By Neil Evans
Track likely improving to Good 4 and rail out 5m from 800m to 370m into a Cut/Away.
Race 1 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1608m)
Moderate affair over a middle distance to start on a track drying out. Still a maiden, but trained on the track, four-year-old 7. Dodgeball gets his chance to break through at good odds rising in distance third-up. Liked the way he attacked the line in a maiden last time, and the eight-day back-up is a sure sign of stable confidence.
The Sapphire Coast will stage a seven-race card on Monday.Credit:Getty
Dangers: Victorian mare 5. Bell’s Bighouse charged home late in the second of two runs here to start a new prep, and drew to get lovely cover back in the field. Stablemate to the top selection 1. Cider Bite is at peak fitness now, and hasn’t been far away in deeper races, although up sharply in weight. Provincial-based 2. Direct Affect is better suited here back from a Midway CL1, and crucially back on much drier ground.
How to play it: Dodgeball each way and box trifecta 1,2,5,7
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1208m):
From the same home stable as previous, a lot to like here about emerging three-year-old 1. Too Sharp who will relish the extra furlong at his second start. Got a mile out of his ground on debut before charging home late, and only has to be within striking range here at the 250m.
Dangers: Big watch on debutant provincial filly 4. Mystic Diva by Divine Prophet who sat behind a speed in a recent trial and finished off nicely without being fully tested.
Must include stablemate mare 3. Inspired Dream returning for her first run in seven months behind a fair trial; while 2. Vonk drawn inside at just his second start; heads the rest.
How to play it: Too Sharp to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 3 CLASS 2 PLATE (1208m)
Very keen on South Coast four-year-old 5. Forbes peaking third-up. Settled back before hitting the line hard in similar grade here three weeks back, and can park closer this time from a softer draw, with a superior pilot taking over.
Dangers: Must respect Canberra four-year-old 3. Vella Fox back in trip four-up, and has only missed a place once in five starts. Impressive first-up winner here in similar company, 4. Heart Of Vancouver has good tactical speed, but a little query over the extra trip up in weight. Market watch on five-year-old 1. Go Gazza ahead of his first run for a new South Coast stable, and normally comes to hand quickly; while 7. Hello Jack second-up from a better draw; can run into the minor end of the money.
How to play it: Forbes to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 4 MAIDEN PLATE (1408m)
Improving three-year-old 8. Sebastian’s Flyer is primed to strike here fourth-up in a modest maiden. Has hit the line late from midfield in his last two, and is screaming for the extra trip.
Dangers: Honest four-year-old 3. Don’t Thinkaboutit is also well placed. Was swamped late in a tight finish here two starts back before again just edged out late eight days ago in a race with more depth.
Debutant Pendragon three-year-old and stablemate to the top selection, 7. Mercurial Boy can give a sight behind an easy trial, and has since been gelded; while 9. Breakaway Week finished well here 23 days ago over a similar distance, but the inside draw does her racing pattern no favours.
How to play it: Sebastian’s Flyer to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1408m)
Plenty of chances in this battle headed by honest mare 2. Lady Tabloid who shoots for two straight wins at the track staying at her pet distance. Again draws to get a handy trail, and well treated at the weights after the claim. Scratched from the stronger CL4 Cup feature to be saved for this.
Dangers: Yet another change of jockey for 4. Mookareena who is hard fit, and boxed on for a long way after leading in that race here won by the former.
Lightly raced 5. The Predictor can use some natural speed and the inside gate to take up a handy position; while 7. Hope Uno with a 50 percent place record from 22 starts; and improving 10. Irish Dancer suited over further; can both run into the placings.
How to play it: Lady Tabloid to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 MERIMBULA CUP (1408m)
Now for the feature Cup and Country Preview at Class 4 level, and it shapes nicely for big finishing five-year-old 3. Get Shafted 12 days between runs. Failed to finish off in deeper metro company last start, but was dominant from off the speed in a BM 58 at Moruya two runs back. Looks well treated under 56kg back in this class, and the more the track dries out, the bigger his chances are.
Dangers: Improving 5. Rhythmboat rises in distance third-up after tracking the speed and going home for a strong CL2 win three weeks back. Progressive four-year-old 10. Louie’s Legacy made it two from his last three resuming at this track, and can park right behind the speed from the inside draw.
Include 7. Pindarra’s Dream from a nice trailing draw; and 11. Sir Finn fourth-up; in trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Get Shafted to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1008m)
Most open race of the day is saved for last. Like still progressing mare 5. Constantinou at the value deep into her prep. Hit the line from well back here three weeks ago in a race with slightly more depth, and the winner then missed by a whisker in a stronger class next start.
Dangers: Expect a much better run from provincial mare 1. Maddison’s Missile second-up; while stablemate 8. Skaifee closed off okay in that same race as the top selection. Keep safe too Victorian mare 2. La Vita who draws to get a soft trail; while both 6. Irish Bride and 10. Clever Choice can add further value into exotic bets.
How to play it: Constantinou to win
Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS: Race 4, No.8. SEBASTIAN’S FLYER
Race 5, No.2. LADY TABLOID
BEST VALUE: Race 6, No.3. GET SHAFTED
