By Neil Evans
Track good 4 and rail true.
RACE 1 – 1.50PM: TAREE GREYHOUNDS RACING WED 30TH NOV COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)
We start with the maidens over the mile, and on the score of consistency and progression, four-year-old mare 5. Cherokee Cherry looms as the one to beat in a weak race. Worked home well when ridden quieter fourth-up, and looks well weighted carrying 1.5kg less here, with key gear adjustments.
Racing heads to Taree on Monday.Credit:Getty
Dangers: Home-tracker 6. Curracabundi is still improving, and draws better here third-up, while 8. Gracious Gracie is on the quick back-up after not getting much room or luck finishing off here second-up and 9. Crash’n’bash draws inside fifth-up with blinkers added.
How to play it: Cherokee Cherry to win and box trifecta 5,6,8,9.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 2 – 2.25PM: XMAS PARTY AT TAREE RACES SUNDAY 18TH DEC BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (2000m)
This looks ripe for capable metro five-year-old 3. Buff In Disguise deep into the prep from a soft draw. Surged home from well back to win a country BM58 10 days ago, and this is no harder.
Dangers: Consistent four-year-old 1. Gulf Of Tomini is the logical threat, hard fit and drawn the fence. Powered home to comfortably beat a similar graded field last time, just not convinced where he gets back in the field in a race with little speed on. Include 2. Hombre Grande who drops in grade, 6. Port Of Jeddah who beat a similar field fourth-up two weeks back, and 9. Bartender Blue — long overdue for a second career win — in trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Buff In Disguise to win.
Odds and Evens: Odds.
RACE 3 – 3.05PM: JOIN THE ZULU CLUB TODAY F&M BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1250m)
Leaning here to provincial-based and well-travelled mare 6. Vanilli, who resumes off a nice open class 1000m trial win. Draws to get an economical run just behind the speed
Dangers: Ex-Victorian mare 1. Elarski resumes for the leading provincial stable behind two trials, with key gear additions, and top country jockey aboard. Ultra-honest local mare 3. Parties Galore dug in late to land a similar race at the provincials last start, but all her best form is on rain-affected ground, while 5. Star Impact can improve sharply and is over the odds.
How to play it: Vanilli to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 4 – 3.40PM: HARRINGTON CUP DAY TUESDAY 3RD JANUARY 2023 CG&E MAIDEN HANDICAP (1300m)
Very tricky sprint, with several chances. Expecting metro three-year-old 3. Radiant Knight to improve enough at his second start over a furlong further and break through. Was spotted in betting when finishing well back in a much smarter provincial maiden than this, with the winner going places and the second horse has since won.
Dangers: Provincial three-year-old 1. Canny Prospect will be hard to hold out sitting off the speed, having only missed a place once in his last four. Keep safe too improving 2. Osterberg fourth-up, while 5. Razzama second-up and 9. The Hulkbuster third-up can both run into the minor end of the money.
How to play it: Radiant Knight to win.
Odds and Evens: Odds.
RACE 5 – 4.15PM: TAB.COM.AU F&M MAIDEN HANDICAP (1300m)
Now for the girls’ edition, with less depth on offer. That augurs well for progressive provincial three-year-old 2. Lady Chartwell who peaks third-up over a bit more ground. Tracked the speed before being beaten narrowly last time, and again draws to get good cover in behind in what is a weaker maiden.
Dangers: Metro three-year-old 1. Covalent is the natural threat drawn inside with blinkers applied, and coming back from deeper provincial company. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Bush who gets winkers on, and will find this easier third-up, while honest four-year-old 10. Keys To Love fifth-up goes in exotic bets.
How to play it: Lady Chartwell to win and quinella 1 and 2.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 6 – 4.50PM: BECOME A MEMBER AT TAREE TODAY CG&E BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1250m)
Like the placement here fourth-up for improving five-year-old 3. Justadude who draws to win. Has been close-up in all three runs this prep from just off the speed in handy class 1 company, and gets his chance to win again here.
Dangers: Must respect 2. Wonder Brahma who has won two of his last three, although weighted to his best now. Keep safe 9. Ghost Hunter returning to a more suitable distance fifth-up, while tough 1. Four Egos is best of the rest.
How to play it: Justadude to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 7 – 5.25PM: KENNARDS HIRE TAREE COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1000m)
We close the card with a competitive sprint, and keen on four-year-old 1. Buck Pharoah back to this shorter trip fourth-up. Will find this a bit easier than his last two, and a superior and stronger rider goes on from a better draw.
Dangers: Big watch on 4. Auzstar who has been given seven weeks since a dominant off-speed win in class 1 company. Kept ticking over at the trials and drawn to get a soft run. Gap to the rest headed by 2. Lord Avatar resuming behind two trials and 7. Tobasco third-up.
How to play it: Buck Pharoah to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
BEST BETS:
Race 2 (3) BUFF IN DISGUISE
Race 7 (1) BUCK PHAROAH
BEST VALUE:
Race 6 (3) JUSTADUDE
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
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