By Neil Evans
Track Soft 6 and rail out 1.5m from 800m to 40mm and true the remainder
Race 1 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2200m)
The restricted stayers get us rolling on an improving track, and in a tricky race 7. Grand Shanghai emerges as the one to beat back on rain-affected ground and from a better draw. Hit the line strongly here two runs back before doing it tough from the wide barrier eight days ago, and the quick back-up is a significant pointer.
Racing returns to Grafton for an nine-race card on Tuesday.
Dangers: Lightly raced seven-year-old 1. Komata gets a significant metro class drop from over the border, and is drawn to get an economical run with cover. Honest mare 2. Candy Kiss is deep into her prep and fit enough to handle a sharp rise in trip; while 3. Fenerbache after consecutive wins in weaker grade; 6. China Grove with important gear changes; and 8. Go Ferrando; are all worthy runners in trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Grand Shanghai to win and quinella 1 and 7. Odds and Evens: Odds.
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
The first of the sprint battles is a wide open affair, but stacks up well for underrated and still lightly raced mare 11. Star Diamond at big odds. Hit the line in a better maiden than this fourth-up at Tamworth in heavy going, and with decent speed up front here, she can settle back around midfield and be very strong late.
Dangers: Improving mare 7. Alight The Night chased hard first-up here eight days ago when well backed, although has to tuck in from a much tougher draw this time. Watch the betting on 12. Cenotes who did his best work late on debut at Coffs. Must keep safe too progressive mare 10. Spiele who has worked home OK in two runs back, and a more experienced jockey takes over. Included in exotics 6. Superfield second-off a long break; and 9. Mullumova second-up with winkers going on.
How to play it: Star Diamond each way. Odds and Evens: Odds.
Race 3 MAIDEN HCP (1400m)
From a soft draw and behind a solid trial, lightly raced mare 1. Sunchaser can pounce first-up. Showed enough in three wet track runs through autumn to start her career, relishes this sort of ground and bred to get further.
Dangers: Improving mare 13. She’s Rewarding has attacked the line well in two runs this prep, and can peak here over a bit further from the inside draw. Capable 6. Menotti hasn’t been far away, all prep in generally better rarces, and gets good weight relief after the claim, although has the task of getting over from a wide gate. Stablemate mare to the top selection 4. Special Day went back to win a heavy track trial after two ordinary runs on firmer ground, and is clearly advantaged on wetter tracks; while 2. Inari Fox is the best of the rest second-up.
How to play it: Sunchaser to win. Odds and Evens: Odds.
Race 4 LISMORE CUP (2110m)
The rescheduled Cup with eligibility to the Big Dance, plays the right tune for high class seven-year-old 3. Stuck With You deep into a well spaced prep, and on a track slowly drying out. Swept clear early in the straight for a dominant BM 76 win when heavily backed two starts ago before only collared late in much tougher BM 90 grade at Doomben. Looks fairly treated at the weights back in this company, and will roll forward from a middle gate.
Dangers: Keep safe 6. Ambridge who shoots for a third straight win up in grade from a nice trailing draw. Topweight 1. Macchina Volante is inconsistent on the floor, but comes through some handy form races, and is very comfortable in all conditions; while expect 4. Ambitious Prince to be waltzing home again down sharply in weight after an impressive heavy track win in the Tuncurry Cup.
How to play it: Stuck With You to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 5 CLASS 1 HCP (1100m)
Tough sprint, with most just going around for practice, and the early clear fancy drawn right off the track. Not so, though, home four-year-old 4. Supreme Hero who steps up from a dominant maiden win at Coffs second-up. Boasts enough tactical speed to utilise the low draw, and is bred to thrive in soft going.
Dangers: The big and obvious threat comes from talented Qld five-year-old 2. Our Calantha who returns as a gelding behind the easiest of trial wins in soft ground over the border, with blinkers also added. Was dominant on debut at the Sunny Coast back in May, and is destined for much bigger races, but wouldn’t be charging into too short a price drawn off the track. From the inside barrier, local 3. Another Spirit has been campaigning okay over the border, and should land a nice trail just off the speed. Expecting improving mare 1. Empress Zou to peak fourth-up after three encouraging runs back; while 5. Commanding Reign is an each-way knock-out hope after a narrow maiden win here four weeks ago.
How to play it: Supreme Hero each way. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 6 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1100m)
Not surprisingly the most open race on the card comes at this class level, with a stack of chances. Like progressive and talented home track mare 11. Miss Super third-up coming back from metropolitan opposition over the border. Swept home to thrash a weaker field here two runs back before an even effort at Eagle Farm 20 days ago.
Dangers: Speedy provincial four-year-old 6. Sharkim has earnt a crack at this level after a dominant all-the-way CL2 win, and is unbeaten from two starts in soft going. Another Qld raider, 14. Pretty Devine also has to scoot across from an outside barrier, but she’s been right in the money in three runs this prep, and loves soft ground. If capable 4. Wuddacuddashudda can get over from a wide gate and take a forward position, he’ll be in the finish shooting for a third straight win. Tough mare 1. Bullinachinashop comes back from two deeper races after winning two straight. Gets right back in the contest at the weights with the junior rider’s 4kg allowance, but tough task from a tricky barrier with less experienced pilot aboard; while 12. Moon Over Alice heads the rest dropping down from far superior group 3 provincial level.
How to play it: Miss Super each way and first four 6,11,14/ 1,4,6,11,12,14/ 1,4,6,11,12,14/ 1,4,6,11,12,14. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1700m)
This shapes nicely for underrated five-year-old 1. Daedalus deep into the current prep. Surged home in heavy ground to win his maiden three runs back before even and somewhat disappointing efforts in his next two, but less depth here and better off when he’s drawn to get to the outside.
Dangers: Big watch on five-year-old mare 9. Oak Island who cruised home on debut with something in hand. Tough 3. Lampkin Lane scored an authoritative and overdue maiden win here just eight days ago; working clear from well back and charging over the top, but tougher from the draw here. Expect improvement fifth-up from 7. Volunteer down in grade with blinkers added; while 2. Gulf Of Tomini heads the rest behind a fourth-up maiden win at this track.
How to play it: Daedalus to win. Odds and Evens: Odds a special.
Race 8 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1700m)
Take Two here, and keen on improving five-year-old Eagle Farm mare 9. Easier Said hopping the border fifth-up. Was a smart maiden winner at the Gold Coast five weeks back before finishing off well in a BM 58, and she looks very well placed against this lot.
Dangers: Had to be impressed with the third-up maiden win of 3. I’mtimmyzou who finished powerfully from just off the speed; while 4. Lemeletgo is much better placed here back a little in trip from a deeper metro field over the border.
How to play it: Easier Said to win. Odds and Evens: Odds.
Race 9 CLASS 1 HCP (1400m)
Another wide open affair to close the meeting. From a good trailing draw in a race with less depth, local four-year-old 2. Fire Up Bruce is ready to win again. Was only a neck from the winner in a blanket finish here last time in a race run in record time, and the more the track improves the better he looks.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by 1. Shorebreak who hasn’t won for a while, but draws the inside coming back from stronger metro class. Keep safe home tracker 7. Princess Zeddy who did her best work late in that same race as the top selection; while 6. Hello Monday; 10. Byron Eyes; and 13. Fay’s Angels can all figure in exotic bets.
How to play it: Fire Up Bruce to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
BEST BETS
Race 8: (9) EASIER SAID
Race 9: (2) FIRE UP BRUCE
BEST VALUE
Race 5: (4) SUPREME HERO
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
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