By Nick Berney
Selections based on a soft track.
Race 1 – 1:00PM RARITY WHOLESALE 3Y&4YO BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
7. Communist had no luck last start at Kensington in a stronger grade won by a potential group class galloper in Arnold. He was checked/blocked at a critical stage, losing momentum but still picked himself up and finished off well into fourth place. The Michael Freedman-trained galloper brings a fitness edge relative to some of his rivals, maps to have all favours and James McDonald rides. Ratings profile suggests he is ready to peak third up.
Dangers: 1. Ting Tong wasn’t extended in his latest trial at Scone. The four-year-old brings strong form lines and ran a solid sixth in the QLD Derby (2400m) before spelling. He has a class edge and is a key late market watch. 5. I Want One rises in grade but won well at Muswellbrook last start and is rock-hard fit. 2. Cinque Torri steps from 1300m to 1600m but gives every indication that’ll be no issue, and he is another last-start winner.
How to play it: Communist WIN. Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Winter Challenge winner Cross Talk is the top selection for the Cameron Handicap.Credit:Getty
Race 2 – 1:35PM KLOSTER MOTOR GROUP F&M MAIDEN HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
7. A Lot More Love started $1.85 favourite last start at Hawkesbury and tried hard in defeat. The three-year-old was not suited to the farcical tempo but closed off well into second place. She sprinted the fastest final 400m/200m splits of the entire meeting in 23.04/11.52 and maintained a strong finishing speed to the line. The Gerald Ryan-Sterling Alexiou trained galloper’s sectional profile suggests she’s ready to peak third up and receives a senior rider in Brenton Advulla for the first time this preparation. Expect a bold showing.
Dangers: 9. Pierossa is wound up for this after having two solid hit outs at the trials. The filly hit the line hard on debut at Canterbury and clocked one of the fastest final 200m splits of the day in 12.57. Repeating that will put her in the finish. 5. Diva Diva got too far back first up and is suited second up over a further distance. 10. Poetic Drama is coming out of a high-rating race. Add debutante 1. Condrieu to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: A Lot More Love WIN. Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 3 – 2:10PM HUNTER VALLEY PREMIUM MEATS T-BONE STEAKS CG&E MAIDEN HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
12. Makalu sat outside the leader first up in a fast tempo at this track 17 days ago and stuck on well to finish fourth. That race rated highly relative to the day after adjusting for age, class and additional factors with a subsequent winner to confirm the form. He will be fitter for that effort, maps to control the pace and will give a sight.
Dangers: 11. Haather resumes as a gelding and has trialled well enough. The Snowden galloper raced well last prep and will undoubtedly be savaging the line. Forget 6. State Of America’s last start at Gosford, where he didn’t handle the tight-turning track and hung out badly. He can bounce back and can rate to win. 5. Cut On A Dime was checked over the concluding stages last start. Add 7. Summons to exotics.
How to play it: Makalu WIN ($11 TAB Fixed Odds) & Haather WIN ($11 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 4 – 2:50PM NEW ERA TECHNOLOGY HURRICANE HANDICAP – BENCHMARK 78 (900 METRES)
2. Washington Towers has trialled well and went through the line full of energy. The consistent four-year-old ran time when winning at Canberra first up last prep and has multiple winning figures for this event. The Todd Smart galloper has the natural gate speed to roll forward, is proven on the rain-affected ground and will take some catching.
Dangers: 8. Comonic led at a fast tempo and had the bias against last start in a TAB Highway (1100m) at Randwick. He is fit, and the step back in distance is ideal. 5. Ebhaar bounced back into the winner’s stall after a brave win last start at Warwick Farm. The three-year-old travelled wide throughout and kept fighting to the line. She brings superior form lines and will undoubtedly be in the finish. Expect 3. Saquon to be savaging the line and 6. Shalstar can run a race first up.
