3 minute read
Track likely Soft 5 and rail out 5.5m:
Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
We open with the maidens over a mile on an improving surface, and there are plenty of chances. Peaking now fourth-up this prep, and dropping back from provincial level, metro four-year-old 2. Diamond Drummer can break through. Has gone through to lead before sticking on okay into a place in his last two, and again draws to roll forward and control it. Fourth different jockey in four runs is also significant, and this looms as payback time for punters after going under as an odds-on fancy 13 days ago.
Dangers: Must keep safe progressive 4. Nicodemus who worked to the line well in a handy provincial maiden after transferring up from Victoria. Gets plenty of cover, and the extra furlong is a natural plus. Another one that's been in and around the money is 5. Our Kinsmen, and comes back a furlong here on a quick back-up. Honest 3. Galaxy Reign was only fair to the line here three weeks back coming off a five week break, although the winner from that race is well above average. Coming out of that same race behind Kenichi is home track filly 7. Flying Flossy who is also ready to win fourth-up; while 8. Irene's Best heads the rest.
How to play it: Diamond Drummer to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2140m):
Still improving metro five-year-old 4. Jimmy Manolo is bursting to win again ahead of his 18th start. Was a good thing licked in a deeper race at Scone when he was held up for a long way over the closing 300m before diving through late. That came off a five week freshen-up, and the seven-day back-up is a sure sign he's done well since. Will park around midfield with cover, and be ultra strong late.
Dangers: Promising home tracker 6. Kenichi is a natural threat coming off that same maiden win here. Draws to get cover off-speed, and has been racing all prep to suggest the sharp step up in trip won't be a problem. Progressive city mare 10. Thoughtful Woman is again well placed fourth-up on the limit weight having run home hard from well back here in a CL1. Tough 2. Foxtrot Bravo has been mixing his form this prep, but better placed here dropping down from provincial BM 64 grade where he closed the race off well. Naturally goes back up sharply in weight, but from a soft draw, can be saved up for one last surge over the final 400m. Locally trained 1. Do This All Day has more to offer than his modest record from 20 starts suggests. Finished just behind the placegetters in his last two, but right at peak fitness now and a more experienced and stronger rider hops aboard. Local 5. Rent A Rock hasn't won for a while, but has kept finding the line as the distances have risen, although jumps up sharply from a mile. Include 3. Would Be King deep into the current prep in trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Jimmy Manolo to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1200m):
Back with the maidens, and again there's plenty of hopes headed by improving filly 12. Mosgold who is trained on the track, and can strike a prep peak here third-up. Kept finding from on speed last start to miss by a head after being backed from $2.90 into $2.50, and while there's a bit more depth in this, she's well treated at the weights after the jockey's 2kg claim, and drawn to park right behind the speed.
Dangers: Expect improvement from 5. Inveterate. Has been up for a long time this prep, but often raced without luck, and much better suited back on turf here are racing on a horrible synthetic track last start. Both locally-trained 7. Prince Papa second-up; honest 8. Prometio Mas second-up from a soft draw; and lightly raced home tracker 11. Deephar are all capable of running into the money.
How to play it: Mosgold to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 CLASS 1 HCP (900m):
A little drop back in trip, and key gear changes, can pay dividends for lightly raced four-year-old 4. Blue Grotto second-up, and 26 days between runs. Stuck on okay resuming for his first run since late spring, and draws ideally to roll along on speed.
Dangers: Big watch on talented 7. Pretty Vegas who re-loads off a 10-week break for only her third start,and thrashed her opposition at this track by more than six lengths on debut in mid March. Expect sharp improvement second-up from 2. Off Da Hizzle back in grade via a trial and five weeks between runs. South Coast visitor 1. Lord Remy is as genuine as they come over the sprint trips. Was dominant leading all the way four runs back before in the money last three in similar company. Given his early speed, the drop back 100m is a plus. Provincial filly 8. Artieos second-up with gear changes is on the next line.
How to play it: Blue Grotto each way and quinella 4 and 7
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 MAIDEN HCP (1000m):
Despite a tough and wide maiden, very keen to back home track Nostradamus-sired filly 1. Eight Of A Kind resuming from a 23-week break for only her second start. Looked right up to the mark in a recent trial run in smart time, and importantly good jockey sticks for the real thing.
Dangers: Drawn the fence, 3. Shuttle Run debuts as a gelding off two improving trials; while 10. Reine Of Nine is drawn wide, but will find this a bit easier than a provincial debut where she charged home from last to finish just behind the placegetters.
How to play it: Eight Of A Kind to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1400m):
A stack of chances here in a very wide and tactical affair. Capable mare 4. Temoin Chaud is overdue, but there was enough to like about her last effort at Nowra when hitting the line late, despite not getting much room when it counted, and she was backed from $6.00 into $4.80 that day. Reliable weight carrier drawn to find the middle of the straight.
Dangers: Keep safe improving 5. Jacob Joe who draws to get cover coming off a breakthrough maiden win, beating Mosgold who is an on top selection in an earlier race. Hard fit 1. Snappy Jim, stablemate of the top selection, is slowly working towards another win, third-up off a five week break. Has a sound record at this distance, and the big weight off-set by a 3kg claimer; while 7. Knuckle Warrior comes off a fair second-up effort on the synthetic, but has to overcome a wide barrier. Include in wider exotic bets, 2. Blazing Sunrise; local mare 5. Taylor Be Swift third-up, with winkers being added; and 11. Need For Greed off a first-up maiden win.
How to play it: Temoin Chaud to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m):
Back to the sprint trip, and it doesn't get any easier. Metropolitan four-year-old 2. Lohnraki can pounce here second-up off a four week freshen. Kept finding the line well in a deeper race last time, and from a nice stalking draw, she still looks reasonably weighted after a 1.5kg claim
Dangers: A little drop in quality can aid 1. Spinosaurus third-up, although still has to cart a big weight from a wider gate. All five wins for 5. Skaifee from 28 starts have come either over this trip or shorter, and he can park right behind the speed from a low draw. First-up synthetic track winner 11. Light Press can run into the minor money; so too lightly raced 3. Panzarella who is over the odds first-up.
How to play it: Lohnraki to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1200m):
Again chances galore in the closer, starting with home tracker 8. Spitfire who resumes for his first run since late March when finishing best to claim a CL1 at Albury over much further. Was always around the money last prep in deeper company, and while this is naturally short of his best, will be thundering home with any clear run from the turn.
Dangers: Progressive Warwick Farm-based three-year-old 6. Invasive has to negotiate a tough draw, but there was plenty to like about her first-up win at Nowra sweeping home from last in a small field. At big odds, keep safe, locally trained and very fit 1. Tulla Park who made up plenty of ground from well back in similar company only seven days ago. Similarly, 12. Enzina is ready to win again third-up after hitting the line late in a handy CL1 at Scone; while 2. Alamhero comes off a nine week break.
How to play it: Spitfire each way
Odds and Evens: Evens
BEST BETS:
R2 4. JIMMY MANOLO
R5 1. EIGHT OF A KIND
BEST VALUE:
R8 8. SPITFIRE
