3 minute read

Another heavy track faces us on Saturday and unfortunately I don't think they are going anywhere soon.

Found the meeting on the whole quite hard, many different angles to play out and hence plenty of work to be done, still to do.

First glance the Chris Waller trained Sambro has to be a bet in the Listed Civic Stakes [1350m].

While he hasn't won in over 700 days, 749 to be exact, he sets up very well and this looks an obvious target with three weeks between runs and a trial in between.

He's placed in nine of 12 attempts over this distance range and the fact James McDonald sticks is a further push.

The draw doesn't look too big a hindrance, he should be able to come across and slot in with both Special Missile and Home Of The Brave kicking up from the inside, while Toryjoy and Mushaireb also look to roll forward from out-wide.

There looks to be good enough speed to bring him into it and as long as he hasn't forgotten how to win, he should be strong late and gets every chance at the weights.

As much as 17-1 was offered around the traps, that's been trimmed up now, but anything double figures looks a decent bet on Saturday.

In the last event the Godolphin trained Kordia returns from a lengthy break (371 days), last seen winning a Listed race at Eagle Farm over 1400m.

Undergoing arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone chip from its off-fore leg, he has since trialled very well and appears well placed in this company.

I concede it's never easy conceding a fitness edge, however his rivals are conceding a decent class edge, he just needs to handle the wet track.

Very interested to see what the market does, can see him being very solid, I can also see him being quite soft (lean to that outcome).

They are unlikely to roll the dice from out-wide and if it proves to favours those on-pace early, he is expected to get out.

Either way, I'm more than happy to wait and see, he could end up getting out to a very attractive price at the death (always hopeful).

Simon Dinopoulos' Three Tips:

Race 4 #14 Fulmina @ $5.00

Race 7 #3 Sambro @ $13

Race 9 #5 Kordia @ $3.60