By Neil Evans
Track heavy 8 and rail out 2m.
Race 1
3. Suit Day is a tough and reliable stayer which handles all conditions and is well-placed to win again deep into the prep. Placed in his last two over similar trips, sticking on strong behind an impressive winner at Scone last time, and drawn to get a soft run behind the speed. 2. Oakfield Pinto can improve with the sharp rise in distance, and back on rain-affected ground. 5. Flying Argento hit the line first-up at Hawkesbury and is good enough here to absorb the sharp rise in trip, especially with blinkers coming off. Watch the betting on 6. She’s Got Teeth after a disastrous run as a hot favourite at Taree, never travelling and dropping out a long last, but was later found to have had a poor recovery. Did win in this grade nine weeks back and the stable has made key gear changes, including the removal of blinkers. 9. Hallowed Son resumed with a fast-finishing win at Armidale. 7. Full regalia is honest, draws well and can run into the minor money.
How to play it: Suit Day to win.
Race 2
5. Navy Pier, a locally trained three-year-old by Divine Prophet in the David Atkins stable, is primed to make a big statement on debut. Has looked good through the line in two recent trials, draws to get the right run and jockey booking is significant. Keep safe 6. Perasta, which is hard fit and did his best work late at Port Macquarie 13 days ago. 2. Joyrider is a sparingly raced five-year-old which hasn’t started since last winter, but has trialled well. 7. Scathingly is much better placed, dropping back in trip fourth-up. 1. Divine Bene returns off a lengthy break and steady trial.
How to play it: Navy Pier to win.
Racing returns to Newcastle on Monday.Credit: AP
Race 3
4. Sirius Flyer is a progressive mare ready to break through third-up off a lengthy break. Did her best work late resuming before settling closer and missing narrowly in a handy maiden at Mudgee. That form reads well for this and she’s bred to thrive in wet ground. 1. Spenzalot is a big threat at his second start, with winkers going on. Chased hard all the way in a handy maiden at Tamworth two weeks ago and a stronger jockey takes over. 2. Takeover Lad was disappointing last start at Armidale, missing a place from a handy trailing draw, but he hasn’t finished further back than fourth all prep and draws the inside. 7. Fun In Texas and 8. Mad Harry are the best of the rest.
How to play it: Sirius Flyer to win.
Race 4
2. Kimberley Moon is a talented and adaptable mare which can claim a fourth career win from just seven starts. Won two straight from just off the speed, including a BM 58 at this track six weeks ago before just fair in tougher Class 3 Highway company at Canterbury. Naturally climbs back up in weight for this level, but she’s already a soft-track winner and drawn to get to what probably will be the better going. 6. Insightful Award blew away her opposition by six lengths fourth-up at Scone. This is tougher, but she draws to get cover and relishes soft ground. 3. Snatchreilly is also on the improve after an even first-up run in thinner class and draws the fence. Big watch on 1. Haiku Star, which finished best to win in weaker grade second-up; while similar story for 4. Water Lad, who ran home OK behind the former, reloading off a month-long break and consecutive BM 58 wins. Gap to the rest headed by 5. Get Some Fun, which drops back from a stiffer line-up at Wyong.
How to play it: Kimberley Moon to win.
Race 5
8. Kowloon Princess represents good value peaking at her third start. Ran home OK from the back in a handy maiden at Bathurst after over-racing early and scouting very wide on the turn. Naturally more depth here, but she hits peak fitness, should get a better run in transit, and is bred to handle wet tracks. 2. Love And Light is naturally a big market watch, resuming off a 37-week break and two progressive trials without blinkers for the Waterhouse-Bott stable. 12. Viva La Juicy, a filly by Astern, is a big watch on debut for the Kris Lees yard behind two improving trials. 7. Incantress gets blinkers for the first time. 3. Real Sassy and 6. Deep Emotion both go in exotic plays.
How to play it: Kowloon Princess to win.
Race 6
14. Gone To Cape York is an emerging three-year-old by Street Boss, with plenty of scope. Won on debut at Nowra as a heavily backed favourite, and while this is tougher, he did cruise home to win a metro trial prior in soft ground. Drawn out, but that might be the place to be late in the day. 4. Boomtown Chat is better placed here after sticking on well from the front in a deeper Class 1 at Hawkesbury. 1. Oakfield Triumph resumes under a big weight behind a handy trial. The betting will tell a story with 3. Chilly Charlie, which didn’t do much in four runs last prep, but starts this campaign in a thinner race off a quiet trial. 8. Prince Kuro, despite drawing wide, is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Gone To Cape York to win.
Race 7
6. Special Day is an underrated and improving mare trained on the course and is well-placed to peak dropping in grade second-up. Was consistent enough last campaign before running home OK fresh at BM 68 level on the course proper here and is right at home on rain-affected ground. 9. Cosmic Treasure is a lightly raced and progressive filly coming off a second-start country maiden win as a heavily favourite. 11. Tulipwood, a lightly raced stablemate of the former, got the right run through to break her maiden at Dubbo, although this time drawn off the track in a deeper race. Keep safe 4. Golden Honour, which ran home well second-up in a country BM 66 and has won on rain-affected ground. 5. Tigers Roar can peak fourth-up from the inside draw.
How to play it: Special Day to win.
Best bets: Race 2 (5) Navy Pier. Race 3 (4) Sirius Flyer
Best value: Race 7 (6) Special Day
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
