By Neil Evans
Track likely Soft 6 and rail True
Race 1 – 1.50pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2100m)
A small field of battling stayers get us rolling on a track very likely to slip well back into soft range with plenty of rain forecast. Country four-year-old 2. Unzaga (also accepted for Dubbo) has been no friend of the punters in his last two, but both runs have been better than they look on paper. Gets back out to the longer trip he won a CL1 over three starts ago, top jockey stays on, and the likely downgrades into soft range are a further plus. The one to beat if he starts here.
Racing returns to Newcastle on Monday.Credit:Getty
Dangers: Provincial-based 5. Every Effort has just the one win from 37 starts, but he’s hard fit, and charged home late at Gosford last start in a handy CL1. Battling 1. Reposition dropping in grade and 3. Into The Oblivion who likes rain-affected ground can fight out the minor end of the prize.
How to play it: Unzaga to win. Odds and Evens: Split a special
Race 2 – 2.25pm: CLASS 3 HCP (1350m)
Open battle. Keen on four-year-old 5. Imatruestar fourth-up with weight relief, and a more senior jockey taking over. Settled way too far back last start in a BM 58, yet still made up a stack of ground weaving between runners to be beaten only a length. Drawn to sit back and come down the middle late.
Dangers: Keep safe 1. Mihocek after hitting the line second up in a provincial BM 64 12 days ago, and again draws to get cover around midfield. Big watch on improving 3. Osman who was good first-up getting home late in a provincial BM 64; while home tracker 4. Dalgarno resumes from the inside draw behind two quiet trials.
How to play it: Imatruestar to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 3 – 3pm: COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN PLATE (1150m)
Competitive sprint. Keen on three-year-old home tracker and recently gelded 3. King’s Duty who makes his debut behind two sharp and recent trial wins, travelling easily from barrier to box in the latest on a Soft 6 surface. Looks blessed with high cruising speed, and being by Exosphere out of a Swiss Ace mare is potentially the best wet tracker in the race.
Dangers: Big watch too on Russian Revolution three-year-old 10. Troika who resumes for only his third start behind a smart city trial win on a Soft 6. Yet another metro raider 4. Lord Finland resumes for only his third start behind two progressive trials, although was pushed out in the latest. Was only beaten a long head on debut in the country last August, significantly in heavy going. Another on debut, recently gelded Starcraft three-year-old 6. Rivoli Star also commences off a dominant trial win when he sat outside the leader. Gets key gear additions, although just a concern if the track gets too wet; and watch for 2. Charlie Foxtrot running home hard third-up.
How to play it: King’s Duty to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 – 3.35pm: CLASS 1 HCP (1150m)
Moderate sprint this one, although it shapes nicely third-up for local mare and dominant last start maiden winner 4. Lady Fraulein who draws the fence. By Panzer Division and out of a Sebring mare so no concerns if the track is significantly downgraded.
Dangers: Big watch on resuming and lightly raced home tracker 5. Burraneer Buoy who won the second of two trials, and shown to handle rain-affected ground. Snitzel filly and last start third-up maiden winner 9. Mills heads the rest.
How to play it: Lady Fraulein to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 – 4.10pm: FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1150m)
Now the fillies lock horns and like the way metro-based Sebring three-year-old 6. Daytona Girl found the line on debut, and this looks a shade easier. Bred to excel on rain-affected ground, and the wider draw might be a big plus once the rain arrives.
Dangers: Big watch on 11. Miss Boom Boom who went down narrowly in the country first-up; while 12. Rebel Love draws inside and comes through a couple of handy maidens. Include both 9. Kokoshnik on debut off a recent metro trial win; and 10. Matronymic third-up in trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Daytona Girl to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 – 4.50pm: MAIDEN HCP (1350m)
Open and likely toughest race on the program. Keen on Coffs three-year-old 3. My Mate Cobber who is hard fit, and placed in three of his last five. Has motored home from well back in his last two, and even better served here getting on to preferred rain-affected ground.
Dangers: Promising 1. Call Me Louis draws off the track, but that shouldn’t be a concern given he’ll drift back to midfield and look to come with a big charge third-up in his first full prep. Has worked home well in two handy maidens prior. Keep safe 4. Xtra Intent third-up with winkers added; while both 2. Harper’s Jewel also first time in winkers; and 14. Threetimeslucky fifth-up; go through exotic bets.
How to lay it: My Mate Cobber to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 – 5.30pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1150m)
Plenty of chances in the closer as well, but no bigger value than nine-year-old 7. Drachenfels who gets suitable conditions deep into another long prep. Hasn’t won for a long time, and facing the starter for an 84th time, but the way he’s powered home in his last couple it suggests this is right up his alley at double-figure odds. Drawn to come down the middle late in what should be superior ground.
Dangers: Plenty of them, headed by 3. Boss Shelby who is screaming to win a second race fourth-up. Keep safe 5. Oblivion who is honest, and his best form is on wet ground; while 1. Remorseless and 9. Shemakesastatement head the rest.
How to play it: Drachenfels each way. Odds and Evens: Odds
BEST BETS
R1 2. UNZAGA
R5 6. DAYTONA GIRL
BEST VALUE
R7 7. DRACHENFELS
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
