By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail out 2m from 800m to 400m and 1m the remainder.
Race 1 FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1350m)
We open up with the restricted girls on a track likely to play even firmer. Country five-year-old 4. Nevada Smoke has proved she can generally hold her form bouncing between wet and dry tracks. Surged home in heavy ground to win comfortably here a fortnight ago, and while she’s up in weight, less depth to beat this time.
A seven-race card will be contested at Newcastle’s Beaumont track on Monday.Credit:Getty
Dangers: On the score of progression alone, lightly raced three-year-old 3. Fearless Thinking looks well placed over a furlong further after sweeping home for an easy maiden win here a fortnight ago. Home tracker 1. Island Lass hasn’t done much in four runs back, but this is the thinnest field she’s encountered, although rising to 61kg, still needs to find a couple of lengths. Included in all wider exotic bets, 2. Mon Amore third-up from a soft draw; 6. Boho Chick fifth-up with a change of jockey; and 7. L’esperance Rock also from a softer trailing draw third-up.
How to play it: Nevada Smoke to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 CLASS 1 HCP (1350m)
After one poor run back when forced to work from a wide barrier, tough six-year-old 2. Mr Eighty Eight can improve sharply second-up at huge odds. Drawn to get a far more economical run parking right behind the speed, and a stronger and more senior rider takes over.
Dangers: Naturally lightly raced three-year-old 3. Snizzi is the one to beat, resuming behind two improving trials. Keep very safe too consistent 4. Binkou who can get home hard third-up; while last start all-the-way maiden winner 6. Mystic Isle again draws to control the speed and is over the odds.
How to play it: Mr Eighty Eight each way and box trifecta 2,3,4
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1350m)
Now the boys edition of that opening race. Tough Coffs stallion 1. Wizard Of Oz is tracking for a third-up peak after leading for a long way in deeper grade last start. Big weight hike has been off-set with a 2kg claim, and he has more to offer than the rest of these.
Dangers: Still improving 5. Shen Gui reloads off a similar graded win and near eight-week freshen-up, with the top country jockey staying aboard. Local 6. Just One Look comes off a fast-finishing CL1 win here two weeks back; while both 2 The Fossil and 3. Wilkshire go in trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Wizard Of Oz to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 4 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2100m)
Another weak affair augurs well for improving home track six-year-old 1. Winter Thorn who is primed fourth-up. Worked home late in a stronger race two starts ago before parking closer and only beaten narrowly 17 days ago, again in a race with more depth. Looks well treated, only 4kg over the limit weight, and sire was an unbeaten dual Group 1 winner in the UK back in 2015. Scratched from Tuncurry on Sunday to be saved for this.
Dangers: Improving mare 3. Newfangled Jill can figure third-up at big odds and run the quinella; while progressive and well bred filly 8. Frankie’s Me Dad is clear best of the rest at her third start. Honest closer 6. Finding Alice is on the next line.
How to play it: Winter Thorn to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 MAIDEN HCP (1350m)
Confident Pariah three-year-old 1. Battlespace can hit the ground running on debut. Has progressed through two recent trials up to 1000m, and significantly the “Raging Bull’ stays aboard for the real thing.
Dangers: Country filly 3. Iama Princess is good value third-up from a soft trailing draw; while 6. Mellancamp third-up and 9. Neddy second-up; can fight out the minor end of the prize.
How to play it: Battlespace to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 6 MAIDEN HCP (1150m)
Still with the maidens over a shorter trip, and it shapes nicely for four-year-old country mare 7. Valoria second-up from the inside gate for the same trainer/jockey combination as in the previous. Was well in the market resuming in a deeper race, but caught in the worst part of a very biased straight, and didn’t finish off. Just needs to get clear running away from the inside at the turn.
Dangers: Big watch on home track filly 5. Caroline Bay who resumes for a second prep off two easy trials; while metro visitors 1. Boy Loves To Run resuming behind two solid trials; and consistent 10. Miss Boom Boom fourth-up; can both add value to the exotics.
How to play it: Valoria to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 7 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1150m)
More competitive sprint to finish, and very much with progressive home track three-year-old 13. King’s Duty taking this significant step up from a dominant maiden win on debut. Gave nothing else a chance after going to the front in heavy ground here a fortnight back, but showed in an earlier trial win, he’s just as comfortable on dry ground. Draws well, and just maybe is a future metro winner.
Dangers: Gap to the rest headed by 4. Just Strolling who has been competitive in fours runs this prep, including two at Highway level; while 1. Jacquine Reward resuming from a wide gate; and 12. Lady Fraulein who drew the fence fourth-up and drops in weight; head the rest.
How to play it: King’s Duty to win
Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS
Race 3, No.1 WIZARD OF ODDS
Race 4, No.1. WINTER THORN
BEST VALUE:
Race 6, No.7. VALORIA
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
