By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail out 4m from 1000m to 350m into a Cut/Away & True the remainder
Race 1 CLASS 2 HCP (1613m)
Lightly raced seven-year-old 2. Vantastic is on the 11-day back-up, and gets the right run around midfield fourth-up in a weakened race after the main rival was preferred at the feature Gosford meeting on Wednesday.
Racing heads to Coffs Harbour on Thursday.Credit:Jenny Evans
Dangers: Gap to the rest headed by last start CL1 winner here 5. Ilovethegame suited over further; while 4. Summit Special can run into a place.
How to play it: Vantastic to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 2 SUMMER CUP BENCHMARK 66 HCP (2013m)
The feature race over a longer trip stacks up beautifully for improving provincial mare 2. Velvet Lady third-up over a more suitable distance. Has worked home well enough in two runs back, and from the inside draw here she can bide her time back in the field before being given clear air from the 500m. Tackled Group company across two states back in autumn, and this is a big drop in class and depth.
Dangers: Doubt there are any if the top selection gets a clear run, but 3. I Shot The Sheriff is always tough, and surged home from midfield to win a handy CL2 over a mile a fortnight ago. Include honest stayer 1. Savaheat and 8. No Respect searching for three wins on the bounce up in grade; if you’re playing the trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Velvet Lady to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (808m)
Back to the scamper trip for the maidens, and there’ll be no holding back with potentially half the field all capable of leading. Settled on improving filly 10. Cavente fourth-up. Has finished strongly into the placings all three runs this prep, and hard fit she boasts enough tactical speed to take advantage of this shorter trip.
Dangers: Home track three-year-old 13. My Mate Cobber drops back sharply in distance after hitting the line a fortnight ago at Ballina, and the trainer has removed the blinkers to find a little more early speed. Watch the betting at big odds on local Smart Missile filly 12. Missile Hope who debuts in blinkers behind a steady provincial trial for a good fresh yard. Keep safe too lightly raced 2. Toy Boy Roy resuming from a wide gate, but goes fast early. Must include in wider exotics, home track four-year-old 3. Zanardee’s Lane on debut as a gelding behind a nice trial; and provincial mare 7. Initiation who resumes off two trials.
How to play it: Cavente to win and Missile Hope each way. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 4 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1313m)
Useful depth here, but nothing better placed than progressive provincial mare 1. Terrameades who is unbeaten second-up. Loved the way she hit the line from a mile back when resuming in a very handy BM 68 at Wyong, and despite the weight rise, she can settle back and relish the long run home here.
Dangers: Improving mare and first-up BM 58 winner 9. Super Dooper is the immediate threat from a nice on-speed draw; while 2. Mister Smartee with blinkers back on; 6. Test The Waters third-up and coming out of that same race as the top selection; and 8. Peregrination fifth-up; are all capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Terrameades to win. Odds and Evens: Odds.
Race 5 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1010m)
A restricted sprint where again there’ll be no place for the faint-hearted. Home track three-year-old 2. Mr Tabasco will be very hard to hold out second-up from an ideal cover draw. Did his best work late when resuming here four weeks back in a handy CL2.
Dangers: Consistent local 1. Hauraki Gulf loves this trip, and went close in deeper grade a fortnight ago. That said, even after a 3kg claim the handicapper hasn’t missed him. Another one trained on the track, 10. Timely Bel gets an economical run fifth-up with a claim; while underrated mare 8. Cotton Caper is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Mr Tabasco to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 6 CLASS 1 HCP (1010m)
Plenty of chances in this sprint headed clearly by emerging Dissident three-year-old 5. Iobject who can make it two straight wins. Was well backed on debut before trailing the speed and sweeping past with plenty in hand. Been given 24 days for this next test, but he naturally has plenty more to give, and carries 1kg less.
Dangers: Keep very safe local five-year-old 4. Swift Charm who did best on debut here four weeks back. After chasing home the winner in tougher class at Toowoomba first-up off a lengthy break, 3. Panuara Boy gets a cosy run from the inside gate and can work into the finish. Watch the betting on resuming and ex-metro four-year-old 1. Repeal having his first run with several gear changes for a new country stable; while improving mare 7. Allay comes off a fast-finishing maiden win second-up.
How to play it: Iobject to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 7 MAIDEN PLATE (1413m)
Wide and tough maiden, with any number of chances. Having missed narrowly in consecutive races on the Far North Coast, improving five-year-old 6. Maxwell Terrace can go one better here fourth-up. Has enough tactical speed to off-set the wide barrier, and has shown to have good cruising gears through the middle part of the race. Wouldn’t want it any further, but he’s ready to win.
Dangers: Expecting a big first-up run from lightly raced and progressive filly 14. Agirlsbestfriend fitted with two trials over 1000m. Honest four-year-old 2. Brave Instinction blotted his consistent copybook dropping out at Ballina fourth-up, but he draws to do a little less work here, and drop back in trip is a further plus. Locally-trained 4. Honourable is well over the marker in double figure odds third-up with blinkers removed; while 11. Thinkin’ Bo You fourth-up; and from a wide draw; and 10. Prepotent also third-up; can both add a stack of value to the exotics.
How to play it: Maxwell Terrace each way. Odds and Evens: Evens.
Race 8 CLASS 1 HCP (1313m)
Plenty of value on offer in the closer as well. Progressive provincial filly 9. Extessive can go back-to-back at good odds on a nine day back-up with winkers added. Surged home impressively from midfield to land a similarly-graded race in handy time, and she’ll relish settling back here and getting to the middle of a long straight.
Dangers: Plenty of them starting with talented 3. Cyber Attack who gave nothing else a chance first-up from the front, but threatens to go around under the odds here from a tricky draw in a bigger field. One well over the odds is 5. Koondeeman third-up and down in weight; while 2. Ugly Nicos second-up; 11. Olakau’atu resuming from the extreme outside gate; 14. Wanjina Rose fourth-up; and 15. Kennysing second-up from the inside; can all stake a claim for minor money.
How to play it: Extessive to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
BEST BETS
Race 2: (2) VELVET LADY
Race 6: (5) IOBJECT
BEST VALUE
Race 8: (9) EXTESSIVE
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
