By Neil Evans
Track improving Soft 6 and rail out 4.5m from 800m to WP & 3m the remainder.
Race 1 2YO HCP (1115m)
The youngsters get us started on a surface that can slowly improve, although stays in soft range. Keen to be aboard debutant Jukebox filly 8. Shezaduke who starts her career from the inside draw, with one of the top country jockeys aboard. Liked her recent trial at Coffs where she took a sit from a wide gate behind a leader who went fast, and despite laying in early in the straight, still worked through the line under a good hold less than a length away. Bred for both speed and an ability to handle rain-affected ground, being out of a mare by superstar Sepoy who won all four starts on soft ground.
Racing returns to Grafton on Monday.Credit:Jenny Evans
Dangers: Naturally, Headwater gelding 1. North Of Eli is a threat drawn right alongside after missing narrowly first-up at Ipswich. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Eloheh who held her ground OK here first-up in heavy going, while provincial-based 7. She’s Got Teeth worked home late into a place from well back in that same race.
How to play it: Shezaduke to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1015m)
Now the older maidens lock horns, and on the score of fitness and a nice spot on the speed map, tough Written Tycoon filly 11. Pretty Shamrock can finally break through fifth-up. Closed off well to finish just behind the placegetters in three consecutive outings before missing by a long head when hitting the line here four weeks back. Sits a tough closer this time, and comes back in trip.
Dangers: Big watch on 10. Love For Asher, who defied a big betting drift going home best from just off the speed on debut in heavy ground; while ex-Victorian 2. Westerly at second run in the region, 4. Theregos third-up, and 7. Call Me Marilyn resuming off two trials can all add value into the exotics.
How to play it: Pretty Shamrock to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1720m)
Always tricky affairs, these maidens over a middle distance. Another one deep into the prep and banging on the door is Gold Coast-based filly 14. Lady Townson who shapes well here. Has worked home strong enough in generally better races last four, and the form in most cases has held up OK.
Dangers: Plenty of them, starting with ex-Victorian 2. Charmed Destiny who continued a very honest and consistent prep by hitting the line behind a handy winner at Coffs first-up in NSW off a six-week freshen-up. Underrated 5. Kunderang looks over the odds with a 3kg claim after leading for a fair way here over the same distance a week ago, while lightly raced 7. King Cornelius third-up heads the rest.
How to play it: Lady Townson to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 4 MAIDEN HCP (1190m)
Some good value in this maiden aboard improving filly 10. Monazel who peaks at her fourth start with blinkers added, and importantly back on the turf in a thin race. Was close up in a deeper maiden than this here two runs ago, and clearly not happy on the synthetic over the border last start when it was near impossible to come from back in the field.
Dangers: Progressive mare and likely clear-cut favourite 4. Costa De Oro will be hard to hold out, having placed in all three runs this prep, and jockey change is significant. At bigger odds, keep safe stablemate 11. Volarchi who boxed on from the front in heavy ground second-up, while including 12. Echo Sunshine resuming off a forward trial and key gear change, and if she gets a run, 15. Betcha Baby second-up with plenty of experience on soft tracks, in trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Monazel to win. Odds and Evens: Evens.
Race 5 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRE BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1115m)
Very little separates many of these in what looms as one of the most open races on the program. Settled on locally trained four-year-old 2. Alf’s Magic at the value with an important 3kg claim, despite drawing wide. Has been mixing his form all prep, but generally in much tougher company and if he can tuck in from the tricky draw he has more than enough ability to finish over the top here.
Dangers: Gosford-based four-year-old 7. Single Touch makes the long journey north behind an impressive win in similar company 17 days ago when charging home from the back. Natural frontrunner and dominant last-start winner in weaker grade 4. Absolute Legend can give another big sight on speed. Expecting 8. Patriotic King to be getting home late second-up from a soft draw, while 13. Ready To Chase can pump some big value into exotic returns.
How to play it: Alf’s Magic each way. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 6 FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1115m)
The girls’ edition is much weaker, and shapes ideally for 8. Iamrustyparker who can make it two straight fourth-up. Swept home from just off the speed for a smart maiden win at Coffs as a heavily backed fancy, and this is hardly any tougher for a filly well capable of winning much deeper races.
Dangers: Despite drawing right off the track, 3. Perkova can run a race third-up after scoring an upset win in this class a fortnight ago. Watch for any money with home track mare 14. Princess Zeddy who resumes without publicly trialling, although fresh form is poor. Both 1. Awesome Miss, from the inside barrier with a claim, and 9. Piccolo Ponti, coming through a handy CL1 race, can run into the minor end of the prize.
How to play it: Iamrustyparker to win. Odds And Evens: Split.
RACE 7 CLASS 2 HCP (1420m)
Plenty of chances in this one headed by 8. Don’t Forget Dad who is screaming to win another race, and backs up quickly from being edged out here in a BM 58 only a week ago. A shade more depth in this, but he drops 2.5kg, stays at the distance, and draws to get to the outside back on his preferred soft going.
Dangers: No doubting tough mare 6. Indy Rose Warrior has the finishing class to make it three straight, but will need to find some cover from an outside barrier. Watch the betting on lightly raced mare 3. Morning Has broken who resumes behind two improving trials in heavy ground. Topweight 1. Noble Missile back from CL2 metro company, 5. Commanding Reign drawn inside and a BM 58 winner here two runs back, and 10. Inspiration who drops in class from a softer draw, all go into trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Don’t Forget Dad each way. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 8 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1612m)
Back out to the true middle distance for a wider open closer, and at the value, it shapes well for four-year-old 8. Ocean Flyer to peak third-up. Has worked home OK in two runs this prep, but back on a bigger track over a bit more ground, and drawn to get to the outside in the straight, all add up to a big run. Won two straight over further on wet tracks last prep.
Dangers: A stack of them clearly headed by progressive 9. Twosret who swept home to win her maiden her first-up before chasing home a promising winner a fortnight ago. Keep safe 6. Luminoso who has closed off well in his last two against deeper opposition, while 2. Haverion, reloading off a seven-week break and quiet trial, and last-start BM 58 winner in heavy ground 5. Shotgun Bobby from the inside draw, both represent knock-out value.
How to play it: Ocean Flyer to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
BEST BETS: R2 11. Pretty Shamrock; R6 8. Iamrustyparker
BEST VALUE: R5 2. Alf’s Magic
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
