By John Schell
Selections based on a soft track.
Race 1
1. Archie Maximus is a colt by Brutal on debut here and has had two trials, winning the latest of them at the Gold Coast. He’s drawn well here and is suited with the apprentice claim. 8. Steffi Electrica had two runs earlier in the year for a second at Doomben and a third at the Gold Coast, and has had two trials leading into this return. 10. Unclothed has won a trial since joining a form stable and makes her race debut here, while 5. Scriptus Vivace won on debut at the Sunshine Coast in January and resumes here after a third in a Deagon trial.
How to play it: Archie Maximus WIN
Racing returns to Casino on Friday.Credit: AFR
Race 2
5. Lucky Neko resumes from a spell, having had two trials and has been placed in two of five starts. She looks well-placed to break through here from the rails alley. 4. Homeland has been placed in four of his 10 starts and wasn’t far away when a last-start fifth at Inverell. 3. Pride Of Glasgow went down narrowly when second as favourite at Grafton when last produced and is one of the chances again, while 12. Sharman Pete resumed with a fifth in the same race Pride Of Glasgow contested.
How to play it: Lucky Neko WIN
Race 3
9. Merapi was a Port Macquarie winner three starts ago and has since finished third in two subsequent runs, with both being good efforts. She is up sharply in trip for this but has performed well over this sort of distance. 5. Serenade The Cat was back in the placings when a last start third at Inverell and has minor claims again, while 12. Charmed Destiny has been midfield in a couple of recent runs but can lift. 4. Magadan should get a soft run from the inside gate and is worth including.
How to play it: Merapi EACH WAY
Race 4
2. Call Out resumes here after two good trials and has been placed in one of his four starts and ran well in the others. He’s drawn to get a good run and is set to break through. 3. Champonett resumes from more than a year away from racing but has won a trial to prepare for this. 4. Enhance has been placed in both runs since resuming and should be prominent again, while 13. Totally Underrated ran third at Beaudesert before a last-start fourth on the Polytrack at the Sunshine Coast.
How to play it: Call Out WIN
Race 5
3. Monarch Express was a winner at Lismore in January, then resumed with a solid finishing fifth at Grafton earlier this month. The extra trip should suit here. 2. Hardley Grey was placed here before a last start fifth at Grafton and should be respected again. 6. Vetoed was a last start winner at this track when fresh and has claims again, while 11. Dazzling Robert can improve on his latest two runs with the benefit of a good gate.
How to play it: Monarch Express WIN
Race 6
2. Stoinka was a winner two starts ago and wasn’t beaten too far when a last-start fourth at Inverell. He should run well here from the inside gate. 5. Skates On was an Armidale winner three starts ago and has been placed in both runs since. 7. Cosmic Fortune won at this track two starts ago and should be thereabouts again. 1. Aye Aye Skipper is a last-start Grafton winner.
How to play it: Stoinka WIN
Race 7
2. Majorelle is a handy performer that was a winner at Grafton two starts ago and followed that up with a sixth at the Gold Coast. He should push forward here and take a power of beating. 3. The Astronomer won three in a row before being spelled and should be set to run well here. 1. Maximum Vortex was midfield at Eagle Farm when last produced and isn’t out of this. 7. Krakarib won well at Ipswich last time out and isn’t out of this.
How to play it: Majorelle WIN
Race 8
12. Fat Fingers was racing in great form, winning three in a row at the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast before a last-start second at the Gold Coast. She’s in peak form and looks set to run well. 1. Secret Plan has been racing well and should be around the mark again if he can run up to his best. 2. Flash Aah is talented at best and should figure, while 3. Skyforger is consistent and could get into the placings.
How to play it: Fat Fingers WIN
Race 9
8. Insinuate was a strong winner at this track by a big margin last time out. She’s a winner of two from six and should be primed to run well again. 5. Resurrected looked good scoring a last-start win after a second at Ipswich and should be in the finish again with a repeat of that. 5. Monte Maximus has been down in form in his last two starts, but can improve on that. 7. Clubhouse is big odds and can improve sharply on his latest two starts.
How to play it: Insinuate WIN
Best Bets
Race 2 (5) Lucky Neko
Race 5 (3) Monarch Express.
Best Value
Race 3 (9) Merapi
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
