3 minute read
Track Good 4 and rail out 3.5m from 500m to 300m into a cut/away.
Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1010m):
The maiden sprinters get us underway and very keen on Snitzel three-year-old 2. Pyromania who starts his career as a gelding for a leading metro yard behind two trials and wearing blinkers.
Dangers: Watch the betting on 1. Hot Extraction who failed as a short-priced favorite from a wide draw at third start, but drew better here and is in good hands. Include both 3. Falreine and 8. Warrior's Kiss in the exotics.
How to play it: Pyromania to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1010m):
Again from the Bjorn Baker stable at Warwick Farm, resuming Ocean Park filly 4. Loud can make a tonne of noise behind two trials. Will roll forward from a low draw, and showed plenty of ability winning third start at the provincials last spring.
Dangers: Drawn out, but very fit deep into the prep, 1. Daredevil can run the quinella having finished close-up in two deeper races, and big weight has been off-set by a 3kg claim. Gap to the rest headed by 3. Beagle who reloads off an 11 week break and easy trial.
How to play it: Loud to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 ORANGE CUP PRELUDE (1600m):
Competitive Cup Prelude, but almost impossible to tip against progressive Baker-trained three-year-old 6. Iknowastar who has dominated his last three up to BM 58 grade, destroying them a long way from home at Goulburn 10 days ago and winning by nearly four lengths. This isn't much tougher, and he looks outstandingly treated at the weights dropping 7kg to the limit 55kg.
Dangers: From a good trailing gate, honest 4. Sea Of Flames has won twice from three starts at the track, and is the clear threat; while 1. Reward Seeker and 7. James Barrie can fight out the minor money.
How to play it: Iknowastar to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 4 MAIDEN PLATE (1610m):
Tricky speed map here with most of the better fancies drawn well apart. Keen at the value around tough four-year-old 1. Cherry Blue who draws to find a midfield trail. Is nice and fit deep into the prep, and has attacked the line late in two recent handy country maidens. Well over the odds in this.
Dangers: Naturally, 5. Boys Love To Run will be hard to hold out fourth-up and back in class, but wouldn't be diving into too short a price from a wide draw. Expect sharp improvement at third start from metro three-year-old 8. True Blue who comes back to an easier race; while 12. We Don't Roam draws the fence fifth-up and can run into the minor money.
How to play it: Cherry Blue each way
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 MAIDEN HCP (1290m):
Back in trip for the maidens again, and it shapes ideally on the map for progressive mare 4. Poppy's Girl third-up. Has driven home hard from midfield to just miss in two runs this prep against similar opposition, and back a little in trip four weeks between runs from a softer draw is the ticket to break through.
Dangers: Lightly raced 3. Press The Pedal can also peak third-up with blinkers added, but will need to tuck in from a wide draw. Included in exotics 5. Avid Diva who can improve sharply second-up over more ground; while 9. Loch Anton Lady and 13. Suomenlinna can both add further value into trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Poppy's Girl to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1290m):
One of the more tougher and open races on the card, with little separating the first few. Settled on improving three-year-old 5. Hallowed Star who can make it two straight after a dominant first-up maiden win at Dubbo when he was backed from $4.80 into $3.30. Up in weight, but breeding suggests he'll relish the extra trip.
Dangers: Drawn two spots lower, 8. Howlowcanyougo is hard fit and steps up from an easy win in weaker class; while 7. Packer is also in the mix after working home late here three weeks ago in a similar-rated field. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Choice Deel third-up.
How to play it: Hallowed Star to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 CLASS 2 HCP (1410m):
We wrap the card full of confidence with improving 10. Wandjina Spirit who looks well placed to go back-to-back thrid-up. Tracked the speed from a fair way out before sweeping past late at Mudgee, and while this is a decent step up, he's still on the rise and drops to the limit weight.
Dangers: Tough home tracker 1. How's It Kev lines up for his sixth start in two months, and on a quick back-up after being run down late in a handy country BM 66. Include in all exotics, 8. Own The Night who draws the fence and comes off a fast-finishing Class 1 win; 9. Zounile with a key gear change; and 11. Order Of Merit deep into the prep; who are all capable of finishing in the money.
How to play it: Wandjina Spirit to win
Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS:
R1 2. PYROMANIA
R2 4. LOUD
BEST VALUE:
R4 1. CHERRY BLUE
