By John Schell
(Selections based on a soft track)
Race 1
1. Pierre Cardinnigan had solid form before breaking through to score a win in maiden grade at this track two weeks ago. He looks to have the talent to go on with the job. 4. Wonderland Star is a three-time winner in 14 starts and hasn’t been beaten far in recent runs. She can show up here. 7. Ellro resumed from a spell with a win at Grafton and then ran second at that track last time out. She has ability and is not out of this. 5. Golden Copper has won her latest two starts and could easily show up again.
Racing heads to Murwillumbah on Friday.Credit: Jenny Evans
How to play it: Pierre Cardinnigan WIN
Race 2
3. Master Copy was a winner at Canterbury in January this year and then ran last at Ipswich when resuming from a spell and was spelled again following that. He’s had two solid trials leading into this and should be primed to run well. 1. Holstein is a classy performer on his day, and was a Canterbury winner back in June. He was down the track at Eagle Farm when resuming and at his best he has the ability to show up in this. 6. Collay’s Spirit ran well when finishing second at Ballina when last produced and is not out of this. 8. Neoclassicism was placed on the Gold Coast Polytrack last time out and he has claims.
How to play it: Master Copy WIN
Race 3
10. Podcast has only had two starts and has been safely held in each of them at Canterbury and Newcastle. This looks an easier assignment and he’s drawn well with Michael Cahill to ride. 1. Miss Reilly has five placings from 10 starts to her name and she should show up again here if she can run up to her best form. 8. Lilica Ebet has shown some talent in her career and is not out of this. 2. Miss Dynamo is resuming from a spell but has been placed in two of her three starts and should be thereabouts again.
How to play it: 10. Podcast WIN.
Race 4
11. Deuterium has had two good trials on either side of a break leading into this debut run, and she has the benefit of gate one with Ben Looker to ride. She wasn’t beaten far in her latest trial at Ballina when running third. A bold showing is expected. 10. Dernier Lien is a stablemate of Deuterium and is also on debut after a number of trials. She is poised to run well. 12. Odette’s Orchids has been placed in her latest two starts and should run well again. 3. Corvalist is rarely far from the placings and is worth thought again.
How to play it: Deuterium WIN
Race 5: 1. Second Sun has only missed a place once from seven starts and is a last-start Sunshine Coast winner. He has the talent to go on with the job here. 2. Torovista has a good record and comes into this after a last-start placing. 3. Highland Hill won at the Gold Coast last time out and is not out of this, while 7. Maurizma is a talented mare with placed claims here.
How to play it: Second Sun WIN
Race 6
3. Flying Astern had three starts in July and August earlier in the year and ran well in each of them. He’s drawn well here and has performed well in a recent trial to be kept up to the mark for this. 1. Superzoom ran second at this track when resuming from a spell and if he can repeat that effort here he should be hard to hold out. 7. Shamiela is on debut for a top stable and has had three trials in total to be fitted for a solid showing. 11. Reveillon is a stablemate of Shamiela and resumes here having run well on debut at Doomben back in July.
How to play it: Flying Astern WIN
Race 7
4. Mychyna went down narrowly at Ballina two starts ago when leading and not being beaten far. She is a winner of four from 22 and warrants plenty of thought. 6. Red Red Wine resumed from a spell with a second at this track and looms as a chance if he can repeat that effort. 3. Smart Action has been midfield in two runs back from a spell and not beaten far in either of them. 12. Velvet has been placed in both runs back from a spell on the Polytrack at the Gold Coast and is not out of this.
How to play it: Mychyna EACH WAY
Race 8
8. Flame Tree Star hit the line well to finish second at this track when last produced when beaten narrowly by Neil. She only needs to run up to that to be hard to hold out in this. 9. Rhumb Line finished third in the event Flame Tree Star ran second in the last time out. He can make an impact in this. 11. Eagle’s Fire hasn’t been too far away in his recent starts and can be in the mix again. 3. Vos Savant resumes here for a new stable and has some handy form to her name.
How to play it: Flame Tree Star WIN
Best Bets
Race 4 (11) Deuterium
Race 6 (3) Flying Astern
Best Value
Race 7 (4) Mychyna
