By Neil Evans
Selections based on a good track
Race 1 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (900m)
The youngsters get us under way over the short course on a track that may get some showers but is likely to stay in Good range, and all but one are on debut. Hard to see smart I Am Invincible filly 4. Blanc De Blanc being beaten off that dominant trial win, clocking 33.20 secs for her last 600m. Drawn to get the right run, and the leading hoop is aboard.
Dangers: Star Turn filly 6. Saltaire debuts off a trial win on the synthetic. Godolphin first starter 1. Los Padres has an important gear addition behind two improving trials. Debutant I Am Invincible filly 8. Zoukerette draws a low gate off two trials for a leading juvenile stable.
How to play it: Blanc De Blanc to win; Odds and Evens: Evens
The big guns come to Newcastle on Sunday.Credit:Getty
Race 2 CLASS 1 HCP (1880m)
Tactics and tempo always play a big part over this sort of distance, but from a better draw and with a handy weight drop, metro mare 2. Chenin can pounce third up. Charged home from well back to be beaten under a length in provincial BM 64 grade 10 days ago, and she can settle a little closer here from a softer gate.
Dangers: Another one potentially peaking third up, provincial colt 1. Kandos Cosmos is the immediate threat dropping back from G3 company where he motored home late at big odds. Gap to the rest headed by 3. Reginald who also finds a thinner race, although up sharply in weight. Last start CL1 country winner 6. Savanaci is on the next line.
How to play it: Chenin to win; Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 PROVINCIAL MAIDEN PLATE (1300m)
Testing sprint for the provincial-based maidens. Keen here on lightly raced home track four-year-old 1. Diamond Tipped second up. Worked home late resuming in a deeper provincial race, and can progress enough with that run under his belt staying at this distance. The early market rival is likely to be withdrawn as well.
Dangers: Another one trained here, 5. The Wanderer is also tracking to peak third up back on dry ground. Improving three-year-old 6. Currency Lad can improve sharply second up. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Diamond Tipped to win and quinella 1 and 3; Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 4 MAIDEN HCP (1300m):
Not much between a few of these over the same trip. Consistent provincial filly 6. Tragara is well placed to finally break through fifth up in her first full prep. Likes to roll forward, and hasn’t missed a place in four runs this campaign in deeper races than this. Aided heavily by the fact a couple of early rivals have chosen to run at the provincials on Saturday.
Dangers: Pierro three-year-old 4. Jamrock debuts as a gelding having won the second of two recent trials nine weeks apart.
How to play it: Tragara to win; Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (2350m)
5. Kozluca can go back to back up in distance after motoring home to win a Midway BM 64 at Hawkesbury. Likes the big tracks where he can settle back and be given time to wind up.
Dangers: Metro six-year-old 2. Sound Of Cannons has plenty to offer back significantly in grade despite a poor win rate from 32 starts. Finished well in tougher metro company two starts ago before failing to run home in the Saturday grade Beauford here 15 days ago. Overdue, and rises back up sharply in weight, but his best would see him right in the finish. Local four-year-old 3. Kingdom Of Gold chased home the top selection last start and is desperate for the extra ground now well into the prep. Capable mare 7. Rosie Impact sat closer last start at Hawkesbury fourth up, and went home best. Query over the longer trip, but stable has removed the blinkers again.
How to play it: Kozluca each way; Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 3YO & UP MAIDEN HCP (900m)
Back we come to the short course, and a couple of city debutants threaten to fight this out. Flying Artie filly 7. Flying Shelley shapes as the one to beat behind two dominant and easy trials wins for a leading metro yard. Bred to be a very good sprinter being out of a strong US dam line.
Dangers: Star Witness mare 3. Leopardess was strong through the line in the second of two metro trials, and starts her career from a nice barrier with crucial gear additions. 9. Ishani resumes for only her second start behind a quiet trial. 1. Sacred Field third up with a 3kg claim. 14. Super Freds is very fit.
How to play it: Flying Shelley to win; Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 7 MIDWAY CLASS 1 HCP (1400m)
One of the more open races on the card, but tough local mare 7. Rockbarton Ruby gets her chance to win a second race back slightly in grade and from a more economical trawling draw. Hit the line late in heavy ground on the Beaumont track two starts ago before again running home in country CL2 grade 17 days ago, and the form out of that race has stood up well. Well in at the weights here on the 55kg limit.
Dangers: 6. Gendarmerie led all the way to claim her maiden second up at Hawkesbury. 3. Superargo second up off a four week freshen-up. 2. Sing A Love Song third up and 4. Pacific Force also third up are all capable of running into the minor end of the money.
How to play it: Rockbarton Ruby to win; Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1200m)
Like progressive metro mare 6. Baden Road to launch home second up over a furlong further. Made up a tonne of ground resuming in similar company at Kembla, and should get enough speed on up front to allow her to produce a superior closing 400m.
Dangers: From an ideal draw to sit on speed or right behind, promising metro three-year-old 8. Johnny Dash can make it three straight. Tracked the speed before sweeping past to claim his maiden in the country, then won from the front in a handy CL1. Drops 1kg for this together test but looks to have plenty of progression up his sleeve. 5. Pacheco won third up in a weaker country race. 1. Sequana is clear best of the rest third up from a low barrier.
How to play it: Baden Road to win; Odds and Evens: Evens
BEST BETS: Race 2 (2) CHENIN; Race 7 (7) ROCKBARTON RUBY
BEST VALUE: R8 (6) BADEN ROAD
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter
