By Nick Berney
Selections based on a good track.
Race 1 – 12:45PM KEL PENFOLD FINANCE MAIDEN SHOWCASE PLATE (1000 METRES)
Hard to go past 2. Mr Wallace at set weights bringing strong form lines to this event. The gelding is now under the guidance of trainer Cody Morgan and resumes without an official public trial. Repeating any of his figures from the last preparation will make him hard to beat.
Dangers: 3. The Gossiper won a trial at this track before having no luck in his first-up run at Armidale. He has a much more positive race setup with a significant barrier change and back to a dry surface suit. 8. Little Bit Yours will be fitter from her first-up run, and the extra ground is ideal. 9. Avoid Me comes through the same race and is rock-hard fit.
How to play it: Mr Wallace WIN & Exacta 2 / 3. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
The cup is the highlight of a strong card at Tamworth on Friday.Credit: Fairfax
Race 2 – 1:20PM CIVILCON ROMANTIC DREAM – 2YO PLATE (1000 METRES)
Multiple first starters engaged here. Leaning towards 9. Genzano, which is a nice type and has had two solid trials leading into this event. She is well-educated, has shown speed in both heats and is versatile. The Paul Messara trained debutante looks well placed with a favourable draw and is set up to run well here.
Dangers: 2. Burling trialled well under a tight hold recently at Scone and went through the line full of energy. Moreover, that heat had time/sectional merit relative to the morning after adjustments. The anticipated genuine tempo will allow him to find a rhythm, balance up and hit the line hard. 3. Is He Out ran time winning his trial at Scone and will roll forward. 6. Yamabushi is still learning but has shown gate speed in both trials and 1. Bare To Witness brings a race experience edge.
How to play it: Genzano WIN. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 3 – 1:55PM ELITE SAND & SOIL MORNINGTON SHOWCASE HANDICAP (2100 METRES)
3. Mirror Queen wasn’t suited last start being 37 days between runs, and was sharply up in distance. Further, the late market trade also suggested she would improve from the run when drifting $2.4-$2.9 but to her credit; she ran an honest second. The four-year-old has a much more positive race setup with a run at the distance under her belt and a significant barrier change allowing her to settle closer. In addition, a senior rider goes on, and the blinkers come off.
Dangers: 6. Rasay Factor produced a career peak figure and bolted in to score at Armidale last start. He steps up in grade but is racing well and is rock-hard fit. 1. Rule The World started $21 in the Orange Cup (2100m) and ran on OK. He is suited back to a dry surface and can rate to win. 2. Kingstar Bullet beat Mirror Queen last start at this track/distance and add 7. Avalicious to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Mirror Queen WIN. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 4 – 2:35PM COURTHOUSE HOTEL JARDEL CUP – F&M BENCHMARK 66 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
Nothing went right for 4. Athena Nyx last start at Wyong 15 days ago. She can bounce back here with a significant barrier change allowing her to settle closer and receives blinkers for the first time. She is a winner at this track, can rate to win and back to drier ground suits. Each-way.
Dangers: 6. Golden Gate is 267 days between runs but found the line well in a recent trial at Rosehill, albeit being ridden out. She was a strong winner first-up last campaign and is a key late market watch. 10. Seductive led at a fast pace and put her rivals away easily at this track/distance last start. 1. Darpano drops in grade, and the winkers go on. 7. Bondadosa is a knockout chance and maps well here.
How to play it: Athena Nyx E/W. Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Race 5 – 3:10PM GTS LAWNPRIDE COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN SHOWCASE PLATE (1400 METRES)
5. Vis I Do, who represents value, had no luck last start after being held up for most of the straight but ran hidden solid closing splits. The gelding improved each run last preparation, and his profile suggests he is ready to peak here over 1400m at his home track. He is a knockout chance and expect him to savage the line.
Dangers: Both 2. Big Time Charlie and 11. Top End Mikki were run to suit last start at Muswellbrook but ran on well in a high-rating race. 14. Priding brings the best last-start figure and maps to have all favours. Expect 7. Antarctic Pride to roll forward, and add 1. Backlash to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Vis I Do E/W. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 6 – 3:50PM DYNAMIC FIRE JOHN CLIFT MEMORIAL – BENCHMARK 58 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
11. Totally Discreet returns off a 207-day break and has had a quiet trial at this track recently. First-up last prep, the mare started hard in the market and had slight excuses but ran an honest race. She now enters her second campaign under the guidance of trainer Cody Morgan, and although drawn wide, she can overcome that with her sharp turn of foot. She finally returns to dry ground and has multiple winning figures for this event. Each-way.
Dangers: 1. Markwell Dreamer is an ultra-consistent type and has raced well recently in stronger grades. He was blocked at key stages last start at Newcastle and was solid in defeat. He has a tricky setup but expect him to be fighting out the finish. 2. Trumped Up is coming through a high-rating race won by Talbragar, and his last win came at this track/distance. He maps well and will be strong late. 8. The Affirmative can roll forward from the kind draw, Grant Buckley rides, and she can give a sight. 5. Minimal is a last-start winner and another 1000m specialist.
How to play it: Totally Discreet E/W. Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 7 – 4:25PM TAMWORTH CITY TOYOTA ***BIG DANCE ELIGIBILITY*** TAMWORTH SHOWCASE CUP (1400 METRES)
12. Loch Eagle started $6 in the Provincial-Midway Championship (1400m) at Randwick 13 days ago but had too much to do. He was wide, got too far back and wasn’t suited to the pace of the race, but to his credit, he charged home to run second. Further, he clocked one of the fastest final 200m splits of the entire meeting. The gelding will be much more suited to the anticipated genuine tempo, where he excels in high-pressure races and produces his peak figures. Jockey Dylan Gibbons rides, having ridden him three times for two wins and a second. Each-way.
Dangers: Forget 15. Akasawa’s last start on a very testing track last start at Randwick in the Country Championship Final (1400m). The gelding can bounce back on dry ground, and he maps to have an economical run throughout transit. He has a fantastic record and can use his key asset of acceleration to sprint away from his rivals at the top of the straight. 1. Cross Talk is an ultra-consistent galloper with a strong starting price profile. He has trialled well between runs, is suited back in distance and will roll forward. 9. Spangler has accepted in other races over the coming days, but his last start win was full of merit. He was well-ridden, but the clock backed up his visual dominance in the Provincial-Midway Championship final (1400m). He has a trickier set-up here, but if he lines up in this event, expect him to run boldly. 5. Cisco Bay has a tricky draw but can sprint fresh and market watch on 7. Acquitted, who has had a slight setback this campaign.
How to play it: Loch Eagle E/W. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 8 – 5:05PM SKY RACING WORLD COUNTRY MAGIC CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
Lightly raced improver 3. Starliner returns and has trialled well enough recently at Muswellbrook without the blinkers on. The three-year-old contested the G3 Spring Stakes (1600m) before spelling last prep, started a respectable price, and ran honestly after having factors against her. She profiles well for this event, dropping significantly in grade, is on an upwards ratings spiral and has key attributes. Additionally, the blinkers go back on for race day and expect her to be savaging the line.
Dangers: 1. Rura Penthe is a consistent type and has been racing well this prep. He has trialled well between runs and went through the line full of energy in a recent heat at Armidale. 5. Vain Rich tried hard in defeat last start at Armidale in a high-rating race. He maps to have all favours and brings a fitness edge. 8. Smart Shot has a solid record at this track and ran well last start.
How to play it: Starliner WIN. Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Best Bets: Race 8 (3) Starliner; Race 7 (12) Loch Eagle
Best Value: Race 5 (5) Vis I Do
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
