By Neil Evans
Track Soft 6 and rail out 3m
Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1614m)
Plenty of chances in the middle-distance opener, starting with lightly raced five-year-old 4. Mullamaart who can peak at his third start from a better draw. On a 12-day back-up from doing his best work late at Muswellbrook, and can settle a little closer in the run.
There is a seven-race card at Taree on Tuesday.Credit:bradleyphotos.com.au
Dangers: Tough mare 7. Croatian Madame is still striving for that breakthrough win after 17 starts, but will find this easier than her last two. Given three weeks since her last run, and has been placed six times from 11 starts in soft ground. Include home tracker 1. Amber Beach; 3. I’mtimmyzou third-up; and 9. Love Loch with a gear adjustment; in exotic plays.
How to play it: Mullamaart to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1312m)
Like the big value around underrated and lightly raced provincial mare 8. World Atlas who can strike second-up. Made up plenty of late ground resuming here 18 days ago, drops down 2.5kg, and was scratched from Friday’s Tuncurry meeting to be saved for this.
Dangers: Improving seven-year-old 14. Wonder Brahma has had two solid runs back from a break, and peaks here dropping in weight. Must keep safe 1. Heir Apparent after finishing hard third-up in a handy quality maiden, although will again be forced back from a wide draw; while 15. Conjola Phoenix is clear best of the rest fifth-up.
How to play it: World Atlas each way. Odds and Evens: Evens.
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1007m)
Wide open and moderate maiden, but on the score of progression and a handy trailing draw, provincial mare 2. A Tender Lady can break through deep into a long and testing prep. Has been strong through the line from just off the speed in her last two, and a stronger and more experienced jockey takes over.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by debutant Foxwedge mare 5. Foxy Baroness who draws well behind two solid and forward trials. Include provincial mare 6. Ranhita who charged late to only miss by a long neck on debut in a smart maiden, and also draws well off speed. Improving 11. Golden Breeze was very big odds when flashing home late on debut, and can park closer from a softer draw; while 1. Super Freds is in the each-way mix first-up.
How to play it: A Tender Lady to win and box exacta 2,5,6. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 4 CLASS 2 HCP (1007m)
This shapes as an ideal return race for capable provincial mare 2. Paradise Island from the inside draw. Picked up where she left off with a dominant maiden win last December by sweeping home to easily beat a BM 58 field at Coffs in a one-off run in mid June. Given more time by the leading stable behind a quiet trial, and with the top apprentice booked, only an unfair inside section can seemingly stop her from marching on.
Dangers: Big watch on resuming four-year-old 6. Jet Pack who has trialled well, and both wins so far from nine starts have come fresh. Drawn much further out, 1. Miss Arizona has enough ability coming off a nice first-up win here, but has a task under the big weight getting across in a sizable field. Keep safe too 5. Sharkim who has trialled well five weeks between runs with significant gear changes, and top country hoop is back on. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Paradise Island to win. Odds and Evens: Evens.
Race 5 CLASS 3 HCP (1412m)
Can’t go past five-year-old 3. Prince Akeem from a softer draw and continuing to sneak down in the weights. Has only been out of the placings once in his last five, and made up a stack of ground in a deeper country BM 66 only 12 days ago when forced a long way back from a wide draw. Looks well treated under 55.5kg, and her three career wins so far have all come on soft ground.
Dangers: Progressive local 10. Hombre Grande drove home for a dominant maiden win here two starts back before looming to win again at Tuncurry on Friday. The improving surface is a big plus if the stable decides to back up in four days. Provincial five-year-old 1. Too Good To Be Tru will appreciate dropping back from Saturday Midway BM 72 grade, although even more doubtful he would back up in three days. Tough mare 4. Bear The Crown deep into her prep from a soft draw heads the rest.
How to play it: Prince Akeem to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 6 CLASS 2 HCP (1614m)
Like consistent provincial mare 2. Millenium Jewel to put this lot to the sword third-up. Tracked the speed before being unable to haul in the winner here 18 days ago, but the extra trip and fitness improvement are the big keys.
Dangers: Local five-year-old 4. Duble Memory will need to tuck in for cover from an awkward draw, but he’s hit the line well in his last two here, and gets nice weight relief for this tougher grade. Underrated mare 7. Elegant Poetess is over the odds back up to her best distance from a softer draw, and was preferred here to Tamworth on Monday; while both 6. Jubilant fifth-up; and 8. Candy Kiss, who has a sound record here; can both run into the minor end of the money.
How to play it: Millenium Jewel to win. Odds and Evens: Evens.
Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1257m)
Weak race for this grade augurs well at the big value for tough eight-year-old 3. Dynastic who peaks third-up with a significant jockey change. Charged home to miss by a nose in a deeper race 12 days ago, and the more the track dries out the better placed he is.
Dangers: Progressive four-year-old 4. Run Rory Run resumed with a narrow maiden win in heavy ground, and while this isn’t much stronger, he threatens to go around under the odds. Keep safe honest mare 8. Grandellie who has been working home okay all prep; while 2. Eurellydidit second-up; and 6. Super Bound third-up; can both run into a place.
How to play it: Dynastic each way. Odds and Evens: Split.
BEST BETS
Race 4: PARADISE ISLAND (2)
Race 5: PRINCE AKEEM (3)
BEST VALUE
Race 2: WORLD ATLAS (8)
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
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