By Neil Evans
Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
The Showcase Cup day card opens with the maiden sprinters, and there’s good value about Dissident three-year-old 3. Salt City who returns off a long spell for only his second start. Didn’t handle a tight turning track on debut in soft 7 going, but has been given plenty of time, and was strong through the line close-up in a recent country trial. Back on firm ground is a huge plus.
Highway winner Knife’s Edge is top selection in the Coonabarabran Cup.Credit:Getty
Dangers: Plenty of them in this line-up starting with 12. Musical Affair who resumes for a second prep. No public trials, but should come to hand sharply, and looks very well treated under the set weights conditions. If improving 2. Threetimeslucky can slot in from a wide barrier, he’ll be running into the finish third-up with a stronger jockey taking over. Watch the betting on Eurozone four-year-old 13. Full Of Euro on debut behind a recent open class trial win; while 10. Vivalicious down in weight after the claim is a worthy inclusion in exotic plays.
How to play it: Salt City each way
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1200m)
Likely to be plenty of market twists and turns here before they settle on a favourite. One of them in contention is ex-Victorian Street Boss mare 8. Allande who resumes for the new Tamworth stable from the inside draw. Hasn’t started since finishing close-up in a handy Bendigo maiden in July, and while hasn’t officially trialled, reportedly has been working well, and this looms as a lovely starting point in the region.
Dangers: No doubting Territories three-year-old 4. Wandering Jack is right in the mix on debut for a good strike-rate stable, and has been gelded since finishing close-up in an 800m trial. Consistent mare 3. Lago’s Daughter would be a lot tighter in the early market if she drew a better gate. Has been beaten under a length in her last three running home from off the speed, although can’t afford to drift too far back from this draw around a smaller track. Included in exotics 1. Gunfighter who has hit the line hard in his last two; 10. Ballistic Beauty drawn out second-up; and 15. Missile Moove fifth-up from a softer draw and back on firm ground.
How to play it: Allande to win and first four 3,4,8/1,3,4,8,10,15/1,3,4,8,10,15/1,3,4,8,10,15
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 CLASS 3 HCP (1600m)
It doesn’t get much easier here. That said, progressive four-year-old 3. Seahaven only needs to find cover from an awkward draw to take his record to three wins from five. Swept home to win first-up before just peaking on the effort late getting home in a BM 58 a fortnight ago. A little more depth in this, but he’s still on the rise, and carries 4kg less.
Dangers: Capable 2. Maly Malt is the immediate threat off a nice trailing draw and five week freshen-up. Trialled okay nine days ago, and should find a lovely striking spot a few lengths back with cover. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Moorabinda Mick who rushed home last start to finish just in front of the top selection at Scone, but tougher here and little known rider is on.
How to play it: Seahaven to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 CLASS 1 HCP (900m)
Back to the short course, and that’s a huge plus for four-year-old mare 3. Kora Magic who is fit, but has been struggling to finish off over further for much of her prep. Was only collared late in three consecutive runs before tackling stronger Highway company where she felt the pressure in the straight. Again was swamped in a BM 58 three weeks ago, but her only career win so far came over this distance. Drawn to bounce to the front and control the speed, and keep in mind she’s been placed nine times from 15 starts.
Dangers: Resuming mare 6. Rubi Air has more than enough ability at this level, and gets in light after the claim.; while must keep safe 9. So Extra who draws inside third-up. Be surprised if the winner comes outside those three, but trifecta and first four players can include first-up winners 1. Celtic Harp and lightly raced 2. Bring The Rabble; and at bigger odds 10. Billiethefillie resuming.
How to play it: Kora Magic to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 CUP DAY SPRINT (1100m)
The feature dash will be a high-pressure affair, but after three spaced runs back from a spell, improving five-year-old 2. Already Blessed is primed to win again three weeks between runs. Did his best work late in consecutive starts through spring against deeper country opposition before failing to run on in the tougher Mudgee Sprint. This is far more to his liking, with blinkers coming off.
Dangers: Honest mare 6. Very Sharp is well placed coming back from solid back-to-back runs in much deeper BM 72 metro grade. Best weighted runner after the claim, just a concern with the inside draw for one who likes to drift well off the speed. Tough mare 3. Cassy’s Sister dropped out in the Armidale Newmarket 12 days ago, although she was in the worst part of the track. Previous form at the provincials is sound for a race like this. Watch the betting too on nine-year-old 7. Nosey, who also didn’t have much luck in that Armidale sprint, and drew to get cover here.
How to play it: Already Blessed to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1400m)
Very keen here on progressive mare 4. Memories in search of a third win from five starts this prep. Bolted in a weaker country BM 58 from the front two starts ago, before holding her ground midfield in a much tougher Highway battle at Rosehill. This is right up her alley back 100m in distance, and well treated after the 2kg claim.
Dangers: Tough and consistent five-year-old 8. Vital Verse is also well placed with a senior country jockey back aboard if he backs up in four days. Dominated from the front in weaker grade two runs back before edged out of the placings at Dubbo on Monday. Gap to the rest headed by 6. Danspur who has placed in four from five this prep, but drawn off the track; while 7. Hemsted and 10. The Fossil down sharply in weight are both capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Memories to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 7 COONABARABRAN CUP (1600m)
Intriguing and open market battle in the feature, but nothing is better placed than tough five-year-old and proven weight carrier 3. Beckford who is primed fifth-up. Ran home strongly in deeper races at Rosehill up to 2000m before overcoming a tough run to hit the line in the Armidale Cup 12 days ago. Drops 2kg for this, and can park a touch closer here from a softer draw.
Dangers: Must respect 1. High Court who gets a charmed run from the inside third-up, and also drops sharply in grade from a metro BM 78. Talented 7. Freedom Square is also in the mix third-up after hitting the line well in two runs this prep against deeper city company. Gap to the rest headed by underrated 11. Knife’s Edge who swept home to blitz a Saturday Highway field three starts back before his latest even effort at Warwick Farm. Gets in on the limit 54kg from a soft draw. Improving 9. Group Think is each-way value coming back to his best distance fourth-up; while progressive 15. Cheptegei has won two from four this prep, and was scratched from an earlier race to be saved for this.
How to play it: Beckford to win
Odds and Evens: Odds a special
Race 8 CLASS 2 PLATE (1100m)
Another open sprint at set weights to close the card. Keen on 9. Ticket To Anywhere who is primed to peak fourth-up behind a seven week break. Came off a dominant win in a similar grade at Dubbo before working home in a very handy BM 72 race. Kept up to the mark in a recent 1000m trial, and drew to get a nice trail a few lengths off the speed.
Dangers: Big watch on 8. Overextend resuming off a solid and easy trial after campaigning exclusively and well in Saturday Highway grade last prep. Similar respect for lightly raced and improving 10. Demitasse fourth-up after working home late in a Highway race13 days ago. At longer odds, watch the market around 12. Raoul who drew the fence second-up with a stack of gear changes; while 6. New World Tapestry and 11. Norman; head the rest.
How to play it: Ticket To Anywhere to win
Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS
Race 3 (3) SEAHAVEN
Race 8 (9) TICKET TO ANYWHERE
BEST VALUE
Race 4 (3) KORA MAGIC
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
