3 minute read
Track Good 4 and rail out 5m from 800m to WP
| Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (1600m): |
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Hard fit after four improving runs in 14 weeks and on a handy 2kg weight drop, tough provincial mare 7. Deteron is ready to break through. Has worked home late into a place in her last couple against slightly deeper opposition, and the long stretch here suits.
Dangers: Naturally, metro-based 1. Wild Calm is right in the hunt also fifth-up, staying at the distance and coming back from a fast-finishing effort in deeper provincial company, although shoots back up to a hefty 60kg. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Oakfield Eagle fourth-up over a bit more ground, although very unlikely to back up in two days from Wyong on Saturday.
How to play it: Deteron to win
| Race 2 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1600m): |
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Staying at the mile trip, and confident progressive filly 4. Princess Cruizer can strike after making up a stack of ground late at Gosford just 10 days ago. Deep into the prep, she will relish getting on to a much bigger track where she can settle just off the speed with cover and come with a sustained burst.
Dangers: Keep safe talented 6. Killzy who also likes to settle back and finish hard; and can run the Quinella in a race weakened by the early hot favourite coming out.
How to play it: Princess Cruizer to win and quinella 4 and 6
| Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1200m): |
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All aboard locally trained four-year-old 4.Twilight Rock in this one, second-up and ideally suited from a low and softer draw. Came off a near six months break to work home okay just behind the place-getters in a maiden with a little more depth, and only missed narrowly at the same stage in his last prep.
Dangers: Another home tracker 2. I Am Convincing shapes over the odds second-up after running home well at big odds on the Beaumont track. Must include lightly raced local 5. Are You Joking who has to negotiate a tricky gate, but showed enough on debut when in the market to figure here. Include 8. Braided Gold at her second start in trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Twilight Rock to win
| Race 4 CLASS 1 HCP (1100m): |
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Very keen here on provincial four-year-old 2. Waterworld who has been threatening to win one all prep, including a tough finishing effort here last time in BM 58 grade after doing plenty of work in the run. Senior jockey goes on, and is bursting to claim a second career win.
Dangers: Naturally, 4. Hachiman is a serious threat third-up from a soft draw after finishing best from just off the speed to win a very moderate maiden at Bathurst. Keep safe 3. Mr Trackside who has been tackling deeper provincial fields; while 1. Mr Wallace second-up; and 6. Mrs Reeves who draws the fence; can both run into the minor money.
How to play it: Waterworld to win
| Race 5 COUNTRY CUP OPEN HCP (1100m): |
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Now the feature for the open class sprinters, and it augurs well for consistent four-year-old 4. Cripps Tonite who gets the best favours on the map, and staying at his pet 1100m trip for the fourth straight run. Has twice dominated from on-speed up to BM 74 level, either side of an even effort in tougher metro BM 72 company, and continually shown superior sectional acceleration over the final 600m. Should land an ideal stalking role, and be let off the chain from the 300m. The one to beat
Dangers: Shooting for a third straight win this prep, 8. Fine Vintage is going great guns, but is still under the odds stepping up sharply in class 47 days between runs. Keep safe 2. Quiet Riot who resumes from a 12 week break after mixing his form over the border, including against some handy CL 4 metro opposition; while 1. Very Sharp and 3. Scarzel head the rest.
How to play it: Cripps Tonite to win
| Race 6 CLASS 3 HCP (1400m): |
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Strong race for this class, and there's good value about home track four-year-old 1. Dirty Merchant third-up. Led for a long way in similar grade first-up since May before finishing hard for a dominant win when dropping back a level. Even better suited back over a furlong further, and gets right into the weights battle after the rider's 3kg claim.
Dangers: No doubting the progressive & exciting ability of local stallion 3. Point Basse who thrashed his opposition here from right behind the speed last time, but hasn't race for seven weeks stepping up significantly in class and has to overcome a tricky barrier, so wouldn't be diving into too cramped a price. Another progressive one in 4. Exonumia is right in the mix fourth-up at the weights after the 2kg claim; while 6. Bakerloo shooting for three wins on the bounce fifth-up; and 7. Sumati fourth-up from the inside draw; are both knock-out chances at odds.
How to play it: Dirty Merchant to win
| Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m): |
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We wrap the card with the restricted sprinters, and it shapes nicely for exciting home track three-year-old 5. Nebraskan who is set to make it two from two 17 days after an impressive barrier-to-box debut win in a good quality maiden
Dangers: Honest mare 7. Ultra White is over the odds coming back to a more suitable trip deep into the prep, and can run the quinella; while both 2. Bowie Of Dubai fourth-up with a 3kg claim; and 8. Whispering Cate resuming and trained on the track; can fight for minor money.
How to play it: Nebraskan to win
BEST BETS:
R4 2. WATERWORLD
R5 4. CRIPPS TONITE
