By Neil Evans
Track likely Soft 6 and rail out 4m
Race 1 FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1200m)
A competitive girls sprint, with several chances, gets us rocking on a surface that will continue to improve with the weather clearing. The rail goes out 4m from Saturday’s True position. Promising country filly 8. Leggy Point tracked the speed before charging over the top to claim a handy provincial maiden on debut, and she can take the next step on a suitably bigger track remaining on the limit weight.
Racing is at Newcastle on Tuesday.Credit:Getty
Dangers: Talented metro mare 2. Arale has trialled strongly ahead of her return from a four month spell. Won her last two to cap a progressive prep last time, although the handicapper still hasn’t missed her with 61kg. Provincial five-year-old 3. Irish Kisses draws to get a soft run fourth-up, but a less experienced and weaker rider goes on.
How to play it: Leggy Point to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 2 CLASS 1 HCP (1500m)
Having avoided a very heavy track at Scone on Monday, home track four-year-old 3. Tiva Bay can make it two wins from three this prep over a bit further. Came from the back to win his maiden fresh before stiff not to get home in a similar graded race on the Beaumont track. Building a nice record on rain-affected ground, and will be tucked away off the speed from the inside gate before being produced in the straight by the “Raging Bull”.
Dangers: Naturally, impressive second start maiden winner here, 1. Wrathful is the clear threat having also been scratched from Scone to be saved for this on a more suitable soft surface. Had previously trialled well on similar rated ground, and drew to get cover and a trail off the speed. Gap to the rest headed by 6. Viennoiserie who is ready to peak fourth-up from a soft draw; while 4. Oakfield Redgum second-up heads the rest.
How to play it: Tiva Bay to win and quinella 1 and 3
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 3 MAIDEN HCP (900m)
The maidens fly here over the short course, and well over the odds second-up is improving mare 9. Hubie Dubie also by-passing Scone to run here. Was fancied at each way odds first-up before fighting on strong in a more than handy maiden four weeks back, a key gear change has been made, and leading metro jockey booked to ride.
Dangers: Big watch on four-year-old 1. Parrying who resumes nearly eight months after a one-off flop on debut. Has won both lead-up trials, the latest by more than six lengths, and blinkers come off. Keep safe well bred Russian Revolution three-year-old 3. Firebird Two who debuts behind two quiet trials; while another first starter, Written Tycoon filly 7. Tulip Miss can run into a place.
How to play it: Hubie Dubie each way; quinella 1 and 9; & box trifecta 1,3,7,9
Odds and Evens: Odds a special
Race 4 MAIDEN HCP (900m)
Play it again Sam over the scamper trip, and debutant Sooboog three-year-old 1. Fast Response is the one to beat. Looked smart winning the second of two metro trials, running a slick final 600m, and drawn to get the right run just off the fence.
Dangers: Speedy 6. Shezanalister bolted in four consecutive city and provincial trials over a 19-week stretch before only being run down late on debut in the country on heavy ground a fortnight ago.
Back in trip, and on soft going, suits even more, and she must give a big sight. Gap to the rest headed by improving colt 4. Capital Theatre third-up; while 5. Ovoid resuming behind two trials; and locally-trained 10. Super Freds fifth-up; are capable of running into the minor end of the money.
How to play it: Fast Response to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 MIDWAY BENCHMARK 68 HCP (900m)
Still over the flying distance, and like the value around resuming three-year-old 5. Vegas Raider having his first start for 19 weeks. Flooded home to win a feature country sprint on debut as a two-year-old before tackling stronger metropolitan winter fields. Given time since an easy trial 18 days ago, and can settle back off the speed and produce a withering finish.
Dangers: Smart four-year-old 4. With Your Blessing hasn’t raced for nearly nine months, but has been fitted with two progressive trials, and won first-up last time at the provincials.
Included in trifectas and first fours, honest 3. Aspen Chase second-up; 6. No Statement who draws to track the speed deep into his prep; and 2. Greenheart who improves sharply second-up from a softer draw.
How to play it: Vegas Raider to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 MAIDEN HCP (1600m)
Never easy when the maidens get out to the mile, but on the score of potential and progression, emerging three-year-old 3. Flexing can claim the prize at his third start. Just failed to run down the winner in the country 17 days ago over the same trip, but from a softer draw here, blinkers and a senior city jockey both go on.
Dangers: Hard to make a strong claim for anything else, with a few of them racing on Monday, but keep a big watch on 4. Ruberto who made up plenty of late ground on debut in that same race as the top selection for a leading metro stable.
Another one preferred here to Scone, 13. Supra Marnium fourth-up; and 5. Boston Of Tuffy improving at third start with blinkers coming off; are on the next line.
How to play it: Flexing to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
One of the more even and tougher races on the program. Always love seeing one by Cox Plate winner Ocean Park starting their career at least over this trip, if not further. Metro mare 10. Oceanique has been given a stack of time through the trials, but debuts only one week after her latest one on the Kensington track where she was given an easy time to the line after travelling back and wide.
Dangers: Exciting colt 4. Cappelletti is a clear threat resuming for only his second start behind a dominant provincial trial win, with key gear additions. Gap to the others headed by 6. Genetic Freak who debuts in blinkers off a quiet trial for the leading metro stable; and emerging filly 17. Good Girl resuming for a second prep having won the second of two trials, if she gets a run.
How to play it: Oceanique each way
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 8 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1200m)
The boys edition of this race bookends the meeting, and ready to unload on progressive four-year-old 8. This’llbetheone who crucially drops back 100m in distance second-up. Fought on okay after leading at Randwick, and with that extra fitness, and top jockey taking over, this is strike time for a galloper earmarked for better races.
Dangers: Got plenty of time for promising 3. Unrelenting who led for a long way first-up at the provincials in similar grade, and like the top selection, is drawn to find the right run. Watch the betting on talented four-year-old 1. Ka Bling who resumes behind a tidy trial, and normally wastes little or no time coming to hand. Include across the exotics 5. Plagiarized resuming from the inside draw; while 10. Fire And Ice can run into a place second-up.
How to play it: This’llbetheone to win
Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS: (Race 4) No.1 Fast Responser
(Race 6) No.3 Flexing
BEST VALUE: (Race 8) No.8 This’llbetheone
