By Nick Berney
Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Friday’s Wyong meeting. Selections based on a soft track. Monitor for bias/pattern.
Race 1 – 12:45PM STONE REAL ESTATE WYONG 4YO&UP MAIDEN PLATE (1350 METRES)
3. Notabadsuspect was honest first up at Goulburn 25 days ago, albeit drifting heavily in the market $5-$12 late in the trade. The gelding stalked a very slow pace and was outsprinted when the tempo quickened, but, once he balanced up, he hit the line well, running the fastest final 200m split of the meeting in 12.20. That race produced a high rating last sectional and the winner, Mayhem, has since won. He will have to overcome a tricky draw but will be fitter and look to have the last shot.
Dangers: 4. Pelsaert got too far back when resuming and ran on OK in a race won by a city-class galloper in Narito. Expect him to settle much closer with him rising in distance. 12. Nano Star is primed third up after a brave effort to run second and beat the rest easily last start at this track/distance. Hugh Bowman goes on, and she will roll forward. Add 8. Diva Diva and 2. Fireman to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Notabadsuspect WIN. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Lord Ardmore is a chance in the feature Wyong Cup.Credit:Getty
Race 2 – 1:20PM CENTRAL COAST COOLROOMS DA VINCI – 3&4YO BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
8. Sumatra trialled strongly prior to her first-up performance at Hawkesbury 15 days ago, where she won well. The three-year-old filly brings the best last-start figure, has strong form lines and the anticipated genuine tempo will let her find her feet and savage the line late.
Dangers: 4. Psychiatrist had no luck in the Rosebud (1100m), which has since produced two winners. He has been back to the trials, draws well, and the tight turning track is ideal. 3. Diamond Hands is rock-hard fit and can settle closer. 6. I Am Geronimo broke through for his maiden last start after starting at $1.40 in the market. Expect an aggressive ride from the wide-draw, and he will give a sight.
How to play it: Sumatra WIN. Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Race 3 – 1:55PM PBL LAW GROUP MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
5. Santorini Sun was solid first up at Hawkesbury in a high-pressure event and sprinted the race’s second fastest 400m-200m split in 10.96 before peaking on her run over the final furlong. The four-year-old will be fitter for that and is a big improver going onto a rain-affected track where she produces her career peak figures. Each-way.
Dangers: Debutante 14. Orzala is a nice type and has been impressive at the trials. She will have to overcome a tricky draw but looks to have the ability. 4. Time To Boogie was honest on debut and never shirked his task to the line. He maps to roll forward and will take some catching. 1. Sacred Field tried hard when running second at this track 17 days ago for his new trainer Joe Pride. He will need some luck but can rate to win. 2. Wealthy Investor has form around Fireburn and She’s Extreme.
How to play it: Santorini Sun E/W. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 4 – 2:35PM HUNTER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
11. Cholante is a nice type and returned a career peak first up when winning at Nowra 12 days ago. Further, he overcame difficulties to bolt in by 4.3 lengths and recorded the meeting’s fastest final 600m/400m/200m splits in 35.88/23.32/11.76. That race rated the highest relative to the day after adjusting for age, class and additional factors. The Clarry Conners trained galloper is a lightly raced improver with key attributes to make the step-in grade from a soft draw, and William Pike rides.
Dangers: 9. Bayezid is still learning and had to earn his debut win at Newcastle. The rise in distance is ideal and expect him to improve again with the benefit of race experience. 4. Transformation was checked at a critical stage first up that was won by subsequent winner Shades Of Rose. He will be fitter for that and is a key late market watch. 1. Allusionist is fit and consistent. Add 3. Retiro and 6. Acceber to trifectas and first fours. Both resume and have trialled well enough.
How to play it: Cholante WIN. Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 5 – 3:10PM BISHOP COLLINS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
7. Coppleson was impressive on debut at Newcastle 22 days ago and savaged the line. The three-year-old was restrained early from a wide draw and settled in a slow tempo at the rear of the field. Showed a strong turn of foot, running one of the fastest final 400m splits of the entire meeting in 22.72 and winning in style. He has had a tick-over trial between runs, and the step up in distance is ideal. He is still learning but has untapped ability and expect a bold showing.
Dangers: 4. Martini Crusader had too much to do last start and ran on strongly into second to beat the rest easily. Moreover, he recorded the fastest final 400m/200m sectionals of the meeting in 22.56/11.44 and is ready to win again. Expect him to settle closer, and a senior rider goes back on. Forgive 2. Kokoro, who failed due to the testing conditions at Kensington last start and has figures that can put him in the finish. Add 11. Dream Eclipse and 3. La Jolie Fille to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Coppleson WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 6 – 3:50PM WYONG LEAGUES GROUP MONA LISA STAKES (1350 METRES)
2. Expat gets in well at the weights under the race conditions and has trialled well enough in a recent heat at Rosehill. The five-year-old led and ran fast time relative to the day first up last preparation, and a repeat of that effort will put him in the finish. He is a consistent type, has a proven fresh record and maps to have all favours. In addition, any rain throughout the meeting is only a positive, with all his peak figures coming on rain-affected ground.
Dangers: 11. Dalchini is ready to peak third up after a hidden run last start. Moreover, the mare got too far back in the run, sprinted one of the fastest 400m-200m splits of the meeting in 11.00 and maintained a solid finishing speed. The anticipated genuine tempo will give her a chance to run on and hit the line. 9. Sur La Mer is in career-best form and brings a competitive last-start figure. She has had a tick-over trial between runs without the blinkers and is rock-hard fit. The blinkers go back on for race day, and she is a definite chance. 5. Katalin had too much to do first up but has an electric turn of foot. Add 4. More Prophets to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Expat WIN & Dalchini WIN. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 7 – 4:25PM 2022 CARLTON WYONG GOLD CUP (2100 METRES)
4. Grove Ferry was $6.0-$4.8 late in the trade last start in the G3 Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Randwick and was honest in defeat. The gelding was given no peace throughout, chased a genuine tempo, and had the bias against him. He never shirked his task to the line and the race rated highly relative to the day. The Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott trained galloper profiles well for this race and has given every indication he is ready to win. Expect an aggressive ride early, and he will take some catching.
Dangers: 5. Toomuchtobear comes out of the same race as Grove Ferry, and his run was full of merit. The five-year-old raced wide and was brave in defeat, only going down by a respectable beaten margin. He is another runner ready to peak. 1. Lord Ardmore is as consistent as they come and maps to stalk the speed with Hugh Bowman riding. He will look like the winner at some stage.
How to play it: Grove Ferry WIN. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 8 – 5:05PM THE DOYLO SPRINGTIME CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
Forgiving of 2. Belladeel’s last start at this track/distance where he missed the start and raced flat second up. He was heavily backed throughout the day and was $3-$2.8 late in the trade. Prior to that start, he had to make a long-wide sustained run and loomed to win but peaked on his run to finish second and beat the rest easily. If he can repeat that effort from the soft draw, expect a bold showing. Each-way.
Dangers: 5. Oakfield Duke is on an upwards ratings spiral and ran fast time winning last start at Grafton over their feature carnival. Jockey Aaron Bullock has a great affiliation with the gelding riding him three times for three wins. 11. Anubius brings a competitive last-start figure and deserves his shot at the provincial level. 10. Unyielding Spirit will be fitter and rolls forward.
How to play it: Belladeel E/W. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Best Bets: Race 5 (7) Coppleson; Race 4 (11) Cholante
