By John Schell
Selections based on a good track
Race 1 – 6PM SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1250 METRES)
4. Hopper is a well-bred Snitzel colt that is on debut here on the back of four barrier trials. The three most recent have included a third behind Tuesday’s Hawkesbury winner Apex and a trial victory at Rosehill before a third on the Kensington track. He has drawn well and is poised to make a winning debut. Dangers: 7. Secure is another Snitzel colt on debut and had one trial at the end of last year before having a break. He’s had two recent trials leading into this and is set to run a good race from a good gate. 6. Metaphorically made his debuted with a third at Warwick Farm back in June and resumes here after two solid trials. A bold showing is expected. 4. Inoue is a stablemate of Hopper and has been placed in each of his two starts in provincial grade. He can show up without surprising.
How to play it: Hopper to win.
Racing heads to Canterbury on Friday.Credit: Fairfax
Race 2 – 6.30PM OOSHMAN PLATE (1550 METRES)
1. Altair I Am was just behind the placings in a couple of runs in June before being was spelled. He resumed at Hawkesbury last month and started favourite when finishing second. He’s better for that run and the step up in distance suits. Dangers: 2. Kotaishi was placed in a couple at Newcastle and Canterbury earlier in the year and has finished fourth in each of his two starts since resuming from a spell. He’s drawn the rails here and should give a good account of himself. 3. Preordain has been placed in four of his eight starts and while this is tougher than what he’s been meeting, he can run into the money again. 5. Bluepinot hasn’t been beaten far in each of his three starts and this looks like a race that should suit him.
How to play it: Altair I Am to win.
Race 3 – 7PM NICK’S GROUP HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
11. Indefensible didn’t do a lot in her initial trial at Warwick Farm, but she showed improvement when a solid second at the same track last time out. She’s drawn well enough in this and there’s no reason she can’t run well on debut. Dangers: 12. Regimental Colours has had a number of trials in preparation for this debut, and she has performed well in the latest two having finished second in a Warwick Farm hit-out before scoring by a big margin there last time out. She’s drawn well and is primed to run well. 1. Queen’s Rhapsody ran second on the Kensington track on debut and has had two trials leading into this resuming run. 3. Hyperbolic has had two starts for a second at Hawkesbury and a fourth on the Kensington track and has had two recent trials to prepare for this first-up assignment.
How to play it: Indefensible each way.
Race 4 – 7.30PM OGALO HANDICAP (1900 METRES)
1. Vaguer has been racing well with a win at Warwick Farm two starts ago being followed by a second on the Kensington track when battling on well to the line. He’s racing well enough to give this a shake. Dangers: 5. Angel Of Light ran fourth to Vaguer at Warwick Farm before a last-start fifth at the same track, and she should show up with a repeat of those efforts. 4. Broadfield is set to peak here fourth up from a spell and can improve on recent efforts. 2. Celestial Fury bobs up every now and again.
How to play it: Vaguer to win.
Race 5 – 8PM PICCOLO ME HANDICAP (1250 METRES)
1. How Dare You was a winner first up last preparation at Scone and resumes in this event. She ran seventh at Rosehill and Canterbury in both runs before the spell and has had two trials in preparation. She can sprint well fresh again. Dangers: 2. Captain Amelia has shown talent, and she resumed with a solid fourth on the Kensington track and can go on with the job in this. 3. Liberty State won a couple on end earlier in the year then failed as favourite at Flemington. She’s had two trials to prepare for this resuming run. 6. Valetudo has performed well in both Australian runs and has been fitted for this with two solid barrier trials.
How to play it: How Dare You to win.
Race 6 – 8.30PM JAMBEROO ACTION PARK SPRINT (1100 METRES)
6. Kerguelen is a lightly raced Lonhro gelding that has a great record with two wins and as many seconds from just four starts. He won by a huge margin on debut on a heavy track at Kembla Grange before a second at Warwick Farm. He then won well at Warwick Farm before a narrow second at Randwick and was then spelled. He’s had two good trials in preparation for this return and has the inside gate. Dangers: 9. Flightcrew was racing well in city grade Midway events before being spelled with a Rosehill win included in her form. She is ready to sprint well fresh after two trials. 2. Port Albert is a last-start Moonee Valley winner that can finish off well in this. 4. Dehorned Unicorn has been racing well in city races and has place claims in this line-up.
How to play it: Kerguelen to win.
Race 7 – 9PM KIA EVENING STAR (1250 METRES)
4. Demiana has shown ability and while her form before being spelled wasn’t the best, she has a win and three placings from four first-up runs, and she resumes here after a strong recent trial. Dangers: 3. Union Army is resuming here on the back of two quiet enough trials and while his form before the break was down on his best, he had a good draw and is talented. 2. Scorch has two wins and three seconds from nine starts and has been placed in each of two trials leading into this resuming run. 6. Lancaster Bomber has not been far away in recent starts and has place claims.
How to play it: Demiana each way.
Race 8 – 9.30PM BP HANDICAP (1550 METRES)
3. Inquiring Minds is an import that had his first Australian start when second at Kembla Grange, then followed that up with a strong Warwick Farm victory. He wasn’t too far away in two subsequent city starts and resumes here after two trials. Dangers: 4. Dreamdeel gave nothing else a chance when leading throughout to score at Newcastle last time out and can give cheek with a repeat of that effort. 7. Field Marshal wasn’t beaten far when 10th at Kembla Grange when resuming and was a Hawkesbury winner before the break. 1. Farnborough is an import that’s resuming and his most recent trial showed promise.
How to play it: Inquiring Minds each way.
Best bets
Race 1: (4) Hopper
Race 6: (6) Kerguelen
Best value
Race 3: (11) Indefensible
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
