By Nick Berney
Selections based on a good track. Monitor for bias/pattern.
RACE 1 – 1.15PM: COFFS COAST TICKETS BENCHMARK 74 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1400m)
2. Dark Euro wasn’t suited last start at Grafton in stronger grade and got too far back in a moderate tempo. Further, the gelding had to make a long-wide sustained run and clocked one of the fastest final 400m splits of the meeting in 22.65. He profiles well for this event and is ready to peak third-up. Expect a bold showing.
Racing heads to Coffs Harbour on Thursday.Credit:Jenny Evans
Dangers: 7. Rose Bouquet produced a career-peak figure when winning at Ballina last start and repeating that effort will put her in the finish. Jockey Tegan Harrison sticks, and the mare is a definite chance. 5. Klopp is a tough on-pace runner and will roll forward again from the soft draw. 4. Gobbled has a strong starting price profile relative to some of his rivals and add 1. Perigord to all exotics.
How to play it: Dark Euro to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 2 – 1.50PM: KADMIUM ART & DESIGN SUPPLIES BENCHMARK 58 SHOWCASE HANDICAP- RISING STAR (1200m)
10. Nanakorobi Yaoki did it on both ends when winning at Ballina 20 days ago and ran fast time. Further, the mare led at a strong tempo and sprinted one of the quickest final 200m splits of the meeting in 12.52. The six-year-old is the only last-start winner engaged, maps to have all favours with a significant barrier change and brings the best recent figures.
Dangers: 2. Havieron was blocked at a critical stage and forced into the inferior ground first-up at Kempsey. He will be fitter for that effort and will undoubtedly improve. 3. Lucifer’s Reward had factors against last start and brings strong form lines to this. Add 9. Qukes to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Nanakorobi Yaoki to win.
Odds and Evens: Evens.
RACE 3 – 2.25PM: 7NEWS CLASS 1 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1500m)
1. Show Me Your Love was run to suit first-up at Kembla 19 days ago but ran on hard in a strong time race. The lightly raced improver brings a dominant ratings/starting price profile to this event. In addition, he will be fitter, the step up in distance is ideal and will be hard to beat with even luck.
Dangers: 4. Balzando produced a career-peak figure last start at Kempsey and looms as the main danger to Show Me Your Love. He is rock-hard fit, will roll forward and can give a sight. 2. Lama is a key late market watch, expecting him to improve significantly second-up. 10. Flying Euros gets in well at the weights after the claim and maps to have all favours from the soft draw.
How to play it: Show Me Your Love to win and trifecta 1/4,2/4,2,10.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 4 – 3.05PM: SIGNARAMA COFFS HARBOUR CG&E SHOWCASE MAIDEN HANDICAP (1000m)
7. My Mate Cobber resumes without an official public trial but is well-placed here. The locally-trained galloper is consistent and was only narrowly beaten in two out of his three starts last prep. Additionally, he maps well, and a repeat of his first-up performance from last campaign will put him in the finish. Each-way.
Dangers: Forgive 12. Madakari’s first-up effort at Grafton, where he was wide throughout and fitness told late. He can bounce back with the blinkers off. 3. Swift Charm is a five-year-old debutant and has trialled well enough. Add 10. Pixie Hallow who is ready to peak and receives blinkers for the first time.
How to play it: My Mate Cobber each-way.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 5 – 3.40PM: MOONEE BEACH HOTEL F&M SHOWCASE MAIDEN HANDICAP (1000m)
11. Cavente was well-fancied first-up at Port Macquarie $12-$6.50 late in the trade and finally struck a dry track. The filly chased a fast tempo throughout and tried hard when running third with a big margin to fourth. Moreover, that race rated highly relative to the day, and there has been a subsequent winner to confirm the form. The lightly raced filly is still learning and must contend with a tricky draw, but if she gets luck, expect her to be hard to hold out.
Dangers: 10. Miss Statement led at a strong tempo last start at Quirindi and battled away OK, holding on for second. The four-year-old will appreciate the drier surface and get a positive set-up from the soft draw. 13. Steel My Thunder has been honest in both runs this prep and is ready to peak. Add 16. Girls Night In to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Cavente to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 6 – 4.20PM: EXTENDA OUTSOURCING CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1300m)
6. Akauwheo led and won well, breaking through for her maiden win at Scone last start. The lightly raced galloper was heavily backed $2.50-$1.80 late in the trade, and she bolted in. The three-year- old is a progressive type, and her sectional/ratings profile suggests she can improve again.
Dangers: 2. Rossy’s Typa Girl raced well first-up at Hawkesbury and will undoubtedly be fitter for that effort. She is a late market watch and can rate to win. 3. Eastowin and 5. Spirit Of Pluto are both coming through a high-rating race at Grafton, and their runs were both solid, albeit well beaten. Add 7. Cirebon who won well on debut at Port Macquarie and savaged the line.
How to play it: Akauwheo to win.
Odds and Evens: Evens.
RACE 7 – 4.55PM: BATHTIME WITH JONO COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN SHOWCASE PLATE (1300m)
2. Dante Alighieri was honest running third at Taree 11 days ago in a high-rating race. Moreover, a subsequent winner has come out of that race to confirm the form. The four-year-old is consistent, coming through time/sectional merit races and receives the blinkers for the first time. In addition, Aaron Bullock rides, and he is in outstanding recent form.
Dangers: 5. Khumbu will be fitter from his first-up effort, maps to have all favours, and will appreciate the rise in distance. 16. Prince Carlos resumes and has trialled well enough. He is a key late market watch. 8. Titanicus races for the first time after trialling OK. Add 14. Pointillisim who started a well-fancied favourite last start at Grafton.
How to play it: Dante Alighieri to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 8 – 5.30PM: PARADOX MEDIA CUP COUNTRY BOOSTED CLASS 2 SHOWCASE PLATE (1000m)
6. Mr Tabasco resumes without an official trial but raced well in his debut preparation. The three-year-old was on an upwards ratings spiral before having excuses in his final run before spelling. He is an improving type, trained at the track and is a key late market watch concerning his fitness.
Dangers: 8. Moskeeta is another lightly raced galloper who resumes without a trial. The mare won a class 3 last time in and then contested a TAB Highway (1200m), albeit failing. 13. Rayock ran second first-up and beat the rest easily in a fast-time race over 900m at the Gold Coast. Must stretch to 1000m, but has a fitness edge. Add 10. Pontoon Pete and 1. Another Spirit to wider exotics.
How to play it: Mr Tabasco to win.
Odds and Evens: Evens.
Best Bet: Race 5, No.11 – Cavente
Next Best: Race 7, No.2 – Dante Alighieri
Best Value: Race 4, No.7 – My Mate Cobber
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
