By Neil Evans
Track likely soft 7 and rail true.
Race 1 CLASS 1 HCP (900m)
We start over the short course on a track that will likely improve back into soft range. Resuming metro mare 2. Extraweird can strike here in suitable going. Has trialled well in open class over this trip, and on debut nearly a year ago powered home to win easily at the provincials.
Dangers: Big watch on 4. Covalent resuming off two trials, and bred to handle the ground. Locally trained 3. Master Joe is also fresh, and has plenty of early speed; while keeping safe 1. Sacred Field who rushed home for a dominant first-up win at Newcastle, although up sharply in weight and facing more depth here.
How to play it: Extraweired to win. Odds and Evens: Evens.
Racing heads to Goulburn on Tuesday.Credit: Jenny Evans
Race 2 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1300m)
Very ordinary race for this grade which augurs well for capable metro filly 1. Lonrioli, who is the one to beat, coming back to country level after failing second-up in a metropolitan BM 64 when stewards reported she never settled behind a solid tempo. Had previously been strong through the line winning a provincial CL1, gets out over a more relaxed journey, and handles the wet.
Dangers: Off a last start BM 58 country win, 2. Celestial Doll is ready for the next step from a soft draw, although the more the track dries out the better her chances are. Honest home-track four-year-old 6. Charlemagne gets winkers on for the first time; while 8. Doola Teela can turn around some ordinary form this prep, with the blinkers off again.
How to play it: Lonrioli to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 3 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1500m)
Keen here on South Coast four-year-old 2. Noble Attack despite dropping out in a CL1 on similar ground at Kembla. Had to work early from the barrier that day, but his previous two runs in the money are a better pointer for this. Safe in this sort of going, and the race lacks depth. Has a 50 per cent place rate from 12 starts.
Dangers: No question promising Ribchester filly 5. Lichester is a clear threat off an impressive second-up maiden winner at Kembla when leading from barrier to box, but does jump 4.5kg for this next test. Keep safe 3. Hadouken, who can improve second-up. Big gap to the rest.
How to play it: Noble Attack to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 4 MAIDEN HCP (1600m)
Home-track four-year-old 1. Fairness Is Best is a consistent and tough performer by Press Statement who has beaten all bar the winner in three of his last four. Loomed to win at Canberra before being edged out late, and is bred to thrive on rain-affected ground.
Dangers: Big watch on lightly raced 3. Princess Mary second-up from the inside draw after being edged out right on the line by a promising one at Kembla. Resuming three-year-old 5. Mickey’s Pride has been given two trials, and returns in blinkers; while 8. Turbo Charge drops in class second-up.
How to play it: Fairness Is Best to win. Odds and Evens: Odds.
Race 5 MAIDEN PLATE (1300m)
Must be aboard well-touted four-year-old Canberra gelding 4. Encantado by Written Tycoon, who makes his debut behind two progressive soft track trials. Drawn to get a nice run on speed, and key gear additions are in play. Would only need to be close to the stable’s opinion to be beat this lot.
Dangers: Trained on the track, 9. Quizy can peak third-up with blinkers added; while 14. Little Complicated deep into the prep can run into the minor money.
How to play it: Encantado to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 6 MAIDEN HCP (1000m)
Back to the sprint trip we come, and keen on improving metro three-year-old 7. Good Lieutenant third-up, and with two stablemates expected to come out having raced on saturday. Chased home well in a Midway at Kembla 13 days ago despite finishing a long way from the winner, and that reads well for a race like this. Had enough experience on rain-affected ground, and could well be advantaged drawn wide out if the pattern goes that way.
Dangers: Keep a close watch on Deep Field metro filly 6. Field Of Hope who debuts behind two recent trials. Resuming from the inside barrier, 1. Spiritchaser has trialled impressively, and bred to thrive in the wet.
How to play it: Good Lieutenant to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 7 CLASS 1 HCP (1200m)
From the same city stable as the previous on top selection, like promising So You Think three-year-old 4. Big Thinking to make it two straight after surging home to beat a handy country maiden field on debut. Has trialled nicely in heavy ground since, and kept on the fresher side given three weeks between runs.
Dangers: Plenty of respect for a 1. Romeo’s Choice who hit the line well in a CL1 on that same day at Nowra after charging home to claim his maiden at the provincials. Keep safe too 5. Diamond Blush who was well supported in betting before giving nothing else a chance from the front at Wyong. Improving four-year-old 3. Sennaprost is over the odds after finishing right behind Romeo’s Choice third-up; while honest 2. One Destiny coming through some handy form races, and at bigger odds provincial filly 10. Shaday resuming with a light weight off a steady trial; head the rest.
How to play it: Big Thinking to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 8 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m)
Confident tough and progressive mare 4. Mooshaka can make it back-to-back wins deep into the prep, and staying at the distance. Worked home nicely in a good form BM 58 two starts back before charging over the top in a CL2 at home with plenty in hand. Building a solid record on rain-affected ground.
Dangers: Consistent colt 6. Battle Abbey handles the wet, and is at peak fitness after four runs back; while seven-year-old 1. Backwater Trader shoots for three wins from his last four coming back in grade after storming home late to beat a handy country BM 66 field, although a big weight rise and inside draw could well come against him here.
How to play it: Mooshaka to win. Odds and Evens: Evens.
BEST BETS
Race 5: (4) ENCANTADO
Race 6: (7) GOOD LIEUTENANT
BEST VALUE
Race 4: (1) FAIRNESS IS BEST
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
