By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail out 10m
Race 1 – 12.10pm: MAIDEN HCP (1300m)
We start with the maidens on a firm track with the rail pushed out a long way. Improving four-year-old 3. Stars And Bars looks ready to break through third-up. Tracked a strong winner all the way at Hawkesbury three weeks back, and this shapes as a weaker race.
Racing returns to Newcastle on Thursday.Credit: Getty
Dangers: Watch the betting on gelded Caravaggio three-year-old 2. Wind Of Heaven who debuts off two steady trials; while stablemate 4. The Seeker resumes with gear changes behind two trials.
How to play it: Stars And Bars to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 – 12.50pm: FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1400m)
Nearly always open and competitive betting races at this level. The girls edition shapes ideally for consistent metro four-year-old 6. Noble Beauty second up. Came from well back to be beaten under a length fresh at Canberra, and she can settle a bit closer here from a softer draw and over more ground, plus the wide rail placement should serve those runners who are drawn in early.
Dangers: Capable 7. Seany’s Girl is the immediate threat fourth-up getting on to a bigger track. Has been steady through the line in similar quality fields the last two, but a return to dryer ground here is a big plus. At the top of the weights, 2. Gendarmerie back in grade second-up; and 4. Bowery Breeze, also dropping in class third-up; can both run into the minor money.
How to play it: Noble Beauty to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 – 1.25pm: COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1400m)
In the boys’ edition, like the value around metro seven-year-old 6. Catapult who is hard fit and ready to win again. Appreciated a return to dryer ground hitting the line late in a similar race only seven days ago, and can settle a shade closer here from a softer draw.
Dangers: No doubting home tracker 2. Super will be hard to hold out on the quick backup if he gets any sort of decent trail. Swept home to win a similar-graded race here two starts back before again making up plenty of ground from the back behind a smart winner in that same race as the top selection. Unlike most of the Snitzel stock, he’s a pure dry tracker, with all six career wins coming on firm ground. Country-based 4. Sungblue reloads after failing to run home through heavy ground in a Randwick Highway 19 days ago; while 5. King Adviso heads the rest, also getting back on firmer footing third-up.
How to play it: Catapult to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 4 – 2pm: MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
Moderate maiden here stacks up well for emerging provincial three-year-old 3. Hayatti after only missing by a long head in a handy country maiden on debut, and blinkers being added is a big pointer.
Dangers: The market will be a solid guide aboard Spirit Of Boom three-year-old 1. Afterboomer who starts his career for the Annabel Neasham yard behind two progressive trials. Include home track filly 7. Bespangled in trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Hayatti to win. Odds and Evens: Odds a special
Race 5 – 2.45pm: MAIDEN PLATE (1850m)
You don’t see many set-weight maidens over this distance, but no better value than progressive and lightly raced three-year-old 6. Whatadilemma who peaks third-up over a furlong further. Has run home okay both starts this prep at the provincials and hits peak fitness now back on dryer ground. Can park right behind the leader with cover.
Dangers: Promising 5. Territory Express drops back sharply from the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas at just his third start, but under the odds from a tough draw. Keep safe 10. Gorgeous Zara who also has to overcome a wide draw, but has placed in three from four starts so far, and is versatile. Both 1. Genetic Frank who was close-up in a metro maiden last start, deep into the prep; and 2. Ocean Honour peaking over more ground fourth-up; are both each way chances at bigger odds.
How to play it: Whatadilemma to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 – 3.25pm: MIDWAY BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1850m)
Plenty of chances here over the same journey, and while there’s not much between a few of them, settled on metro four-year-old 2. By Nine peaking fourth-up over further. Worked home well behind a smart CL1 winner at Wyong two runs ago before missing by a whisker from midfield at Canberra. This isn’t much tougher, and he’s got some scope and progression on his side, unlike most of the rest who have been around the track plenty of times.
Dangers: Keep safe 4. Desi Emperor who comes off a narrow country CL2 win, and draws to get a soft trail. Honest 3. Time Raid loves to lead, and can give another big sight from this draw, although looks poorly treated carrying 2.5kg more from an unplaced effort in the Murrumbidgee Cup at Wagga. Include in exotics bets, 5. Zambrero dropping in grade and drawn inside; and 6. Commander Bell who rushed home to win a similar race on heavy ground two weeks ago.
How to play it: By Nine to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 7 – 4.05pm: MAIDEN HCP (1500m)
All aboard progressive metro filly 7. Tot Of Rum who can snap a run of three straight third placings fifth-up in her first full prep over a shade more ground. Comes through a couple of very handy country maidens, and is drawn to get a nice run just behind the speed.
Dangers: Lightly raced 2. Seneschal looms at his third start with blinkers added after running home okay in a potentially good metro form maiden 15 days ago. Big watch too on stablemate filly of the top selection 11. Victory Salute third-up; while 3. Twilight Rock placed in his last three, and with blinkers coming off; is a must for trifecta and first four bets.
How to play it: Tot Of Rum to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 – 4.40pm: BENCHMARK 64 HCP (900m)
The most open race on the program is saved for last over the short course. Keen at the value of progressive three-year-old 5. Troika who is much better placed here after failing to get close behind a dominant winner at Hawkesbury. Had previously flooded home to thrash a similar field at Kembla, and has taken a real liking to courses with long straights in his brief career.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by home track filly 8. Smiling Prophet who returns for his first run in 15 weeks from the inside draw and behind a smart trial win. At bigger odds, keep safe progressive 9. Secret Revolution off an impressive and fast-finishing third-up maiden win. Honest country five-year-old 1. Markwell Dreamer behind a last-start feature win at Tamworth; metro mare 7. Rinagarosa back in class first-up off a trial win; and tough 12. Small Town fifth-up if he gets a run; all go into the exotics.
How to play it: Troika each way. Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS
R2 6. NOBLE BEAUTY
R7 7. TOT OF RUM
BEST VALUE
R6 2. BY NINE
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
