By Nick Berney
Selections based on a good track. Monitor for bias/pattern.
RACE 1 – 12.50PM: COASTLINE POOLS & SPAS PROVINCIAL 2&3YO MAIDEN HANDICAP (900 METRES)
5. Party Doll resumes, and she won a recent trial at Rosehill with ease. The filly showed natural gate speed, built into a rhythm, and went through the line not extended. First-up last prep, her run had hidden merit after leading at a fast tempo, and she stuck on well in a high-rating race relative to the day. She profiles well for this event, and if she can repeat her debut performance/figure, she will be hard to beat.
Racing heads to Newcastle on Wednesday.Credit: Getty
Dangers: 6. Currency Lad returns without an official public trial, but he was solid in strong time races last campaign. He is suited over more ground but maps to stalk the speed, and he can have the last shot. Debutant 1. Firemark is a nice type and won a trial at Scone in style. He is a key late market watch, and Aaron Bullock rides. 3. She’s A Bad Girl resumes and responded well under pressure in a recent heat at Gosford. She’s consistent and can give a sight over the specialist distance.
How to play it: Party Doll to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 2 – 1.25PM: HELLBENT @ YARRAMAN PARK MAIDEN PLATE (1300m)
4. Lipscani hasn’t been suited to the sit/sprint race shapes in both of his campaign runs but his efforts have had late sectional merit. He was 39 days between runs last start at Kembla and was sightly outpaced when the tempo quickened, but to his credit, he closed off well to finish second. Further, the late market trade also suggested he would improve from the run. He gets a more favourable set-up here with an anticipated genuine tempo, and all key indicators suggests he will bounce off his last start effort.
Dangers: 5. The Englishman resumes and trialled well enough at Randwick nine days ago, albeit on the Polytrack. He gets in well under the set weights conditions and has multiple winning figures for this event. The gelding profiles well, and he started favourite in all his three runs last campaign at the metropolitan level. 6. Alpine Bronze sets up as a knockout chance and has gone through the line full of energy in two trials leading into this. She has never seen a dry track before and looks ready to sprint fresh. 10. Vegas On Fire raced greenly on debut at this track and wanted to get onto the wrong leg at times. She will have benefited from that race experience and will be fitter. 7. She’s Jessie was unlucky last start and market watch on 11. Vincetta.
How to play it: Lipscani to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 3 – 2PM: SAGE PAINTING MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)
Leaning towards 3. Tambourine Man who was honest first-up in a high-rating race with decisive margins throughout, confirming the quality. The gelding always faced the breeze in a solid tempo and battled on well to hold fourth. He will be fitter for that effort, brings a competitive last-start figure and has a tactical map advantage over some of his key rivals. Each-way.
Dangers: 6. Galactic Legend had too much to do last start after settling at the rear of the field in a farcical tempo. To his credit, he ran on well, clocking one of the fastest 400m-200m splits of the meeting but peaked on his run over the final furlong. He now has a strong platform and is ready to peak third-up. 1. Nyika resumes without an official public trial, but first-up last prep he was unlucky and should’ve gone close to winning. He will need the breaks to go his way but with clear air expect him to be savaging the line. 4. Daddy Frank is coming out of a proven form reference and will have improved from his debut experience. Add 8. Per Capita, who is suited to 1600m.
How to play it: Tambourine Man each-way.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 4 – 2.35PM: HUNTER VALLEY PREMIUM MEATS BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1850m)
11. Silvakia started $12 in the group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) 11 days ago at Randwick and was honest in extremely testing conditions. Prior to that start, the filly got too far back around the tight-turning Gosford track but stormed home into second, clocking some of the fastest closing splits of the meeting. Further, the winner of that race, Premise, has since finished third in the group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m). She is suited back to a dry track and has strong from lines for this event. Each-way.
Dangers: 5. State Of America had all favours sitting outside the leader in a slow tempo but tried hard running second and beat the rest easily. He brings the best last-start figure and maps well. 7. Allhallowtide sprinted hard to score and breakthrough for his maiden win at Kembla last start. The
step up in distance suits, and he can improve again. 9. Sian wasn’t suited and ran on strongly last start at Warwick Farm. He drops in grade and is rock-hard fit.
