By Neil Evans
Track likely Heavy 8 and rail True
Race 1 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2200m)
The nearly always traditional staying contest gets us under way on another heavy-rated surface, and that augurs well for home-track mare 7. Front Row Ticket, who can finally break through at her 23rd start. Worked home late in a similar grade here two starts back before stepping up sharply in distance against deeper provincial opposition when boxing on OK behind a dominant winner. Much better placed over this trip on the limit weight, and importantly blinkers are back on.
Racing returns to Scone on Tuesday.
Dangers: Plenty of them in this type of race headed by improving mare 10. Wilshire Boulevard, who continues to find the line well enough over these sort of trips, and senior country jockey takes over. Provincial four-year-old 2. Bandolero back over more ground; inconsistent 4. Dunlee with key gear changes; and 5. Selvam up in distance from a soft draw; can all fight out the minor end of the money.
How to play it: Front Row Ticket to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1600m)
In a maiden with good quality and depth, it shapes ideally for progressive metro four-year-old 1. Hallowed Son to strike third-up. Has done his best work late in two runs back at the provincials, and getting to the mile now with winkers added and drawn to get cover, is a winning recipe.
Dangers: Expect sharp third-up improvement from provincial four-year-old 2. Anansi who had little or no luck in traffic in a deeper maiden only nine days ago. The blinkers going on lightly raced three-year-old 4. Snizzi is also a big factor for his first run at home, with the top country hoop back aboard. Improving and well-bred mare 8. Star Impact fourth-up; and debutant Frankel colt 5. Angara who has trialled well; can both run into a place.
How to play it: Hallowed Son to win.
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
Got plenty of time for progressive home-track four-year-old 7. Rhythm Is A Dancer who peaks fourth-up back up in distance, and is bred to get further. Found the line in a handy maiden here a fortnight ago, and jockey change is significant.
Dangers: For all his potential and prospects, it’s been an arduous and costly soap opera so far for Capitalist four-year-old 8. Russian Standard. Beaten as a hot favourite twice in three runs last year, he again went under as the short-priced fancy at the provincials in a one-off run in February before spelling again, then was scratched at the barrier before finally returning, but beaten into third as a $1.40 favourite at Muswellbrook 16 days ago. Certainly, the extra 200m on a big sweeping track are in his favour, and he has reacted well on heavy ground. Gap to the rest headed by 1. Dante Alexander who improves fourth-up; and resuming 5. Mclellan who resumes from the inside barrier with gear changes behind a handy trial. Watch the betting too on Press Statement colt 13. Press The Pedal on debut off a solid trial.
How to play it: Rhythm Is A Dancer to win and trifecta 7,8/1,5,7,8,13/1,5,7,8,13. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 4 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1400m)
Another promising local, 2. Quatre Zip measures well here fifth-up in his first real prep. Was a strong all-the-way winner at Tamworth two runs back on a Soft 7 before just missing in CL1 grade here three weeks ago. Has backed up his breeding for wet tracks, twice placed in heavy from three runs. Boasts enough tactical speed to offset the wider draw, and this isn’t strong.
Dangers: Despite a natural weight hike, must keep safe honest mare 3. Whispering Cate deep into her prep and dropping back from a gallant effort in tougher Highway company. Watch for 1. The Mystery Guy working home late first-up since late March; while 8. Bridges To Babylon second-up and 9. Sapello third-up; are both worthy exotic runners.
How to play it: Quatre Zip to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 5 CLASS 2 HCP (1600m)
Tough and open race. Newcastle mare 5. Leading Lady finds the right draw and map second-up coming back a little in distance. Did some work to get over from the gate resuming before fighting on into a place in similar grade at Muswellbrook, and she’s capable of winning smarter races.
Dangers: Local mare 2. Keen Contributer tracked the speed before putting them to the sword in a BM 58 here, although taking on some smarter ones now. Expecting a much improved run second-up from five-year-old 4. Bob up in distance after being ridden way too close without cover resuming here. Consistent mare 3. Maly Malt dug in hard to win a weaker class first-up beating the top selection in the previous race. Stays at the trip & loves rain-affected ground but drawn off the track. Provincial mare 8. Lady Audrey is another one very comfortable in the conditions having won two from her last four, and at peak fitness for this tougher test.
How to play it: Leading Lady to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 6 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1000m)
He doesn’t always produce, but on his day with a clear run, lightly raced five-year-old 1. Casino Lord has more ability than half this field put together. Should have won when thundering home from the back in deeper grade here two runs back before again having an interrupted run finishing late at Tamworth. Big weight offset by a 1.5kg claim, and settling well back again, only needs clear air from the 400m getting to the middle of the track.
Dangers: Tough metro mare 7. All Girls reloads off an 11-week break via a smart trial win; promising six-year-old 6. Zoffany’s Gaze draws a low gate second-up with winkers added; while talented local mare 10. Mezinjit heads the rest back down in weight third-up for this class rise.
How to play it: Casino Lord to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 7 CLASS 2 HCP (1100m)
Very open sprint to finish, with many chances. Progressive four-year-old 3. Ostracised is well placed 38 days after a strong closing effort in deeper highway grade. Proven good weight carrier, and blinkers back on is significant having never missed a place on rain-affected ground.
Dangers: Plenty to like about the first-up provincial run of home track three-year-old 9. A Guinea, although not totally convinced about him in genuine heavy ground. Include in all exotics 2. Impact Star fifth-up; 4. Rebel Dreamer who has also been freshened from that same Highway as the top selection when failing to run on; and 5. She’s Contrary third-up with blinkers added after finishing midfield in a CL2 Highway.
How to play it: 3. Ostracised to win and trifecta 3,9/2,3,4,5,9/2,3,4,5,9. Odds and Evens: Odds.
BEST BETS
Race 2: (1) HALLOWED SON
Race 6: (1) CASINO LORD
BEST VALUE
Race 4: (2) QUATRE ZIP
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
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