By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail out 4m from 900m to 400m and True the remainder
Race 1 – 1.45pm: COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN HCP (1100m)
The boys get us underway in a maiden sprint, and it is difficult to see well-bred 1. Compelling Truth being beaten, resuming for a new stable as a gelding with gear changes, and first use of the inside. Tuned up for this with a smart trial win 13 days ago. The one to beat.
Racing heads to Dubbo on MondayCredit:Jenny Evans
Dangers: Improving four-year-old 11. Toongi Bound maps to get a nice trail second-up, and can run the quinella; while lightly raced 4. Ready For Lift Off second-up; and 10. Suomenlinna third-up with a 2kg claim and key gear change; can fight for the third money.
How to play it: Compelling Truth to win; quinella 1 & 11; and trifecta 1/4,10,11/4,10,11. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 – 2.20pm: FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN HCP (1100m)
Now the girls’ edition. Progressive four-year-old 2. Dupenny was good on debut, working across from a wide barrier and hitting the line to only miss by a head. Missed a run last Monday when Orange was called off, but gets a softer draw here over more ground, and is ready to break through carrying only 1kg above the limit.
Dangers: From the inside gate off two fast-finishing efforts, provincial-based 4. Tikitiboo is the logical threat with the top country rider taking over. Scratched from Taree on Sunday to run here. Big gap to the rest headed by 9. Hardly The End resuming and down in weight; and improving 10. Petrograd second-up.
How to play it: Dupenny to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 3 – 2.55pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2200m)
Out over the staying journey now in a very modest race. Tough local mare 2. Eva’s Deel has been up for a while but gets her chance to break a two-year winning drought. Has produced her best form in a long while since switching to the local Mulholland stable, and is looking for this journey now after working home nicely in her last two. All her best form is on dry ground, and the leading hoop has been booked.
Dangers: One of the more lightly raced runners, home track rival 4. Yallah Sunrise won two straight in weak company before even to the line in a similar graded race at Queanbeyan. Keep safe 4. Yak at good odds deep into his prep; while both evergreen eight-year-old 1. Careering Away and consistent 9. Dream Lad down in weight; are capable of filling a place.
How to play it: Eva’s Deel to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 4 – 3.30pm: BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1200m)
Small but competitive sprint. This set up nicely for tough-as-teak eight-year-old 3. Petain getting some weight relief deep into his prep. Hasn’t been out of the placings in his last five, including two wins in and around similar company, and again draws to be tucked away with cover, and produced at the 350m.
Dangers: Honest mare 1. Milamoo has a big finish if she gets the pace on, although that’s debatable here. Has sat closer in much deeper races, although better when ridden from further back. Blinkers come off, and she’ll appreciate the long straight here. Keep safe home track mare 5. Tells Tails who can peak from a soft gate after charging home late second-up; while 6. Brooklyn Star who is hard fit; and 4. Armatree with blinkers back on fourth-up; both go in trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Petain to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 5 – 4.10pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m)
An open sprint battle, but leaning to lightly raced three-year-old 4. Ithicus who reloads at his fourth start after missing last Monday’s abandoned Orange meeting. Maps well on-speed again after cruising home from the front at Narromine a month back before sitting behind the speed and failing to run down the winner at Mudgee.
Dangers: Locally trained last-start winner in this grade, 1. Vital Verse also draws well to roll forward, and big weight off-set by a 3kg claim. Watch for improving 3. Sizzle Minizzle hitting the line third-up; while including in exotics 6. Movin’ Denman deep into his prep with a significant jockey change.
How to play it: Ithicus to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 – 4.50pm: MAIDEN PLATE (1400m)
Lightly raced and progressive home track mare 10. Hammoon Money only needs to get over from an awkward draw to break through third-up in her first proper prep. Led for a long way here nine days ago from a wide draw when hard enough in the market, and winkers have been added.
Dangers: Big watch on improving and consistent mare 11. Ohana Joy who tracks to peak fourth-up from an ideal trailing draw, and blinkers come off. Keep safe 5. Pelham resuming from a low draw off a long break; while lightly raced 6. Turnaway second-up; 9. Camp Cove and at bigger odds honest filly 14. Edith’s Joy can all run into the minor end of the money.
How to play it: Hammoon Money to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 – 5.30pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1400m)
Like improving five-year-old 3. Shubick to salute in a wide race to wrap the meeting. Swept home from midfield to win his maiden here two runs back before taken to the front when easy in betting, and held on until the last few strides. Better when ridden off the speed, and a little less depth in this.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by veteran 4. Indian Thunder who has been in the money in his last four, and will roll forward again with a weight increase off-set by a 3kg booking. Must include capable mare 8. Owhata Crumpet who draws the fence, and will settle back with cover before being saved up for one final rush; while 5. Quest For Honour and at bigger odds 10. Five Feet Apart fourth-up behind a fast-finishing maiden win; are both each-way chances.
How to play it: Shubick to win. Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS:
R4 3. PETAIN
R6 10. HAMMOON MONEY
BEST VALUE:
R7 3. SHUBICK
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
