By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail out 3m from 1100m to WP & True the remainder.
Race 1: CLASS 1 HCP (1000m)
Not much between the leading contenders in the opening sprint, but settled on promising filly 5. Invincible Madison which is out to make it two straight this prep. Was heavily backed before bouncing to the front in a handy maiden at Canberra and giving nothing else a chance. That was only her third start coming off a five-month spell, and staying at the distance and dropping 2kg for this, there’s a ton of progress on offer.
Dangers: Similarly, well-bred 2. Majestuoso Phoenix was very impressive on debut sweeping home from midfield to beat a decent maiden field at Wyong. Small gap to the rest headed by 4. Art’s Alive resuming from a soft draw behind two progressive trials; while lightly raced 3. Stormfield bolted in a country maiden when resuming running a slick time, but this is much tougher. Include in trifecta and first fours 1. Cryptonic, which draws the inside third-up.
How to play it: Invincible Madison to win.
Racing returns to Kembla Grange on Thursday.Credit: Getty Images
Race 2: CLASS 1 HCP (1600m)
Out to the mile in a similar class, and it shapes as an ideal race for improving 1. How Much Better, which has beaten all but the winner in two runs back from a break. Hits peak fitness now in a race with a little less depth, and the extra 100m is a further plus.
Dangers: Plenty of respect for 2. Lucky Bay, which is hard fit and working towards an overdue second career win, and crucially winkers replace blinkers. Keep safe 5. Sir Sublime, who was very weak after leading comfortably at the Sapphire Coast, but much better suited on firmer ground, with a sharp drop in weight. 7. Gwendie is trained on the track and the best of the rest third-up.
How to play it: How Much Better to win.
Race 3: CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2000m)
Hard to go past progressive four-year-old 2. Tastula, who is hard fit, draws the inside, and reloads off a dominant metropolitan win when rock solid in the market. Had previously rushed home late behind the winner at this course before the easy win at Canterbury, and drew to get a lovely trail in behind, only needing a clear run from the top of the straight.
Dangers: Keep safe 9. Lady Justice, which pushes out in distance third-up, and blinkers have been added. 10. Sacro Catino also gets blinkers on third-up coming out of that same race as the top selection; while 3. Unowho improves significantly second-up off a long break.
How to play it: Tastula to win.
Race 4: 4YO & UP MAIDEN PLATE (1400m)
An older maiden battle looks the ticket for emerging four-year-old 6. Shambretta, who was close-up on debut at Hawkesbury right in the market. Fitter now, and is nicely drawn to get a similar run tucked in behind.
Dangers: Progressive mare 10. Oh Diamond Lil almost defied a significant market first-up when beaten under a length at Canterbury. Bred to get further, and should also obtain a lovely run just off speed with cover. Be surprised if one of those two doesn’t win, but 1. Altair I Am can improve further third-up with winkers back on. Don’t dismiss home tracker 8. Montigo Bay at good odds after charging home from the back at Hawkesbury into a place second-up, and gets further weight relief here.
How to play it: Shambretta to win.
Race 5: MIDWAY MAIDEN HCP (1200m)
One of the more testing races on the program, but there’s plenty to like about lightly raced three-year-old 3. Dark Gleam, which resumes off a 22-week spell and forward trial. Rushed home late to beat all bar the winner in a handy provincial maiden in mid-July before spelling. That was only his third start coming off a month-long freshening, and he’s always shown an ability to react when on the fresh side. Starts this campaign first time without blinkers, and subsequently should settle comfortably off the speed and be taken to the middle of the track at the top of the lane.
Dangers: Big watch on 4. Tikiroo, resuming for only his third start off two progressive trials. Watch the betting too on 6. Cold Brew, by Pierro and on debut for the Richard and Will Freedman stable at Rosehill. Begins after two eye-catching trials, the latest winning over 1030m. Included in wider exotic plays 1. Artifactx, fourth-up with weight relief, and home tracker 2. Donwon, which draws the fence deep into his first full prep.
How to play it: Dark Gleam to win.
Race 6: SUPER 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1400m)
Plenty of chances here, headed by exciting Randwick colt 13. Walk The Pier, which shapes to go one better over 100m further after charging home from the back at this track on debut to miss by a long neck. Was backed from $3.40 into $2.70 that day, and the winner of the race was then beaten narrowly in a handy Class 1 at Hawkesbury next start. Had spent much of the year being educated and trialling, and given 26 days between runs, he’s very well-placed here.
Dangers: Naturally, big watch on debutant filly 14. Mama Joy, a stablemate of the top selection from the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton yard. Fitted with two easy trials, carries key gear additions, and bred to get much further being by Dundeel out of a Street Cry mare. 1. Carnegie Hill is good value third-up after finding the line well in two runs back, and winkers replace blinkers for the first time. Keep watch too on 15. Secure reloading for only his second start from a low draw and via a nice trial after a fair debut at Canterbury; while 4. Iconify and 7. Overland, both improving off tidy closing debut runs; are capable of running into minor money.
How to play it: Walk The Pier to win.
Race 7: BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1400m)
Another open battle to finish. Like talented and lightly raced 14. Pocketing, who is well-placed to strike second-up at just his fourth start. Came off a three-month break to power home, only missing by a neck at Hawkesbury in a race run in much quicker times than two others over 1300m on that day.
Dangers: 9. Wild Gypsy wasn’t far away when resuming at Wyong and will relish the extra furlong here. Keep safe at big odds 10. Pure Hydrogen, which resumes off two progressive trials with gear changes. 5. American Starlet is over the odds back in grade third-up with a gear change; while included in all exotics, improving 12. Fumiko and 18. Missile Seeker second-up.
How to play it: Pocketing to win
Best bets: Race 3: (2) Tastular. Race 4: (6) Shambretta
Best value: Race 6: (13) Walk The Pier
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
