Selections based on soft track
Race 1 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (1000m)
The youngsters kick off a strong meeting over the five furlongs on a track likely to remain just in soft range, and there are plenty of chances with most on debut. Leaning to provincial-based Kermadec colt 1. Broadway Bouncer on debut if he starts here instead of the Kensington meeting on Wednesday. Loved how he put a gap on the field in the second of two recent trials in comparable time to the open class trialers that day, and drew to get a nice run.
Dangers: Godolphin colt 6. Stanilaus was never let off the bridle in a nice trial here three weeks back, and has been given plenty of time to prepare. Hasn’t raced since an even effort on debut over the spring carnival, but looks to have put on plenty of size and scope. As long as he gets across from the wider barrier, will be in the finish. Capitalist colt 2. Capital Boss (also accepted for Kensington) drew wide but won the second of two city trials, and the stock nearly always comes to hand in a heartbeat. Debutants Merchant Navy colt 5. Pirate off two trials and filly 12. Manhattan Baby off a quiet trial are both capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Broadway Bouncer to win and box exacta 1,2,6; Odds and Evens: Split
Racing heads back to Hawkesbury on Tuesday.
Race 2 3YO MAIDEN HCP (1100m)
Now a small field of three-years olds looks at the mercy of Deep Field gelding 5. Sports Legend who resumes for only his third start, off two emphatic trial wins.
Dangers: Reloading off a seven-week break and easy trial, another one by Deep Field 4. Deep Fury shapes as the quinella runner. 1. Zambezi River second up completes the trifecta.
How to play it: Sports Legend to win and quinella 4 and 5; Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 4YO & UP MAIDEN HCP (1100m)
With all but two runners four-year-olds, this shapes nicely for resuming metro gelding 3. November Rhythm. Looks ready to explode back on the scene after more than a year off. Has since had a change of stable and been given plenty of time before winning both lead-up trials. Bred to thrive in soft ground.
Dangers: Stablemate mare 5. Rolene has won a trial smartly since being left at the post at Bathurst. Keep safe too improving mare 11. Takara Star third up and down in weight from a handy trailing draw. 1. Hedge Fund resuming off a 13-month break and recent soft track trial win heads the rest.
How to play it: November Rhythm to win; Odds and Evens: Odds a special
Race 4 FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1400m)
Trickier affair here, with little separating the top few. Home-track four-year-old 2. The Halo looks supremely placed on the map rolling forward fourth up. Cops a sharp weight rise for the drop in class, but her last two efforts from just behind the speed suggest she can put this field to the sword and take her win rate from 12 starts to 25 per cent.
Dangers: Plenty of respect for lightly raced city filly 5. Dear Jewel who took care of a provincial maiden field easily first up. Not far away is improving 1. Zelady Luck (also accepted for Kensington) who has been mixing her form in deeper company, but looks fairly treated at the weights after the claim coming back to this level. Include 3. Star Mission off a last start provincial CL1 win, and 4. Whatsin third up in trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: The Halo to win; Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 MAIDEN PLATE (1400m)
French-bred ex-Victorian colt 3. Dakarai is not just the most intriguing runner here, resuming for his first run in the Chris Waller stable, he’s also the one to beat. Hasn’t raced since hitting the line late in a Sale maiden last spring but looked strong through the line in a recent Rosehill trial and fitted to run out this journey fresh.
Dangers: Emerging Godolphin filly 13. Sequestered (also accepted for Kensington) was stiff not to win second up at Kembla missing by a whisker and, although likely to be forced even further back from the wide draw here, will relish the extra trip. Keep safe at big odds 1. Barmera dropping back to provincial company third up. 6. Be Alive on debut off a recent trial win and another first-starter, Pierro filly 12. Premierro off two improving trials head the rest.
How to play it: Dakarai to win; Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 6 PROVINCIAL BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1100m)
The provincial-based sprinters lock horns in what should be a competitive betting race. Nomadic eight-year-old 10. Safado hasn’t won for a long time, but the way he finished off in a handy provincial field 20 days ago, suggests he can strike a third-up peak here at big odds. Drawn to get good cover back in the field and will relish the much longer straight.
Dangers: Tough and race fit 1. Oxford Vision is a big threat from the inside gate off a Midway CL1 win 12 days ago. Progressive 6. Flower Press has had two mixed runs in deeper races since back-to-back wins to start this prep and draws to find a nice trail just behind the speed. Very forgiving of 9. Dame Cartland, which flopped at Canterbury second up. It was hard to make ground that day and a dominant win prior at the provincials was more than enough to go close here. Included in exotic bets consistent five-year-old 4. Lambdoma Energy and honest mare 11. Viennoiserie resuming having won the second of two trials.
How to play it: Safado each way; Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 CLASS 1 HCP (1300m)
Open affair here means very good value around lightly raced three-year-old 4. Turn Up The Night, which can improve over 100m further and make it two wins from three to start his career. Slips back from a stronger provincial BM 64 when he tried to lead all the way but suspect will take a sit behind from the wider draw here.
Dangers: Progressive 1. The Replicant draws to get good cover around midfield, and can drive into the finish third up. Emerging home track three-year-old 3. Flying Destiny was heavily backed before leading all the way on debut at Kembla. Obvious ability, but has a tougher draw here stepping up, and threatens to go around a shade under the odds. The third-up run of 2. Eyeque was better than it looked when he weakened from the front in heavy ground at Kembla. Much better suited here again from a low draw, although seems to be more effective when ridden a bit quieter. Home track mare 9. Surreal Lily comes off a dominant maiden win second up and is on the next line.
How to play it: Turn Up The Night to win; Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1400m)
Good race to finish. Like the stable decision to resume smart unbeaten colt 8. Field Marshal over this distance. Won both starts last spring, roaring home from the back to beat a handy provincial Cl1 field before spelling, and fitted with a nice soft trial. Is by top-class UK sire Kingman.
Dangers:1. Stonecoat resumes off two trials but has to cart a big weight from a wide barrier. 10. The Denzil (also accepted for Kensington) led for a long way first up in a provincial BM 64, while hard fit 5. Rocstar Boy is over the odds fourth up from a handy trailing draw.
How to play it: Field Marshal to win; Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS
Race 3: 3. NOVEMBER RHYTHM
Race 8: 8. FIELD MARSHAL
BEST VALUE:
Race 4: 2. THE HALO
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
