By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail out 3m
Race 1 – 1.15pm: CLASS 1 HCP (1600m)
We open up with a competitive battle over the mile on a firm surface that could get to a Good 3. Home track mare 6. Street Candi is a good honest chaser. Tracked the speed here before easily beating a handy maiden field, then did her best work late in a provincial CL1. A little more ground is a plus, and she’s very fit.
Racing returns to Wyong on Tuesday.Credit:Jenny Evans
Dangers: Emerging Sebring mare 3. Condrieu sat off the speed first-up as a hot favourite before finishing best to claim a country maiden, and although she has her share of ability, threatens to go around under the odds in this field from a wider draw. There’s a sense of timing with improving filly 5. Slovakia third-up after finding the line well in a country CL1; while 2. Maralago four runs into the prep, and a dominant provincial maiden winner from well off the speed two starts back, heads the rest.
How to play it: Street Candi to win and box trifecta 2,3,5,6. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 – 1.50pm: COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN HCP (1100m)
Back to the sprint trip for the boys, and keen on Capitalist four-year-old 1. Free Enterprise on debut. Has had three trials in six weeks, bolting in the latest by nearly four lengths after opening up the field early, and has been recently gelded.
Dangers: Debutant Pierro colt 4. Cool Jakey (also accepted for Warwick Farm on Wed) worked home nicely in the second of two trials, run in slicker time than the one won by the top selection, although the speedy winner then flopped as a hot favourite first-up. The betting will hold the key to Churchill three-year-old 3. Chartwell who returns off a lengthy break for only his second start behind two progressive trials. Included in exotics 5. Grand Crusader first-up off a tidy trial win; and Menari colt 7. Mission Ridge (accepted for Warwick Farm) on debut who also comes in behind a metro trial win, although the time was slow.
How to play it: Free Enterprise to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 – 2.25pm: FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN HCP (1100m)
The girls’ edition is potentially a touch more cut and dried, clearly headed by Shalaa filly 7. Eagle Nest who returns for a second prep behind an impressive trial where she worked early to find a position from a wide draw; then tracked home nicely between runners under a strong hold. Looks primed to come back stronger, and draws to get a nice trail with cover.
Dangers: Another metro filly resuming off a lengthy break is 1. Choose Your Words who has been fitted with two solid trials; while 6. Daytona Girl at third start; and 10. Sky Artist who drew the fence second-up; head the rest.
How to play it: Eagle Nest to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 4 – 3.05pm: MAIDEN PLATE (1300m)
Very open contest at set weights for the maidens. Progressive provincial three-year-old 2. Ambassadors did it tough from the gate first-up in a more than handy field, and better suited this time over 100m further in a bigger field where there will be a bit more pace on. Winkers replace blinkers in a key gear change.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by lightly raced metro filly 12. Speak Up who hit the line hard from a mile back first-up, and bred to get further. Keep safe 10. Smart Vengeance who worked home okay fresh in a country maiden, and draws to sit much closer. From a softer draw, 7. Matronymic fourth-up; and improving filly 8. Moonflower from the inside barrier; can both add value to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Ambassadors to win and box exacta 2,10,12. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 5 – 3.40pm: PROVINCIAL MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)
Stifling the early market, promising provincial three-year-old 8. Owari should put this lot to the sword with an even share of luck. Has finished right behind the winner in two runs to start his career, and from a handy draw and striking a fitness peak at the mile, it looms as his race to lose.
Dangers: Progressive and fitter 7. Higher Hand has shown gradual improvement in three runs so far and is bred to get the mile and further. Trained on the track, 9. Steam Clock can also peak here after two solid efforts to start his career; while 4. Vegas Outlaw third-up with a claim; 6. Gallic Fox from a soft draw and deep into the prep; and 10. Piccadilly Lass over more ground third-up; all go through wider exotic bets.
How to play it: Owari to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 – 4.15pm: BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1000m)
Plenty of chances over the sprint trip here. Liked the first-up win in a thinner grade at Muswellbrook by progressive filly 2. Florida Sky powering home from well off the speed on a day when it was hard to make up ground. By Shalaa, and looks well up to this grade staying at the distance from a soft trailing draw.
Dangers: Plenty of respect for home tracker 3. Chief Conductor who chased home a more than handy CL1 provincial winner resuming off an 11-month spell. Talented stallion 1. Nasdaq Dubai handed punters a world of pain second-up dropping right out as the hottest of favourites in a four-horse field, but never travelled in the heavy ground and officially pulled up lame. Has been given three weeks since, and expect a totally different galloper here on firm ground. Watch the market closely on lightly raced filly 6. Crystalane who resumes behind two forward trials; while 7. Miss Violet fourth-up from the fence draw; is on the next line.
How to play it: Florida Sky to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 – 4.50pm: BENCHMARK 68 HCP (1350m)
Another open contest, but settled on metro three-year-old 6. Capital Asset who peaks fourth-up over more ground and down in weight. Ridden quieter at the provincials 10 days ago when hitting the line well, and from a soft draw with cover, he can track along around midfield and be saved up for a superior closing 400m.
Dangers: Again plenty of them, headed by smart three-year-old 5. Speak Now who resumes off two quiet trials after campaigning well in two Victorian runs last prep. Must respect improving local 2. The Himalayas after finding the line from well back despite covering ground resuming in that same BM 64 as the top selection; while 1. Pharaoh’s Reign resumes off two trials, and comes to hand quickly.
How to play it: Capital Asset to win. Odds and Evens: Split
RACE 8 – 5.30pm: CLASS 1 HCP (1200m)
It doesn’t get much easier in the closer, although provincial three-year-old 8. Thief By Night looms as a terrific value chance fourth-up. Swept home from the back for a dominant country maiden win two starts ago before settling midfield and again finishing well in a handy CL 1. Leading country hoop sticks solid, with a key gear change.
Dangers: Promising metro three-year-old 2. Hasten Delight steps up from a tough debut win in a handy country maiden; improving mare 3. Notifies can figure third-up over a furlong further; while both 1. Mad Darcey back in grade; and home track filly 9. Orthie’s Girls deep into her prep; can both run into the minor money.
How to play it: Thief By Night each way. Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS
R2 1. FREE ENTERPRISE
R3 7. EAGLE NEST
BEST VALUE
R7 6. CAPITAL ASSET
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
