Track improving soft 6 and rail out 2m from 1200m to 350m into a cutaway rail.
RACE 1 – 1.35PM: ERINS QUALITY OUTDOOR POWER CENTRE CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1400m)
Tricky opener, but got plenty of time for four-year-old 2. Wasserman who has been mixing form all prep, but suited here from a soft draw, and with a more senior and aggressive rider taking over. Thrashed a handy maiden field three starts back before disappointing in BM58 grade last start, but gets weight relief and can settle a bit closer in this.
Racing is back at Bathurst on Monday.Credit:AFR
Dangers: Natural watch on resuming metro mare 1. Snitzyka who has been fitted for the trip with two trials up to 1030m. Keep safe dominant first-up maiden winner 4. Ogrim who drops 3kg for this tougher test, while another last-start maiden winner 5. Kiss ‘N’ Run heads the rest.
How to play it: Wasserman to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 2 – 2.10PM: HOTHAMS SAND SOIL & GRAVEL CG&E MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m)
Like four-year-old 2. Dao Sun on debut for a leading metro stable. Progressed nicely into a second trial, working to share the lead before strong through the line late with a gap back to the third horse. Big fan of the Star Witness stock when they are new.
Dangers: Rival and emerging Warwick Farm colt 3. First Grange is a serious threat fourth-up, although has to get across from a wide draw. Home track five-year-old 1. Power Bank can figure second-up after chasing well enough 25 days ago. Watch the betting on stablemate debutant to the top selection 4. Lord Finland who hit the line well in the second of two recent provincial trials after covering ground, and starts in blinkers. Include first-starters 5. Mike and 6. Power To Deceive in wider exotics.
How to play it: Dao Sun to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 3 – 2.45PM: BATHURST GLASS & WINDOWS F&M MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m)
Now the girls’ edition, and this stacks up nicely for yet another one from the Bjorn Baker yard in four-year-old 1. Bringonthebubbles who worked home well on debut in a deeper maiden at Goulburn. The drier track and extra 200m are big positives, and she only needs to slot in from the wide barrier to beat this lot.
Dangers: Expecting a big debut run from five-year-old 2. Ellen, who has trialled well enough, and stable has a good fresh record. Another first-starter in five-year-old 3. Wandjina Spirit is a market watch behind two spaced trials, and with significant gear additions, while 9. Leipzig is the best of the rest second-up.
How to play it: Bringonthebubbles to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 4 – 3.20PM: BATHURST GLASS & WINDOWS F&M MAIDEN HANDICAP (1400m)
Progressive country five-year-old 7. Crystal Beanz is ready to break through after leading for a long way in a handy maiden at Dubbo third-up. Hasn’t missed a place in three runs this time in, and is not only well treated at the weights, but has the necessary tactical speed to offset the outside barrier.
Dangers: Improving five-year-old 10. Sistine Queen boxed OK into a place third-up in that same maiden as the top selection. Honest provincial four-year-old 4. Sky Ace finds a weaker race first-up behind a forward trial. Was in the placings regularly last prep over much further and in tougher company and, if he can get across OK from the wider gate, will be hard to stop. Keep safe another Baker-trained debutant in 11. Global Deel who has been prepared for this journey with three recent trials, the latest behind Renosu who then came out and blitzed a handy maiden field at Hawkesbury. Improving four-year-old 1. Epic Poem gets winkers added for his fifth start.
How to play it: Crystal Beanz to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 5 – 3.55PM: JB CIVIL CONCRETING BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (2000m)
Out in distance here, and that’s the key for improving mare 1. Deel Street who can go back-to-back deep into the prep. Charged home from well back to trounce a similar graded field over the mile two weeks back, and while the inside draw on a smaller course doesn’t do her any favours, she has the fitness and class edge.
Dangers: Keep safe 3. Smelisha who won two straight before failing in very heavy ground a fortnight back and including 2. Dragon’s Shadow and 4. Successful Star in exotic bets.
How to play it: Deel Street to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 6 – 4.35PM: BATHURST RSL CLUB BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1100m)
Tough and consistent six-year-old 3. Deshawn has been up for a long time, but continues to race nicely and looks well-placed at the weights despite dropping sharply in distance. Bolted in a weaker race four starts back before twice closing off well from a few lengths off the speed, then leading for a long way under 60kg in heavy going only eight days ago. Has versatile and tactical speed, and five of his six career wins from 36 starts have come in soft ground.
Dangers: Improving five-year-old 2. Chalkley can peak fourth-up with gear changes after finishing off well in a deeper provincial grade while 5. Agent Moon can run into the minor end of the money fifth-up.
How to play it: Deshawn to win and quinella 2 and 3.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 7 – 5.10PM: KENNARDS HIRE BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1400m)
Wide battle to finish, but keen on underrated five-year-old 3. Dream Eclipse, who is well placed to strike fourth-up dropping a little in quality. Has powered home late to beat all but the winner in his last two, and the wide gate will likely be no concern late in the day at this track.
Dangers: Progressive and lightly raced local six-year-old 1. Sharpay Ruler has to overcome a big weight and wide draw, but he has ample ability second-up, and the more the track dries out the better he’s placed. Metro mare 2. Chapelis has been very ordinary in three runs this prep, but finds a much weaker race. Expect a better run fourth-up from 4. Unearthed down in grade with blinkers coming off, while 5. Whiskey Jack and 7. Dawn Flight with blinkers added second-up head the rest.
How to play it: Dream Eclipse each way.
Odds and Evens: Odds.
BEST BETS:
Race 3: (1) BRINGONTHEBUBBLES
Race 5: (1) DEEL STREET
BEST VALUE:
Race 7: (3) DREAM ECLIPSE
