filly 4. Orthie's Girls is clear best of the rest from the inside draw ahead of 7. Ghost Hunter dropping back from a deeper CL2.
How to play it: Bulls Blood to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 CLASS 1 HCP (1258m):
Underrated three-year-old 2. Golden Breeze is ready for the rise in distance third-up. Has hit the line late from well back in two handy fields over 1000m, and should get enough tempo on here for him to be tucked away well off the speed and launch late.
Dangers: Resuming from a soft draw with a stack of gear changes, 1. Empress Zou is the immediate threat. Tuned up bolting in a recent 1000m trial. Honest 5. Boss Shelby with the blinkers again coming off; and 9. De Lovely Lad placed in four of his last five; can both run into the minor money.
How to play it: Golden Breeze each way
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1308m):
Another fairly open battle to finish. Now that talented and still improving five-year-old 2. Ugly Nicos has returned to the winner's circle, he can go back-to-back up in class. Had finished well to beat all bar the winner in three runs before failing from the wide gate in a much tougher Country C'ship Qualifier. Quickly found his best sweeping home to win a CL1 eight days later, and drawn to stay out of trouble here off speed, he can strike again.
Dangers: Keep safe 3. Zoffany's Gaze who hit the line well into a place in a strong CL4 second-up. Respect too for 5. What A Peach second-up with blinkers removed, and a far more senior and stronger jockey taking over. Include 1. Oakfield Storm resuming behind two trials; and 4. Mista Razzledazzle dropping back sharply from Highway company; in trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Ugly Nicos to win
Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS:
R3 7. MALLEE BOY EXPRESS
R6 2. BULLS BLOOD
BEST VALUE:
R7 2. GOLDEN BREEZE