How to play it: Silvakia each-way.
Odds and Evens: Odds.
RACE 5 – 3.10PM: JENNINGS PRINT BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (900m)
2. Troika went to a new level last start at Kembla and produced a career peak figure. The three-year-old showed a sharp turn of foot, and the clock backed up his visual dominance. Further, he clocked the meeting’s fastest final 600m/400m/200m splits and went through the line full of energy. The anticipated genuine tempo will suit, and he can use his key asset of acceleration to sprint over the top of his rivals.
Dangers: 1. Markwell Dreamer is a consistent galloper and has a strong record at this track/distance. He can absorb the pressure from a soft draw and is a definite chance. 12. Nomara maps to get the perfect run and can improve back onto a dry surface. 10. Bayezid is a lightly raced galloper who has trialled well enough and receives a nose roll for the first time. He has a tricky gate but can overcome that. Market watch 14. Meod, who won well first-up last prep and has trialled well enough.
How to play it: Troika to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 6 – 3.45PM: AVID PROJECT MANAGEMENT 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
2. Good Lieutenant resumes and has trialled well in preparation for this assignment. Prior to spelling, his run was full of merit in a high-rating race, and his finishing positions from his last campaign don’t do him justice. He looks to have come back improved, maps perfectly from barrier one, and he can be in the finish with even luck. Each-way.
Dangers: 6. Surf On Turf is another runner returning as a gelding, and he has had two solid hitouts at the trials. First-up last prep, he was brave in defeat, and the three-year-old brings strong metropolitan form lines. He has multiple winning figures and a solid SP profile. 1. Furious trialled well recently at Rosehill and went through the line full of energy. He is a nice type and has a definite chance. Both 4. Just An Upstart and 11. Silent Raindrops represent value and can improve going back onto a dry track. 6. Surreal Leo started a well-fancied $1.70 favourite last start at Kembla and tried hard in defeat. He has a trickier race setup but a fitness advantage over some of his key rivals. How to play it: Good Lieutenant each-way.
Odds and Evens: Evens.
RACE 7 – 4.20PM: SHARP OFFICE MIDWAY BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1200m)
9. La Pittrice profiles well for this event, and all key indicators suggest she can improve again after an impressive win last start at Warwick Farm. The three-year-old knuckled down hard late to score,
running the second fastest final 200m split of the meeting and clocking a slick overall time. Further, the form has since been confirmed with two subsequent winners and two placegetters. She has to step up in grade, but her ratings/sectional profile indicates she can progress again off her last start effort, and she represents value. Good each-way.
Dangers: 11. Super is a knockout chance who two starts ago raced well behind Cool Jakey, and that runner has since SPed favourite in a listed Saturday race. He gets back to his home track and maps to stalk the speed. 7. Harlem Groove is coming out of a high-rating race and races well off freshen-ups. 2. Border Control was wide throughout last start at Muswellbrook and closed off well. He hasn’t had much luck in his past few outings in stronger grades and will get his chance here. 1. Uzziah was heavily backed last start when winning at Muswellbrook, and his consistency will take him a long way here.
How to play it: La Pittrice each-way.
Odds and Evens: Odds.
RACE 8 – 4.55PM: THE PRINCE OF MEREWETHER BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1400m)
9. Union Army went out on a career peak figure before spelling last prep when winning at Kembla. The gelding returns after two strong trials where he hasn’t been extended and has gone through the line under a tight hold. He maps to get the perfect run in behind the speed and with even luck he can use his key attribute of acceleration to sprint away from his rivals.
Dangers: 3. Strombus has a tricky draw but has been racing well all prep in stronger grades and is ready to win. He will need luck but has multiple winning ratings for this event. 7. Theo Legion is a knockout chance who returns to his home track and receives a significant barrier change. 11. Toesonthenose has a strong platform and is ready to peak. 5. Barmera will appreciate the anticipated genuine tempo and 16. Miss Faberge can settle closer from the soft draw.
How to play it: Union Army to win.
Odds and Evens: Odds.
Best bets:
Race 7 (9) La Pittrice
Race 2 (4) Lipscani
Best value:
Race 6 (2) Good Lieutenant
Supplied by Racing NSW
