By Neil Evans
Track Soft 6 and rail True
Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (900m)
We start with the maidens over the short course on a surface that could be downgraded with rain predicted. Resuming provincial four-year-old 3. Rockbarton Pat gets her chance to break through fresh off a smart trial win. Was competitive in better races than this last prep, and very likely 4. Russian Standard won’t back up in two days after being beaten as a hot favourite at Muswellbrook.
Dangers: Lightly raced six-year-old 1. Brogans Creek made a sound debut in heavy ground chasing home the winner; while Star Turn filly 10. Athena Nyx is a big watch on debut off a nice provincial trial win.
How to play it: Rockbarton Pat to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Racing returns to Scone on Tuesday.
Race 2 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m)
Average maiden depth-wise, and that suits five-year-old 4. Bob resuming for his second prep with the new provincial stable after transferring up from the city. Like how he’s been given two solid trials up to 1200m to be fitted for this distance, and bred to handle rain-affected ground by Pierro.
Dangers: Improving 5. Bodgie comes off a tidy second-up win in a CL1; while expect sharp improvement second-up from 2. Jahbath who is drawn to get a softer run. Included in exotics 3. Pee Dee resuming; and 6. Cubic Zirconia second-up.
How to play it: Bob to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m)
Progressive home-track mare 3. Deepstar is well suited here coming back in class deep into her prep. Bolted in a weaker race from the front two starts back before leading for a long way in deeper country class a fortnight ago, and will appreciate getting back on soft rather than heavy ground.
Dangers: Watch the betting on home-track mare 4. Keen Contributer who is not a noted fresh performer, but her recent open class trial here was OK. Another one first-up that will likely command some support is well-bred provincial mare 6. Mauricently who despite being a maiden winner only, progressed right through to group 1 Oaks company in the autumn when naturally she was beaten out of sight. Reloads off a very quiet trial so the market will be a prime indicator. Include 5. Hard To Dismiss third-up; and 9. Mon Amore who draws inside; in trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Deepstar to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN HCP (1100m)
Wide and tough maiden with a few first starters on show. Progressive and lightly raced provincial three-year-old 8. Par Five hit the line impressively to miss by a whisker resuming at Port in heavy ground. This is a little deeper, but she can settle closer with a trail from a better draw, and a superior jockey takes over.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by home track four-year-old 5. Rhythm Is A Dancer who can peak third-up with blinkers added, and gets a significant drop in weight after the claim. Emerging three-year-old 9. Red Cobra was heavily backed first-up, and hit the line late after getting too far back in traffic. Drawn the extreme outside barrier, but should get enough speed on to slot in back in the field, and he’ll relish the long straight. Metro three-year-old 10. Enfolded can figure second-up in his first real prep; while 12. Point Break chased home a smart maiden winner here at his second start, and blinkers have been applied.
How to play it: Par Five to win and trifecta 5,8,9/ 5,8,9,10,12/ 5,8,9,10,12. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 5 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)
Smart metro mare 12. Left Reeling rates a good thing here after narrowly missing first-up when getting home late as a hot favorite at Hawkesbury. Only missed a place once from six starts in far tougher trades, including tackling Group 1 company over the mile last spring. Blinkers come off, and sitting on 55kg under the set weight scale, there’s no better weighted runner anywhere in the country.
Dangers: Underrated 1. Bill Peyto is hard fit, and always had more to offer than his one win and five placings from 15 starts. Continues to find the line, often in defiance of a long market price, and drops back from tougher Highway grade. Included in exotics improving metro mare 7. Hot Dancing who is looking for this longer trip; while 4. Dancin’ Dude dropping sharply in trip four weeks between runs; and at big odds honest mare 11. Croatian Madame; also go into trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Left Reeling to win and first four 12/1,4,7,11/1,4,7,11/1,4,7,11. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1000m)
Back to the sprint trip, and provincial five-year-old 2. Tupou is well over the odds off a last-start win in a similar grade. That was five weeks between runs, tracking the speed and going home best, and like him at the value, staying at this pet distance.
Dangers: Well touted mare 7. Le Melody is the clear threat third-up nearly six weeks between runs and via a trial win in heavy ground. Bolted in from the front fresh before putting in an absolute shocker as a long odds-on favourite in a CL2 when he didn’t travel and hung out badly. Keep safe 6. Passistas who is unbeaten from two first-up runs, and fitted with a quiet trial; while 8. Tango Stepz who has a good record at this track; and 12. Jillonni resuming with a light weight; are worthy exotic runners.
How to play it: Tupou each way. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 BENCHMARK 74 HCP (1600m)
All aboard progressive local mare 5. Leisa Louise who can go back-to-back from a good trailing draw after ploughing through the mud from well back to blow away a weaker country field a fortnight ago. Despite a grade rise, still looks well treated, carrying 56kg after the claim, and boasts a decisive final 400m burst.
Dangers: Consistent home track six-year-old 3. Fanmalia has finished well in two runs since claiming a BM 66 in June over this distance. Likes soft ground and the mile, but the inside gate here late in the day generally offers no favours. Keep safe metro four-year-old 8. Bastida who resumes off a quiet trial, and won two straight up to provincial BM 64 grade last prep; while 2. Barellan Bandit dropping back from tougher metro grade fifth-up; and 10. Kite Flight with winkers added; are both each-way chances.
How to play it: Leisa Louise to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN HCP (1100m)
A very open maiden sprint for the girls brings us home. Going with metro-based Written Tycoon three-year-old 6. Estilete on debut. Fitted with two trials up to 1030m, the latest heavily restrained back through the field before finishing OK, and she can make an instant impact at big odds despite drawing off the track.
Dangers: Resuming off a near five-month spell, provincial three-year-old 4. D’arpano looks ready to go off a strong trial win. Big watch on home track Snitzel three-year-old 12. Smokin’ Crazy who has spent a stack of time at the trials here, bolting in the latest, and starts her career in blinkers. Watch the betting too on another one sired by Snitzel, 3. Capezel who draws OK behind two steady trials; while both 2. Florida Sky third-up and Zoustar debutant 14. Terrestar behind two trials; both go through the exotics.
How to play it: Estilete each way. Odds and Evens: Evens.
BEST BETS
Race 1: (3) ROCKBARTON PAT
Race 7: (5) LEISA LOUISE
BEST VALUE
Race 6: (2) TUPOU
Tips supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
