By Nick Berney
Selections based on a soft to good track.
Race 1 – 12:45PM AIRPAK SHEET METAL BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (2100 METRES)
5. On Bail had factors against last start in stronger grade at Sandown Lakeside over 2100m and ran on OK. The four-year-old has been ticking over well this prep, and his sectional profile suggests he is ready to improve reaching optimal fitness. Produced his career-peak figure fifth up last preparation, and a repeat of that effort will put him in the finish. The Peter and Paul Snowden galloper receives blinkers for the first time, can roll forward and rate to win. Each-way.
Dangers: 6. Pharoah’s Reign had all favours winning at Newcastle last start but did it in style. She ran time and the decisive margins confirmed the quality. The mare will have to transfer that form from a heavy track to good ground but maps to control the pace and is in career-best form. Forget 1. Dragon Dream’s last start after having no luck, and 8. Rathvilly Miss is rock-hard fit. Add 2. El Lago to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: On Bail E/W. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Racing returns to Gosford on Frdiay with an eight-race card.Credit:Getty
Race 2 – 1:20PM SKILLION POOLS MAIDEN HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
1. Sir Crackle resumes and won his recent heat at Kembla Grange in fast time relative to the morning. The four-year-old has always promised to have the ability but has had significant factors against him for most of his career. He has strong form lines, a string of winning ratings, and the drying track is ideal, where he produced his career-peak figure in his first prep. Expect an aggressive ride from the soft draw and will take some catching.
Dangers: Debutante 3. Welcome Gypsy is a nice type and trialled well under light riding. She will have to overcome a tricky draw but looks to have talent and is a key late market watch. 9. Gaylebeck raced wide on debut at Newcastle and tried hard in defeat to beat the rest easily in a fast race. She will be fitter for that and is a definite chance. 10. Diamond Blush has been solid at the metropolitan level and has trialled well enough. Add 4. I Stole It to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Sir Crackle WIN. Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 3 – 1:55PM LCD DEBT SOLUTIONS MAIDEN PLATE (1200 METRES)
11. Seiryu sat outside the leader first up at Canterbury in a slow tempo and looked like the winner, but fitness gave out over the concluding stages. The Team Hawkes galloper will be fitter for that effort and maps to have all favours.
Dangers: Debutantes 7. Eagle Nest and 9. Inconsequential have trialled well enough and are key late market watches. Add 12. Sleigh Queen to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Seiryu WIN. Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 4 – 2:35PM SCAPE PROPERTIES MAIDEN PLATE (1600 METRES)
8. Golden Passport had every chance running third last start at Kembla but tried hard in a fast-time race won by smart city-class galloper Arnold. That race rated the highest overall relative to the meeting when comparing time, class and additional factors with two subsequent winners to confirm the form. The three-year-old recorded some of the fastest closing sectionals of the day with his final 400m split in 23.65, and he put a gap on fourth. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained runner is coming out of time/sectional merit races, is ready to peak third up, brings a strong ratings profile and maps to control the pace. Expect him to be hard to beat.
Dangers: Import 2. Father’s Day entered his second Australian prep as a gelding and was solid first up at Hawkesbury in a proven form reference. First and second out of that race have since won at their next start. The five-year-old brings a competitive last start figure, and likely improvement can see him figure in the finish. 10. State Of America had too much to do on debut at Canterbury after settling at the rear of the field in a moderate tempo and posted the fastest last 200m sectional of the entire meeting in 12.76. He maps to settle worse than midfield again; however, expect him to savage the line. 3. Hallowed Son has been honest this prep and receives winkers for the first time.
How to play it: Golden Passport WIN. Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Race 5 – 3:10PM GBM BUILDING F&M BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
8. Rapidity represents value. Had no luck last start at Kembla Grange, and her run had hidden merit in a high-rating race relative to the day. The seven-year-old mare is proven in this grade, has a fitness edge over some of her rivals and has figures that can put her in the finish. Expect her to be savaging the line with an anticipated genuine tempo; she is a knockout chance. Each-way.
Dangers: 3. Eye Pea Oh has trialled well and won her recent heat at Rosehill in dominant fashion. The four-year-old looks to have come back improved, has multiple winning ratings from last prep and maps to have all favours with James McDonald riding for the first time. We haven’t seen 1. Madam Charm at the races for 428 days, and she resumes for her new trainer Nathan Doyle. After two solid trials, the five-year-old is wound up for this and will roll forward from the wide gate. 2. Leeside had every chance last start in an open handicap over the Grafton carnival and has found an easier assignment here. Add 6. Hayami to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Rapidity E/W. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 6 – 3:50PM TERRIGAL HOTEL CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
1. Kipsbay went out a dominant winner producing a career-peak figure before spelling last prep and ran fast time relative to the day after adjusting for age, class and additional factors. That race has produced five winners. The four-year-old gelding resumes for his new trainer Nathan Doyle and won a recent heat in slick time compared to other trials in the morning. He has a strong ratings profile for this event and will roll forward. Expect a bold showing.
Dangers: 9. Another Cognac won well at Newcastle 20 days ago, breaking through for his maiden. The lightly raced colt raced wide, sprinted away from his rivals, and posted one of the fastest final 200m splits of the entire meeting in 12.28. He will be fitter for that effort, and the rise in distance is ideal. 2. Laurelin brings a respectful starting price profile from the metropolitan level and is well-placed here. Expect her to be hitting the line hard. 3. Buenos Noches was visually impressive, winning on debut, albeit the time was below average. Add 15. Shocking Force and 4. Supremo to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Kipsbay WIN. Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 7 – 4:25PM TITAN FINANCIAL PLANNING CG&E BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
11. Garmish resumes and has trialled well enough and was a solid winner first up last prep at Wyong running time. The four-year-old has a strong starting-price profile, has multiple winning ratings and maps to have all favours with Tim Clark riding. It’s worth noting that the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou training partnership is renowned for having their runners fit and ready to run well when resuming.
Dangers: 13. Lohnraki got too far back and had the bias against him last start in a high-rating race relative to the day. Moreover, he tried hard in defeat and sprinted one of the fastest 400m-200m splits of the meeting in 10.79. He brings a fitness edge, and if he can step off his last start performance, he can rate to win. 1. Stick To Your Guns, who Annabel Neasham now trains, is a progressive type and has had two hit-outs at the trials. He has raced in time/sectional merit races for most of this career and is a key late market watch. 5. Dimaggio is an interesting runner and must be added to all exotics.
How to play it: Garmish WIN and Lohnraki WIN. Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 8 – 5:05PM HILLS STREET SPORTS MEDICINE CENTRE CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
4. Maccomo represents value. Had the bias against him and battled on well last start in a Midway Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill. The six-year-olds ratings profile suggests he is ready to improve, and fourth up last preparation, he produced his career-peak figure. In addition, the drying track is ideal and expect an aggressive ride from the wide draw stepping out to 1600m.
Dangers: 8. Microna has been up for a while but is a consistent type and has been racing well. He made an early move last start at Newcastle and sustained a long-wide run to finish second and beat the rest easily. The gelding maps well, brings the best last-start figure and will undoubtedly be fighting out the finish. 3. Zadig led at a fast pace first up at Randwick in a TAB Highway (1800m), and fitness gave out over the final furlong. He will be fitter for that and is another on-pace runner who will give a sight. 5. Bak Da Man can sprint fresh and may have the last shot.
How to play it: Maccomo WIN and Microna WIN. Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Best Bets: Race 4 (8) Golden Passport; Race 2 (1) Sir Crackle
Best Value: Race 5 (8) Rapidity
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
