By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail True.
Race 1 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
We start group 3 Belle of the Turf day with a very competitive maiden for the boys at set weights on a surface that could settle closer to a good 3 with no rain in sight. Drawn to sit right behind the speed on debut, like Real Impact three-year-old 5. Bias who starts as a gelding. Given plenty of maturing time at the trials, the latest at the provincials swept between runners from just off the speed to win with plenty in hand.
Racing returns to Gosford on Tuesday for a seven-race card.
Dangers: Much could depend on the twists and turns of the two Mark Newnham-trained runners if they both start, more so striking Ribchester three-year-old 7. Gunmetal who is set to debut as a gelding behind two progressive trials. Showed speed from a wider draw in the latest and was asked to find the line over 1050m. Trained on the track, ex-Hong Kong five-year-old 2. Border Control makes his Australian debut off a 13-month spell, but did look sharp through the line in a recent trial. Deep Field gelding 6. Field Agent is also in the mix on debut after being strong through the line in a trial at the provincials. Included in the first four plays, 4. Super Freds who drew the inside deep into his prep.
How to play it: Bias to win and trifecta 2,5,7/2,5,6,7/2,5,6,7. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 2 FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
The girls’ edition is even more open, with a stack of chances, although all but two have tasted action. Like Dissident four-year-old 2. Majeedis who can improve enough second-up from a low draw to land the prize. Stuck on well from the wide gate at Hawkesbury in a maiden of some quality, and she should settle right behind the leader here.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by 1. Choix De La Mer resuming after two strong and improving trials for a leading metro stable. Keep safe provincial three-year-old 11. Island Tide who peaks third-up with a stronger rider taking over. Also, third-up, 7. Fanagoria over a little more ground; and Hellbent filly 12. Off Da Hizzle on debut behind two trials; are both capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Majeedis to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 3 CLASS 1 HCP (1600m)
Out to the mile we go, again in a race of several chances. Despite a wide draw, metro-based Cable Bay mare 1. Charity Spirit can launch home here second-up. Did her best work late in a BM 64 resuming, and the extra 300m in trip gives her ample time to settle back, find a trail and produce a superior closing 500m. Was considered good enough to throw into group 1 company in autumn.
Dangers: Lightly raced three-year-old 2. Crafty Eagle is going well in her first proper prep, a maiden winner in metro company, then chased well enough as an easing favourite at Kembla. Threatens to go around under the odds, though, from a tricky draw and up to 60kg. Conversely, over the odds is provincial three-year-old 3. Sir Godric third-up from the fence draw after a tough and narrow maiden win 20 days ago. Honest mare 6. Oakfield Redgum heads the rest.
How to play it: Charity Spirit to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 4 CLASS 4 HCP (1200m)
Good sprint with plenty of quality on show. Hard to go past provincial four-year-old 2. Fielding again after he powered down the middle from the trail second-up at Warwick Farm at BM 72 level. That made it two wins from his last three, and he’s well placed here carrying half kilo less after the claim. Only missed a place once from 10 starts.
Dangers: From the inside draw and with blinkers going on, capable mare 4. Per Inaway is the big threat having hit the line in a deeper metro race 18 days ago. Gap to the rest headed by 3. Game Theory who hasn’t attacked the line in his last two, but will find this a bit easier, and is drawn to get a lovely smoother right behind the speed; while both 5. Mabel with a key jockey change; and 7. Amortal fourth-up and down in weight; are worthy exotic players.
How to play it: Fielding to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 5 GOSFORD GUINEAS (1200m)
The main support race for the three-year-olds at Listed level shapes as the domain of powerhouse Hellbent gelding 1. Hell I Am who is out to book his place at the Magic Millions carnival on the Gold Coast. Took big strides in metro company last prep on the wetter tracks before returning with a dominant fresh win in the Magic Millions at Wyong over this track when he swept past from just off the speed. No J-Mac aboard this time, but he draws to repeat the dose from the same stalking position, and looks beautifully treated under the set weights and penalties conditions of the race.
Dangers: Talented filly 4. Russian Conquest returns off an 11-week spell and is drawn off the track, but she gets down to a career light 54kg, and did look sharp winning a recent metro open class trial. Doubtful consistent colt and stablemate of the top selection 2. Shalailed can turn the tables from the Wyong clash, but that was his first run clockwise for three months after two very solid placings at group 3 level in Melbourne. Include emerging 7. Hi Dubai in exotic bets after a dominant barrier-to-box win on debut at Canterbury.
How to play it: Hell I Am to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 6 BELLE OF THE TURF STAKES (1600m)
The headline battle over a mile for fillies and mares is one of the most open editions in a while. Like the value of Randwick five-year-old 4. Nothinsweetaboutme who peaks in her second-up strike zone. Fought on strongly when resuming in a deep metro BM 78 under a hefty 62kg, and with a 5.5kg weight drop here around a much smaller circuit, she will take a power of beating. Was competitive up to 2000m last prep.
Dangers: If four-year-old 15. Ausbred Flirt gets a run backing up in four days from a second placing at Randwick, she can give a big sight. Drawn out, but loves to control affairs up front, and all three of her career wins from eight starts have come on firm ground. Similarly good value third-up is 11. Ella Te Ama who charged home from well back to land the Provincial Series Final at Hawkesbury a fortnight ago by a big margin. Hard to fathom why rejuvenated six-year-old 2. Ruby Tuesday opened at such a big price given the depth of her fresh win at metro BM 78 level, and a real liking for dry ground; while 13. Lekvarte is best of the rest behind a fast-finishing win at Randwick 11 days ago.
How to play it: Nothinsweetaboutme each way. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 7 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1100m)
Another open sprint to finish, with plenty of chances. Keen on Capitalist four-year-old 8. Divine Okay resuming. Was generally right in the money last prep in slightly deeper races, and has enough tactical speed to overcome the tricky draw. Tuned up for this with two trials, obliterating an open class provincial field in her latest just nine days ago.
Dangers: Another one returning off two forward trials, 7. Flying Annie also has early acceleration. Finished last campaign in the money across three Victorian runs up to BM 70 grade. Exciting home track mare 14. Alicia Roma finally returns from an enforced lay-off, and behind two rapidly improving trials. Burst onto the scene at the start of the year winning on debut by six lengths before a couple of setbacks. Has been in the money all four runs so far, showing good sectional speed, although this is a stern fresh test, and she’s also entered for an easier race at Coffs on Thursday. Big watch on lightly raced 13 Golden Fighter first-up off two progressive trials for a strong strike-rate metro yard. Country-based 2. Debussy heads the rest after a first-up CL1 win.
How to play it: Divine Okay each way. Odds and Evens: Split.
BEST BETS
Race 4: (2) FIELDING
Race 5: (1) HELL I AM
BEST VALUE
Race 6: (4) NOTHINSWEETABOUTME
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
