By Neil Evans
Track improving Soft 6 and rail out 3m from 1200m to 350m into a cut/away and True the remainder
Race 1 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1000m)
We start Cup Day Prelude with a very competitive sprint on a surface that will continue to improve. Like home-track mare 3. Aunty Monnie at the value first-up for more than seven months. Was sound through the line in a recent soft track trial, and comes to hand early in the prep.
Racing returns to Tamworth on Tuesday.Credit:Getty
Dangers: Tough 1. Dubbo Wanderer hasn’t been far away twice against deeper company rolling forward since bolting in a class 3 here in heavy going when ridden from much further back. Loves rain-affected ground, and likely to revert to off-speed tactics again jumping from a wide draw and forced to carry a big weight. Keep safe 4. In A Step who will go forward from a handy gate fourth-up, and also comfortable in the going. Consistent 6. Rylan’s Pick is hard fit, and charged home to win a thinner BM 66 only nine days ago despite being easy in betting. Include in wider exotics 8. Briefly who has been right behind the placegetters in three runs at class 3 level, and twice a winner on soft ground.
How to play it: Auntie Monnie each way. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m)
Same trip for the maidens stacks up nicely for lightly raced Snitzel filly 12. Sumati reloading for her third start off a seven-week break and dominant trial win here where she cruised to the front wider out and held them all easily under a tight hold. Had two mixed efforts prior on a bigger track, but better suited around here, where she can utilise that early speed.
Dangers: The betting will tell a story, with Denman filly 10. Harmonica Miss who draws well on debut off two steady trials. Lightly raced 2. Aquarter has been very disappointing in two runs this prep after a dominant trial win, although surely improves back in a thinner race on preferred soft ground, with a senior country jockey taking over. Lightly raced home-tracker 4. Waydie can go close second-up; while 8. Zarizatiz improving in her second start can run into the minor money.
How to play it: Sumati to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 MAIDEN HCP (1200m)
Improving provincial three-year-old 1. Canny Prospect can break through second-up over a furlong further. Settled worse than midfield resuming when attacking the line late, and found the line impressively in two previous runs at this track last spring. Bred to thrive in soft going.
Dangers: Expecting a much better run from home-track filly 7. Seductive who has trialled well in soft ground since finishing a long way down the track at Muswellbrook four weeks ago. Keep safe locally trained 6. Rivoli Star, who drops back from deeper provincial company, and winkers replace blinkers. Watch for any money with 2. Capitamy resuming for only his second start behind two progressive wet-track trials; so too at big odds 4. Whoforgotspud who starts his career as a gelding off two quiet trials.
How to play it: Canny Prospect to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 MAIDEN HCP (1200m)
Tricky maiden here, but settled on home track Wandjina three-year-old gelding 3. Wanda River who debuts in winkers from the inside barrier off two improving trials.
Dangers: Progressive three-year-old 1. Hammoon Sky is drawn off the track, but can still figure at his third start. Hit the line to miss by a whisker here on debut before a fair effort in a good form race at Scone with the winner having won again since. Respect, too, for home-trackers 4. Utopian Spirit who finds an easier assignment fourth-up; and Cable Bay filly 6. Arrabbiata after two close-up efforts to start her career; while both 8. Mike improving fourth-up with blinkers off; and 12. Rushin’ Bubbles in an easier maiden fourth-up with a 3kg claim; can both run into the minor end of the prize.
How to play it: Wanda River to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)
Still with the maidens, but out to the mile, and it shapes nicely for improving provincial filly 12. Fast Lady to peak third-up over more ground. Has twice worked home well from midfield at Coffs in races with slightly more depth, and bred to handle soft going.
Dangers: Stablemate filly to the top selection 13. Lonhreel is also suited getting out to this distance third-up. Honest 5. Super Mind is hard fit and been working home OK all prep, but needs to find a length or two; while 9. Promised deep into her prep from a soft trailing draw; 8. Perseptina who drew wide; and lightly raced 11. Charlotting from a better gate at her fourth start; can all add big value to trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Fast Lady each way. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 CLASS 2 HCP (1200m)
Hard to go past progressive and smart filly 1. Sumptuary, who can make it two straight wins third-up. Cruised home on debut before working home well in much deeper Highway grade six weeks between runs, then stalking the speed as a hot favourite before going home best in a country class 1. Drawn to get a lovely trail right behind the speed, and looks very well treated after the 3kg claim. Bred to relish rain-affected ground being by Snitzel out of a Show A Heart mare.
Dangers: Local three-year-old 2. Acotango shapes over the odds fourth-up from the inside draw. Gap to the rest headed by 7. Bullawa Creek fourth-up; and consistent mare 8. Rubi Air who flashed home from the back last start.
How to play it: Sumptuary to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 MORNINGTON PRELUDE OPEN HCP (2100m)
Talented mare 2. Mirror Queen steps up sharply in trip third-up, but if she gets cover and a clear crack at them from the 400m, is the one to beat. Has worked home late in two 1400m runs this prep, clearly wanting more ground, and is the best weighted runner in the race after the jockey’s 3kg allowance. Thrives on soft ground, and races best when she can get to the outside.
Dangers: Home-tracker 3. Strelitzia will appreciate a drop in quality from a Country C’ship Wild card, and also getting out over a much longer trip third-up. Ultra-honest four-year-old 6. King Kikau won two straight at inferior BM 58 grade before a fair effort in the BM 80 Hannam Cup; while battle-hardened topweight 1. Reward Seeker finished off well in the BM 92 Wellington Cup just nine days ago, but severely doubt he can give the top selection 8kg and win.
How to play it: Mirror Queen to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 TAMWORTH CUP PRELUDE OPEN HCP (1400m)
We close the card with the feature Cup Prelude, and naturally it’s open with plenty of chances. Sticking strong with local five-year-old 1. Casino Lord who peaks fourth-up coming through two deep Country C’ship qualifying races. Had little luck in traffic two weeks ago behind the smart Talbragar who then finished second in the Country Final at Randwick on Saturday. Reliable weight carrier who is better served when drawn further out, and just needs clear air from the 400m.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by 4. Sailor, who draws inside, and reloads off a 10-week spell and easy trial, having won two straight in good quality metro company over the border in January. Hard to knock the form of progressive and well-weighted home-tracker 11. Epic Ranger who came off a handy Highway run to easily claim a country BM 78 from the front. Keep safe too smart mare 7. Moetta who hasn’t finished further back than second in four out of five runs this prep, including a last-start win in the Wellington Town Plate, although a query over a longer trip against some of these. At much bigger odds, 3. Two Up dropping back from Midway grade is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Casino Lord to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
BEST BETS
Race 2: (12) SUMMATI
Race 6: (1) SUMPTUARY
BEST VALUE
Race 5: (12) FAST LADY
