By Nick Berney
Selections based on a good track. Monitor for bias/pattern.
RACE 1 – 1.15PM: LITTLE SHACK COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN PLATE (1500m)
Forgive 6. Power Legend’s last start at Gosford, where the race was run in torrential conditions. Prior to that, he was well backed $9-$5.50 and hit the line hard in a high-rating race relative to the day. Further, he clocked one of the meeting’s fastest final 200m splits in 12.24. The four-year-old has multiple winning ratings, is an improver back to dry ground and is ready to win. Each-way.
Racing heads to Port Macquarie on Thursday.
Dangers: 2. Brendan’s Hope was solid first-up in a fast-time race and will undoubtedly be fitter for that effort. He maps to have all favours and is suited up in distance. 5. Golden Button ran on well last start at Muswellbrook, and he brings the best last start figure. Add 4. Dante Alighieri to trifectas and first-fours.
How to play it: Power Legend each-way.
Odds and Evens: Evens.
RACE 2 – 1.50PM: LAKE CATHIE TAVERN CLASS 2 HANDICAP- HEAT OF THE RISING STAR (1500m)
Forget 2. Mauricently’s last start 30 days ago at Newcastle, where the mare failed in testing conditions. Prior to that start, she won in style at Coffs Harbour and clocked one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting in 11.76. She is a significant improver back to a drier surface, has strong form lines and is suited to the anticipated moderate/even tempo.
Dangers: 4. Rockbarton Ruby has a strong starting price profile and is suited to 1500m. Expect her to get back and find the line well. 1. Da Nang Star had every chance last start, but he has multiple winning figures, and the in-form apprentice Anna Roper sticks. 3. Millennium Jewel will roll forward and can give a sight.
How to play it: Mauricently to win.
Odds and Evens: Evens.
RACE 3 – 2.25PM: FLOWER HOTELS OPEN HANDICAP (1200m)
7. Chase My Crown has returned well this prep, and her last start at Rosehill in a TAB Highway (1200m) had hidden merit. The mare had too much to do after getting too far back in a moderate tempo and had to make a long-wide sustained run. Moreover, she ran 22.72 from the 600m-200m, before peaking on her after exerting all that energy. Would prefer her over more distance, but she is set to peak third-up and receives a significant barrier change.
Dangers: 6. Time For Victory is in career-best form and gets in well at the weights. He is rock hard fit, will roll forward, and a repeat of his last two ratings will put him right in the finish. 3. Leave Me Some and 3. Crowned Empress come through the same form reference at Grafton and are both racing well. Market watch on 5. Lucky Sham who resumes off one soft trial.
How to play it: Chase My Crown to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 4 – 3.05PM: FERNHILL TAVERN MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
2. Reateros resumes and won a recent trial at Newcastle in strong time relative to the morning with an apprentice riding. The gelding was solid first-up last prep in a high-rating race and repeating that effort/figure will make him hard to beat. In addition, he maps to have all favours, Andrew Gibbons rides, and he has a strong starting price/ratings profile relative to his rivals.
Dangers: 4. Canny Prospect was brave in defeat last start at Tamworth after racing wide throughout in a genuine tempo. He brings a fitness edge and should receive a more economical run from the soft draw. Key market watch on debutante 11. Cirebon who comes out of the Kris Lees yard and has trialled well enough. Add 6. Osterberg and 14. Really Motivated to all exotics.
How to play it: Reateros to win.
Odds and Evens: Evens.
RACE 5 – 3.40PM: HASTINGS HOTEL MAIDEN HANDICAP (1000m)
3. Boss resumes without an official public trial but is well placed in this event. The gelding is coming out of time/sectional merit races from last prep, and there have been multiple subsequent winners to confirm the form of those events. The Adam Duggan galloper maps well, and the big track is ideal for him to hit the line.
Dangers: Debutant 2. Northern Impact has trialled well at Scone with an apprentice riding. The four-year-old has a tricky draw, but Aaron Bullock rides for race day, and looks to have some ability. First-starter 9. Fill Your Heart won a recent trial at Newcastle, albeit on the synthetic. She looks a nice type and is a late market watch. 14. Discreet Lady is fit/honest and add 16. Razzama to all exotics.
How to play it: Boss to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 6 – 4.15PM: TACKING POINT TAVERN COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1000m)
7. Movin Denman was wide throughout and never shirked his task to the line in a strong time race last start at Muswellbrook. The 1000m specialist is consistent and is ready to break through for a win this prep. He has multiple winning figures and a strong sectional profile. Expect him to roll forward and give a sight.
Dangers: 8. Ghost Hunter had every chance at this track last start but was honest in defeat. The four-year-old has a tactical map advantage over some key rivals and will be strong late. 9. Cotton Caper hit the line well to score last start at Coffs Harbour, albeit in a lesser grade. Add 10. Icing On The Cake, who resumes, and 3. Vilified who has had excuses lately.
How to play it: Movin Denman to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 7 – 4.50PM: BEECHWOOD HOTEL CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200m)
1. Outreach To Henry went to a new level first-up at this track and bolted in running fast time. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day after adjustments and the decisive margins throughout confirmed the quality. The gelding ran strong sustained sectionals throughout and repeating that effort/figure will make him hard to catch. Expect a bold showing from the inside draw. Dangers: 10. Rend had the pace/bias against her first-up at Newcastle and ran on well into third place. She will be fitter for that and drops back to country grade. 2. Justadude can bounce back into form with a strong starting price profile in this class and is ready to peak third-up. 8. Offyarocatwo wasn’t suited last start and gets his chance here to run on with an anticipated genuine tempo.
How to play it: Outreach To Henry to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 8 – 5.30PM: SETTLERS INN BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1500m)
10. Clay Pan Boogie, who represents value, wasn’t suited first-up over an unsuitable distance, and he ran on well. His sectional profile suggests he can improve significantly second-up and can rate to win. He does have a tricky draw to contend with, but the big field should generate a genuine tempo. Each-way.
Dangers: 2. Mister Smartee was wide throughout six days ago at Kempsey and never shirked his task to the line. He is rock-hard fit and maps to have a much more economical run-in transit here. 6. Izfallingdown won well last start and repeating that effort will put her in the finish. Market watch on 5. Velvet Lady and 3. Celestial Fury, who both have strong form lines.
How to play it: Clay Pan Boogie each-way.
Odds and Evens: Evens.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
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