By Neil Evans
Race 1 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
An exciting group of juveniles get the twilight card under way at set weights. Promising home-track colt 4. Getty reloads nearly three weeks after a close-up and brave debut effort at the Gold Coast on a very shifty track which saw the remainder of the meeting that day abandoned. Drawn to get to the outside here and only needs to tuck in for cover from a tricky gate to be the one to beat.
Dangers: Another colt by Capitalist and trained on the track, 3. Capital Heart debuts off two winning trials. Stable has a big opinion, preferring this meeting rather than tomorrow’s card on the course proper, and he gets first use of the inside. Deep Field colt 1. Bases Loaded starts his career off two recent forward trials. Godolphin filly 10. Shaken also debuts off two improving trials and is beautifully bred by I Am Invincible out of 2014 Blue Diamond winner Earthquake.
How to play it: Getty to win; Odds and Evens: Split
Midway winner Made By Khan is a danger in race four.Credit:Getty
Race 2 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
Same trip and weight scale for the three-year-olds now, and it shapes nicely for smart and resuming Astern filly 9. Parisal. Looks to have this at her mercy resuming off two classy trial wins and under the conditions of the race.
Dangers: From the inside draw, Written Tycoon debutant 1. Botanica can run a race off two trials. 4. Dakota Vroom by I Am Invincible also starts his career off a recent trial win in handy time.
How to play it: Parisal to win and quinella 1 and 9; Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 3 3YO MAIDEN HCP (1400m)
Still with the three-year-olds over more ground. 1. Associate has trialled OK at the provincials since missing by a whisker on debut at this track eight weeks ago. Draws to find a nice trail with cover, and stable is going great guns at the moment.
Dangers: Supremely bred filly 2. Call Di by Frankel out of multiple group 1-winning mare Samantha Miss is a huge watch first up for 15 weeks. At her second start before spelling, charged home into a place at listed level over the spring carnival, and has kept ticking over nicely with two easy trials. Was scratched from Tuesday’s Kembla meeting to be saved for the dryer track here. 6. Episodic draws the fence at her second start. 4. Outsider is some each-way value after a tidy provincial debut.
How to play it: Associate to win; Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 BENCHMARK 72 HCP (2400m)
Tricky tactical staying contest here, with a few strong hopes. 3. Whangaehu is ready for this significant step up in distance, with winkers coming off. Has been in the placings all prep, winning a similar graded race in heavy ground two starts back, and he again draws to finding a striking position right behind the leader.
Dangers: Stablemate 6. Oz Legend comes back from three improving runs in BM 78 grade. Things didn’t go to plan at Sandown for 1. Made By Khan fourth up in deeper class, and he was beaten a long way. That said, his previous Sydney form over 2000m was strong winning a Midway BM 72 over 2000m, and big weight has been offset by a 2kg claim. If he gets away clean and settles near the speed, will take some stopping. 7. Monfelicity third up and 8. Endorphins dropping sharply in weight for this rise in class go in trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Whangaehu to win; Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 72 HCP (1550m)
Provincial four-year-old 1. Ella Te Ama is a high-class galloper on her day, and this is a drop in quality, although she has also accepted to run tomorrow. Powered home from well back to easily win the Provincial Summer Series Final, then was fair to the line in tougher G3 company, before closing off well in Saturday BM 78 metro grade a fortnight ago. With a softer draw and 2kg claim getting her right back in the weights debate, she only needs clear air from the 350m to run over this lot.
Dangers: 2. Showtime Lady comes off a barrier-to-box BM 64 provincial win and drawn to utilise that early tactical speed again. Include in exotics 3. Cap Estel (accepted tomorrow), 6. Summerbeel peaking second up; and 7. Pink Baroque dropping in weight.
How to play it: Ella Te Ama to win; Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 BENCHMARK 72 HCP (1400m)
Keen on progressive home track three-year-old 5. Stroke Of Luck resuming for his second prep off two quieter trials. Took big strides last spring, surging home late in heavy ground to be placed at Listed level, and he’ll be fitted to run this out fresh, settling back off the speed and coming down the middle.
Dangers: Resuming as a gelding, 8. Noble Conqueror is the immediate threat off a very quiet trial. Showed staying ability last prep in much deeper company, and at his debut run here a year ago, flashed home from midfield to win. Provincial three-year-old 2. True Crime dug in hard second up when challenged late in similar metro company two weeks back but tougher task here getting over from the outside barrier. Include hard fit 3. Yoshino (also accepted for tomorrow) and 10. Russley Crown improving second up in wider exotic bets.
How to play it: Stroke Of Luck to win; Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 BENCHMARK 72 HCP (1000m)
After two handy runs back, capable four-year-old 3. Narito is primed to win again on a slight distance and class drop. Leading jockeys sticks.
Dangers: From a soft draw, 2. Dutchy Of Savoy can run a big race first up off a forward trial 7. Latenighttoughguy third up and 9. Insurrection resuming as a gelding with the blinkers removed are best of the rest.
How to play it: Narito to win; Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS: Race 4 (3) WHANGAEHU; Race 5 (1) ELLA TE AMA
BEST VALUE: Race 3 (1) ASSOCIATE
