3 minute read
Track Soft 5 and rail out 5m from 1000m to 350m into a cut/away & True the remainder:
Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (810m):
We kick off over the flying short course, and it shapes as an ideal starting point for debutant and locally trained filly 9. Cool Storm by Toronado who gets first use of the inside. Hit the line well in a recent trial, and naturally bred to get further.
Dangers: Blessed with plenty of early speed, rival home tracker 4. Golden Dubai will look to zip across from a wider draw at his third start, and suited coming back a furlong in trip 12 days between runs. Keep safe another first starter in Headwater gelding 3. Beersmadeforwater who starts in blinkers behind two progressive trials; while 6. Tsunoda gets a significant gear change after failing over the border as a hot favourite on debut.
How to play it: Cool Storm to win
Race 2 CLASS 1 HCP (1012m):
Promising home track three-year-old 6. The Wolf can repeat the dose after a dominant debut maiden win here 13 days ago, working to the front and bounding away in the straight after being backed from $4.60 into $3.70. Stays at the trip carrying 1.5kg less from a better draw.
Dangers: Big watch on 4. Eloheh who finished best as a hot favorite to claim his maiden three starts ago, and stuck on well in a stronger field here last outing. Drawn to get a much better run this time back in class. Be surprised if anything else wins, although tough and improving mare 1. Everylittle Breeze was right in the early market third-up off a handy finishing run in a better CL1 17 days ago. Keep safe at good odds 7.Latin Jazz who hit the line late last start, and continues to slide further down in the weights; while 8. Rinnero is capable of running into the minor money with a big weight drop.
How to play it: The Wolf to win
Race 3 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1012m):
Still over the same sprint distance in a slightly wider affair, although another first-up locally-trained winner in 2. Another Balconyboy presents over the odds four weeks between runs. Swept home from midfield to beat a handy CL2 field when fresh, and was a second-up winner at this track last prep in autumn.
Dangers: Got plenty of time for talented mare 1. Moskeeta who already has won two from seven, including at this more suitable bigger track, and ran home well from the back resuming in a much deeper race at Port. Home tracker and fitter 3. Pixie Hallow is also right in the battle from a useful draw after being swamped by the top selection when resuming. Gap to the rest headed by 7. Barclaps first-up behind two very quiet trials.
How to play it: Another Balconyboy to win
Race 4 MAIDEN PLATE (1415m):
Plenty of chances in this maiden where the betting will have a big say. Like lightly raced five-year-old 4. Friar's Destiny second-up on a bigger track. Stalked the leader at Kempsey, but couldn't run her down after hitting a flat spot early in the straight. Can settle a bit further back here from a wider draw, and the step up in distance is a natural bonus.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by 7. Wee Kahuna who is trained on the track, and ready to strike fourth-up. Despite drawing wide, 5. Great Southerland comes in off a fast-finishing first-up effort to beat all but The Wolf who is a top selection earlier in the meeting. Both 11. Outback Crumpet who flew home late at Narromine in only her second start; and 12. Pennies Destiny getting fitter third-up; go in exotic bets.
How to play it: Friar's Destiny to win
Race 5 BENCHMARK 74 HCP (1315m):
Some more than handy sprinters going around here at a stronger level. Talented home tracker 5. Olakau'Atu often needs luck from back in the pack, but this is an ideal assignment resuming. Finished an inconsistent last prep in better fields with an impressive BM 66 win here sweeping home from a long way back in record time. Hasn't publicly trialled, but that's no concern given how quickly he comes to hand, and drawn to settle back with cover off the fence, he only needs to get clear running from the 350m to produce a superior finish.
Dangers: From a nice cover gate and down in the weights, 6. Burdekin must be a threat after rushing home to win a BM 66 earlier this month. Expect sharp improvement from border-hopping 4. Terrameades getting back on turf second-up. You can never exclude 8.Mr Tabasco on his home track, and has been freshened since charging home to miss narrowly in a CL3 here; while 9. The Maxinator is clear best of the rest behind a fast-finishing second-up win in weaker company.
How to play it: Olakau'atu to win
Race 6 MAIDEN PLATE (1215m):
Back in super maiden class for what looms as one of the toughest and widest races on the card. Love the double figure value about improving filly 13. She's Got Teeth second-up for the Kris Lees stable at Newcastle. Went back to near last when first-up in a similar quality affair at Tamworth before making up late ground, but can settle much closer this time with cover, and is screaming for the bigger track.
Dangers: Big market watch on ex-Randwick four-year-old 3. The Riddler who normally takes a run or two to find the zone, but resumes for a new home track stable behind a quiet trial, and gear changes have been made. Over the odds is provincial three-year-old 7. Justiciar who has been freshened up via a trial win. Include 9. Shines Bright second-up from the inside draw; local filly 10. Cool Machine, resuming for just her second start off a trial win; and 18. Wee Kahuna at his fourth start if he gets a run; in trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: She's Got Teeth each way
Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1615m):
Another very wide contest over the middle distance, yet there's big value around underrated mare 10. Curracabundi deep into the current prep. Has twice finished well to beat all but the winner in deeper races across her last three runs, and has always raced like this course would be right up her alley. Will likely slide well back from the draw, and look to get to the middle from the 400m.
Dangers: Provincial-based 1. Ideel Hero resumes for a strong yard behind two improving trials. Progressive 5. More For Us has never raced better, reloading off a smart maiden win at Tamworth 17 days ago. Keep safe at good odds both improving mare 11. Rose Between Thorn who has charged home to win two of her last three; and 6. Latin Lyric dropping back from a much tougher metro level; while last-start CL1 winner 3. Boston Of Tuffy is also one for the multiples.
How to play it: Curracabundi each way
Race 8 CLASS 1 HCP (1315m):
It won't get any easier in the closer, but settled on another one from the Lees camp in emerging filly 8. Lady Soames, resuming off two trials. Was a dominant maiden winner at her second start in winter before tackling metro two-year-old company. Drawn to get cover off-speed, and has a superior turn of foot.
Dangers: Again, they'll be queuing up starting with resuming mare 3. Monopoly Girl who capped last prep with an all-the-way maiden win at the provincials, and has trialled quietly. Home tracker 4. Kevin Mckeen dug in hard on debut at Kempsey to land a strong betting move, and again drew well for this next step. Keep safe 12. Slush Fund who led all the way to claim his maiden third-up. Include 1. Extra Smart dropping back from CL3 Highway company fourth-up; 2. Fun Enuff having his first run for the new local stable after switching from Victoria; and 6. Bellzen down in weight third-up; in the exotics.
How to play it: Lady Soames to win
BEST BETS:
R1 9. COOL STORM
R5 5. OLAKAU'ATU
BEST VALUE:
R6 13. SHE'S GOT TEETH
