By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail out 4m
Race 1
1. Buffalo is progressive and primed to strike at his third start coming back from a strong closing effort in the Group 2 Todman Stakes. Will naturally settle much closer here in the smaller field, and only needs a clear shot at them from the 350m. 2. Federalist is a well touted colt by I Am Invincible on debut for the Hawkes stable. Trialled OK and drawn to get an economical run behind the speed. 4. Grand Eagle who ran home well on debut at Warwick Farm, and 6. Jenni Gone Bonkers resuming for her second start behind a soft trial, fight for the minor money.
How to play it: Buffalo to win
Racing heads back to Newcastle on Thursday.Credit: Getty
Race 2
5. Bullant is a Scone-based filly by speed sire Winning Rupert on debut. Hasn’t been seen publicly since a very handy trial last December, but reportedly her work has been good, and gets in with a very light weight after the jockey’s claim. 1. Moonlight Gambler fought on for a long way first-up at Kembla, and is likely to go around a short-priced favourite. Suited coming back 100m in trip, but still under the odds carting 60kg from a wide draw. 3. Cool Space is an improver, and has more to offer than his form suggests. Peaks fourth-up a month between runs. 8. Nami’s Jewel resuming from the inside draw heads the rest.
How to play it: Bullant to win
Race 3
4. Tact, a three-year-old by The Autumn Sun, is set to return with a bang for a second full prep as a gelding. Didn’t measure up in the first prep after showing promise yet doing plenty wrong, but with two improving trials up to 1030m behind him, watch for a different galloper fresh this time. 7. Oakfield Saturn is a filly by American Pharoah, making her debut for the local Damien Lane stable. Was strong through the line winning a recent trial, and looks forward enough to be a threat here from the inside barrier. 2. Hippolyte Rock will find this much more to his liking after battling on debut at Rosehill in smarter company. Given three weeks since that run, and responded with a nice trial win. 1. Blackwind can improve sharply at his second start.
How to play it: Tact to win
Race 4
3. Bluebird Bay is a lightly raced and promising colt trained on the track, and better placed here to grab a second career win. Didn’t have the easiest of runs when finishing off OK from well back in a provincial BM 64 in his first outing for five months. Fitter now from a more economical draw over further, and carrying 1kg less, he rates clear on top. 8. Webejamin has only missed a place once in her last five, and kept finding the line nicely in a Midway CL1 19 days ago. Hard fit and again drawn to get a cosy run right behind the speed. 2. Koning didn’t fire a shot as a well backed favourite here two runs ago before a moderate effort in BM 64 grade at Hawkesbury. Blinkers come off and naturally is back to a thinner level, but still looks under the odds. 5. Dim The Lights drawn inside at her third start, and 7. Stock Road who hit the line from last in a country CL1 last start, both go into trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Bluebird Bay to win
Race 5
4. Ride The River is a progressive metro three-year-old ideally placed to strike fourth-up. Was only run down late in BM 72 company at Warwick Farm two starts back before knocking up late after doing plenty of chasing in similar company. Back to provincial level over 100m shorter is the ticket to break a long wait for a second career win. 2. Curl Curl is also banging on the door for another win, having placed in his last three over this short course. Was well backed late at Newcastle when missing by a long neck behind a tough sprinter who has since won again, and is well treated from the inside draw with a 3kg claim. 5. Insist is a big market watch resuming as a gelding off two forward trials, and is already a fresh winner. Big gap to the rest headed by ex-Victorian 3. Skiing, resuming off two trials in a first run for the new Sydney stable.
How to play it: Ride The River to win
Race 6
2. Presides is a talented four-year-old ready to claim a second career win second-up. Loved the way he powered to the line when resuming at Kembla, and over a further furlong from a soft trailing draw, needs only a clear run from the turn. 3. Love The Cube was close-up in that same race as the top selection and also looking for the extra trip.1. Kolos is trained here and worked to the line well in his last couple after a dominant maiden win at Scone as a hot favourite. Comes back to provincial company, but threatens to go around under the odds from an awkward draw carrying 60kg. 4. Keep At ’Em returns for his first run since last October behind a very quiet trial.
How to play it: Presides to win
Race 7
3. Matcha Latte is a locally trained and sparingly raced five-year-old who maps ideally second-up, and is the one to beat in the feature Qualifier. Beaten less than half a length in the Group 3 Cameron last spring when reloading off a long break, he then returned off another spell to go under by a whisker in the Newcastle Provincial qualifier 19 days ago. Was in great need of that run, and given he tackled Group 1 company way back earlier in his career, this shapes as his race from a low draw. 5. French Ruler ran home well in the Listed Canberra Guineas second-up, and was Group 3-placed last spring. 7. Wolloowin has to overcome a tough draw, but she’s very smart when on the fresh side, and comes in off a quiet trial. 9. Art Volant powered home to win a mares BM 72 at Warwick Farm, and remains over her pet distance. 13. Pleasure Artist, a stablemate of the former and resuming off two trials, and at even bigger odds 2. Overriding who didn’t finish it off in that same recent Qualifier as the top selection, are both capable of running into the minor money.
How to pay it: Matcha Latte to win
Race 8
2. Threatening is a tough finishing four-year-old who can go one better here third-up. Has run well into a place in two runs back, and peaks now over 100m from a soft draw off speed. 8. Pinito ran home only fairly resuming at Canterbury as a well fancied favourite, but the extra ground is a plus. 6. Rotagilla is lightly raced, and a market watch second-up. 10. Amreekiyah sailed home from midfield to win on debut at Kembla, but more depth this time.
How to play it: Threatening to win
BEST BETS
Race 6: 2. Presides
Race7: 3. Matcha Latte
BEST VALUE
Race 8: 2. Threatening
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
