By Neil Evans
Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (900m)
2. I’m Independent starts this campaign with the blinkers off, and gets first use of the inside ground.
Dangers: 9. Literacy is a clear threat second-up back on much firmer ground.
How to play it: I’m Independent to win
Racing returns to Wellington on Friday.Credit: Phil Carrick
Race 2 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
1. Big Wandji resumes for a second prep with crucial gear changes. Mixed his form in three runs early last spring, but showed in a strong open class country trial, he can park further forward fresh and finish hard over the final 300m. Trial jockey sticks for the real thing, and he should get enough speed up front here to produce a superior late burst.
Dangers: 6. Cheap Gas returns off a 10-week break and easy trial from an ideal trailing draw. 8. Goodbye Stranger can improve at his second start after being well specked at a big price on debut.
How to play it: Big Wandji to win
Race 3 FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
10. Hot Jive resuming from a handy trailing draw. Twice beaten narrowly in four runs last prep, including a neck defeat in a stronger Super Maiden at Gosford when she was backed from $2.30 into a $1.90 favourite. That reads well for this and has been fitted with an easy metro trial. Should park a couple of lengths back with cover, and be given her head from the 350m.
Dangers: 12. Tokyo Star resumes for the new stable. Hasn’t raced since early last October but looked to have plenty to offer getting through the line in a trial last month, and reportedly has been working well. 2. Jackets, a seven-year-old by Tickets, has her first start off two improving trials.
How to play it: Hot Jive to win
Race 4 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1700m)
8. Sanbano was only collared in the last few strides when leading over a mile at Newcastle before rubber-stamping that progression with a dominant win against the older maidens at that same track. Up 2kg for this but draws to get another economical run from the fence draw, and with the early hot favourite drawn wider and under the odds, she looms as one of the better value bets all day.
Dangers: 3. Tokyo Run drops a long way back in class from a Group 2 at Rosehill. Country and provincial form prior was more than enough to win this, but a wide draw on a much tighter turning track suggests wouldn’t be diving into too short a price.
How to play it: Sanbano each way
Race 5 CLASS 1 HCP (900m)
1. Royal Bombadier gets back on drier ground with winkers added. Was dominant winning a provincial maiden fresh before two close-up efforts in deeper races again at the provincials. Given his strong tactical speed back at country level, the little drop back 100m in trip is just the ticket, with a stronger rider taking over. From the same stable as the on top selection in race two.
Dangers: 3. Sparkingly finished well over the same trip at Muswellbrook and should be right at his peak.
How to play it: Royal Bombadier to win
Race 6 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (2400m)
6. Avalicious has placed in three of her last four and is on a quick back-up going up sharply in trip. Led for a long way in this grade at Coonamble before being swamped late behind a smart one. Then given 3 weeks between runs and stuck on strong from the front until succumbing to high-class Warialda Warrior at Dubbo. Gets a nice 3.5kg drop to the limit weight on a smaller track going back up to this level, and couldn’t be any fitter to run out her first crack at 2400m.
Dangers: 5. Karaoke King is also on the same five-day back-up from that Dubbo meeting where he swept home from just off the speed to easily win a weaker class. 3. Eva’s Deal will relish the longer trip and getting back on firmer ground after failing to beat a runner home on a heavy track last start. 4. Blue Guitar is in the each-way mix from a softer trailing draw.
How to play it: Avalicious to win
Race 7 CLASS 2 & ABOVE BENCHMARK 50 HCP (1000m)
5. Benyatta gets in reasonably well at the weights after the jockey’s claim. Was just fair to the line in four straight runs across stronger BM 58 company before freshening up and running into a place in a slightly weaker field 13 days ago. Given she carries the same weight now back at this level, only needs to slot in for some cover a few lengths off the speed before unleashing over the final 300m. Her 20 per cent career strike rate from 32 starts is superior to any of these, and she will come in a few spots in the draw with six emergencies in play.
Dangers: 7. Sauce Dragon is a serious threat drawn to get a cosy run right behind the speed. 9. Luckyimwithaimee has been freshened after easily winning a weaker class two starts back, and then wasn’t far away in a deeper grade next run. Despite a wide draw, 8. Boorowa Girl has enough ability to figure after charging home to win in a tougher grade 19 days ago.
How to play it: Benyatta each way
Race 8 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1400m)
2. Packer can strike coming back in grade and distance. Swept home to win a country BM 58 fresh before again running home to finish just behind the placegetters in similar company. Then stepped up to a deeper BM 65 at Canberra where he only ground to the line from further back, but he did some work early there, and the form out of that race is strong.
Dangers: 10. Imperioness improves sharply down in weight second up. 3. Pyromania is looking now for more ground.
How to play it: Packer to win
BEST BETS: Race3 (10) HOT JIVE; Race 5 (1) ROYAL BOMBADIER
BEST VALUE: Race 8 (2) PACKER
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