How to play it: Washington Towers WIN. Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Race 5 – 3:25PM GTS LAWNPRIDE AUSTRALIA CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1850 METRES)
4. Martini Crusader started a $2.50 favourite last start and wasn’t suited to the sit and sprint tempo. He was checked at a critical stage and lost all his momentum but picked himself up and finished well. Prior to that start, he ran some of the fastest closing sectionals of the day and savaged the line. He maps to have all favours, is suited up in distance, and Tim Clark rides. Each-way.
Dangers: 11. Left Reeling broke through for her maiden win last start at Scone and did it easily. She can step again off that performance and will have every chance from the soft draw. Key market watch on import 2. Iowa, who has strong international form-lines and can rate to win. Add 3. Kingdom Of Gold and 6. Supremo to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Martini Crusader E/W. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 6 – 4:05PM SHARP OFFICE NEWCASTLE GOLD CUP (2300 METRES)
4. Durston bounced back into form when winning the Wyong Cup (2100m) 14 days ago and ran a career peak figure. The gelding was perfectly ridden by James McDonald that day but produced a high-rating last sectional figure and did it in style. In addition, he can step again off that performance and maps to have all favours.
Dangers: 9. Born A King bolted in last start at Rosehill over 2000m, and his sectional profile gave every indication the rise in the distance is no issue. The six-year-old is in career-best form. He is adaptable and has shown he can sprint off slow or fast tempos. 8. Yiyi comes from the same race as Durston, beating the rest easily and is a late market watch. 2. Mankayan is rock-hard fit and proven at the distance. 1. Arapaho must carry the top weight but had the bias against last start and is racing well.
How to play it: Durston WIN. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 7 – 4:40PM AUSTRALIAN BLOODSTOCK CAMERON HANDICAP (1500 METRES)
4. Cross Talk led and had all favours but was honest in defeat in Hawkesbury’s listed Rowley Mile (1600m) 29 days ago. Tried hard to hold on for third, and there was a decisive margin to fourth. The Waterhouse-Bott galloper has had a tick-over trial between runs and profiles well for this race. The gelding has a very strong starting price profile, is a consistent type and has multiple winning figures. The step back in distance onto rain-affected ground suits, and he maps to control the pace.
Dangers: 9. Old Flame made a sustained run and sprinted one of the fastest 400m-200m splits in 11.16 at Rosehill last start. The import is in his second Australian prep and looks to have come back improved. He has a strong record and is a definite chance. 3. Purple Sector is a significant improver second up and can rate to win. However, some query on the rain-affected ground. 6. Character is fitter and 7. Luncies will be running on.
How to play it: Cross Talk WIN. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 8 – 5:20PM YARRAMAN PARK TIBBIE STAKES (1400 METRES)
3. Icebath profiles strongly for this race and is extremely well in at the weights under the conditions. The six-year-old mare has come back well and was outstanding in defeat last start at Randwick behind Zaaki. Was heavily backed throughout the day. She had the bias against but still made up significant ground despite sprinting through the inferior part of the track and ran some of the fastest final 400m/200m sectionals of the day in 24.48/12.52. Prior to that start, she raced wide and wasn’t suited but ran on well behind Anamoe in the G1 Winx Stakes (1400m). The Brad Widdup runner is ready to win third up and produces her peak figures deep into a preparation. Maps well and is suited to the rain-affected ground. Hard to beat with even luck.
Dangers: 5. Katalin was extremely brave in defeat last start at Wyong after racing wide throughout in a genuine tempo. The six-year-old mare has an electric turn of foot to overcome the tricky draw and will hit the line hard. Forgiving of 7. Sur La Mer’s last start, and she is rock-hard fit. 2. More Prophets comes through the same race as Katalin and got too far back last start. She receives a significant barrier change and can settle closer. Add 6. Le Villi to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Icebath WIN. Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Best Bets: Race 8 (3) Icebath; Race 2 (7) A Lot More Love
Best Value: Race 3 (12) Makalu & (11) Haather
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
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