By Neil Evans
Track Soft 5 and rail out 3m.
Race 1 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (2200m)
We start over the staying journey on a surface that will likely push closer to a Good 4. Queensland-based four-year-old 3. I Am The Empire was very disappointing here last start as an odds-on favourite, but still looks to have this field’s measure. Had come through much stronger formlines prior, and only needs to tuck in from the wider draw to be the one to beat.
Racing returns to Grafton on Tuesday.Credit: Getty
Dangers: Improving mare 4. Morning Has Broken also has to negotiate a tricky draw early, but comes off a strong BM 69 win only seven days ago when running home late; while 7. King Kakau dropping in grade and 2. Bold Contender coming out of that same race as the top selection head the rest.
How to play it: I Am The Empire to win and quinella 3 and 4. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 2 CLASS 2 HCP (1006m)
Back to the short courses, and a few chances on show headed by very honest 4. King’s Gold who emerges as the best value from an ideal trailing draw. Has hit the line OK in his last two after claiming a handy quality CL1 at Coffs.
Dangers: Big watch on lightly raced 3. Swift Charm resuming. Won two from three in smart fashion across his first prep, and can go on to win better races. Gap to the rest led by 5. Small Town who will find this a shade easier fourth-up, 1. No Quarantine who resumes in blinkers from the inside gate, and 8. Tabulam also first-up, who can all add value into trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: King’s Gold to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1106m)
Tricky sprint here over a touch further. With an advantage on the speed map, like three-year-old filly 12. Pointillism resuming for a second prep. Despite not running a place in three starts late last year, finished off strongly every time from well off the speed, and she can sit closer fresh here from a softer draw. Bred to prefer it dry.
Dangers: Big watch on another one first-up, 5. Great Southernland who hasn’t raced since mid-September, but fitted to run this out well off two very quiet trials. Keep safe too 4. Freewheeler second-up returning to firmer ground and the blinkers coming off, although drawn wide. Watch for any money around Kuroshio three-year-old 6. Maximum Vortex who debuts off a narrow trial win, as does Magic Albert filly 10. Good Times Again who won a trial narrowly only six days ago.
How to play it: Pointillism to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 4 MAIDEN PLATE (1400m)
Still with the maidens over further, and at good odds it sets up nicely for improving Queensland filly 13. Arpels at her third start. Wasn’t overly suited in the restricted room last start at Ipswich, but drawn to get to the outside here on a more favourable bigger track.
Dangers: Improving mare 9. Costa De Oro is the immediate threat having placed in three from four this prep, and drawn to get a soft run inside. Lightly raced 4. Yukanuma can improve sharply back on firmer ground, and 5. Gauthier debuts as a gelding in blinkers.
How to play it: Arpels to win. Odds and Evens: Odds.
Race 5 FLYING HCP (1181m)
Promising and sparingly raced Tamworth four-year-old 3. Broken Hill draws to continue on his merry way and make it three straight. Was given two months after sweeping home to claim a more than handy CL3 under a big weight on Christmas Eve before again coming off a break, and settling closer to win more than six weeks back. This is his toughest test away from home, but has been kept up to the mark since a dominant open class trial win a month back.
Dangers: Plenty of respect for 1. Exclusive resuming off a five-month spell, and has a 40 percent winning strike rate from 15 starts at this track. Keep safe too 6. Schiller Bay who is ready to peak fourth-up, and also boasts a good strike rate here. Include 2. Leave Me Some second-up from the inside draw and dropping down from metropolitan company, and 4. Bullinachinashop who is hard fit coming through some good form races, in exotic plays.
How to play it: Broken Hill to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 6 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1710m)
Very keen at the value on four-year-old home track mare 8. Twosret who should have bolted in a BM 58 here third-up when badly checked and held up in the straight. Looks well treated from the draw and down 1kg, with an important jockey change.
Dangers: Progressive and last start maiden winner 1. Charmed Destiny is a clear threat. Was placed in three straight runs in Victoria before again beating all bar the winner first-up in NSW at this track after tracking the speed. Expect him to settle well back and come with a late burst. Another one coming off a strong off-speed win third-up is 5. He’s A Copy Boy who draws to get plenty of cover before running home hard; and 11. Kunderang is over the odds drawn inside, and having not finished out of a place in his last four.
How to play it: Twosret to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 7 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1410m)
We round out the meeting with the same graded gallopers as we started, and it’s by far the most open race, with a stack of chances. Like tough and underrated mare 6. Little Prophet who was close up in a country BM 78 third-up, and boasts very useful form in deeper Country Championship qualifying and Highway races. Comfortably over the odds 23 days between runs.
Dangers: Home track specialist 10. Commanding Reign leads any number of challengers. Has early tactical speed, and won his last two here in lesser grades, either side of a flop at Port. Keep safe at odds 2. Dark Euro second-up, while ultra-consistent 4. Buzz ‘N’ Joe with blinkers coming off, 8. Moyassar going back up in distance, and 9. Our Baez with key gear changes, all go in exotic plays.
How to play it: Little Prophet each way. Odds and Evens: Evens.
Best Bets: R5 3. Broken Hill; R6 8. Twosret
Best Value: R2 4. King’s Gold
