By Nel Evans
Track soft 5 and rail true.
RACE 1
8. She Rex is a lightly raced improver well placed to break through second up, with the track gradually drying out, although wouldn’t be diving into too short a price. Only held ground from behind the leaders when resuming in a metropolitan super maiden, but better suited here where she can get to the outside over the final 300m. Naturally fitter and hasn’t missed a place yet from four starts. 7. Ivy Legend is drawn to get a nice run behind the speed with the winkers coming off, and advantaged with the sting out of the ground. 4. Kikoira is a big watch, resuming as a gelding off a lengthy break and two trials in just his second start for the top stable. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: She Rex to win.
Chris Waller will have lightly raced improver Kundabung in race two on Friday.Credit: Getty Images
RACE 2
4. Kundabung is a lightly raced improver from the Chris Waller stable primed to strike second up from the inside draw. Did his best work late when fresh at Newcastle, but can park closer to the speed here, and was scratched from the opening race to run here. Stablemate 5. Maori Chief emerges as a threat, resuming off a sound trial. Was only fair in two runs last prep, but has a real leaning towards soft ground. 3. Gunroom is a must for all exotic plays, improving sharply after a disappointing first-up run at Hawkesbury from well off the speed when backed from $3.30 into $2.60. Watch the market on 6. So Long Farewell, a three-year-old son of Super Seth on debut for the Ciaron Maher stable behind a solid provincial trial. 8. Satin Sparkle, another stablemate of the top selection, heads the rest second up from a soft trailing draw.
How to play it: Kundabung to win.
RACE 3
3. Hell To Pay, a talented son of Hellbent, resumes behind two improving trials. Was in and around the money through the last campaign, including a dominant maiden win on the Sunshine Coast and a fast-finishing placing as a heavily backed favourite at Newcastle before spelling. Looks ready to return stronger, and well in at the weights after the jockey’s 3kg claim. 2. Engine Room was impressive first up sweeping home from near the back as a hot favourite to beat a handy three-year-old maiden line-up. Naturally up in weight, but has plenty of scope, and the third placed runner from that race is the clear top selection in the opener. 4. Insist is the other clear chance. Finished best to win a provincial BM64 first up before only even to the line at Hawkesbury 16 days ago. Be surprised if the winner comes from anywhere else, but include 6. Broadway Follies fourth up from the inside gate, and 7. True Amor, resuming off two trial wins in all trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Hell To Pay to win.
RACE 4
1. Collect Your Cash is well placed to claim a second win in three starts off a month-long break. Tracked the speed before going home best in similar company here four weeks ago when having his first run for the Waterhouse-Bott stable since switching from New Zealand. Then missed by a long neck in a strong provincial BM78. Right at peak fitness now for this trip, and will carry only 1kg more after the rider’s 3kg claim. 4. Misterkipchoge has knocked up and left punters on the floor trying to capture a second career win. Placed in all four runs late last year against stronger line-ups up to BM78, three times jumping as clear favourite. That said, again found the line OK when resuming at Hawkesbury, although despite the sound trailing draw here, second-up form is a big query. 3. Fioprospero is a progressive staying type by 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente. Comes off dominant and back-to-back wins at Eagle Farm, both times powering over the top from the second half of the field. Not convinced, though, this circuit will suit his style. 6. Bestower is best of the rest improving over more ground third up ahead of 8. Fiftyfivechevy, which steps up to a tougher level off back-to-back wins.
How to play it: Collect Your Cash to win.
RACE 5
4. Campaldino, a progressive four-year-old trained on the course, looks very hard to beat, rising to a suitable trip fourth up in a race of moderate depth. Went down narrowly in consecutive runs at this track before dominating from midfield in the Orange Cup at BM90 country level. Best weighted runner carrying only 56kgs after the claim, and he’ll stay all day being out of a mare by 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking. 3. Sun Good has to overcome a tricky draw third up switching states after two improving runs in Melbourne since landing here from the UK. 6. Jack Duggan is fit and very honest, and drawn to get an economical run right behind the speed. 2. Casual Connection is also fit and has improved sharply in his past two, and also drawn to get a handy run on the speed.
How to play it: Campaldino to win.
RACE 6
6. Spirit Of Varanasi is a capable provincial mare that rates on top at the value. Won a BM64 here in December before landing a provincial BM68 a month later when ridden right on the speed. Then did his best work late in a BM72 for the mares at Canterbury before spelling. Came off a trial win to be ridden much quieter first up at Hawkesbury and hit the line hard into a place. That’s her best pattern, utilising a powerful finishing burst, and drawn to get plenty of cover, she’ll be rattling home again. 4. Botanica jumps in grade, but can go close second up on a significant weight drop and inside draw. 2. Iconic Treasure has been mixing his form in and around this level, but couldn’t be fitter and drawn to settle back with cover and be saved up for one final surge. 5. Everyone’s A Star is hard fit and 8. Struff, reloading off a first-up BM64 win at Wyong, are both capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Spirit Of Varanasi to win.
RACE 7
11. Pelosa is a lightly raced and progressive filly that can go back-to-back third up in what is a strong and open race for this grade. Stuck on OK when resuming at Kembla before dominating from just off the speed at Hawkesbury despite being unwanted in betting. Had previously trialled well on the course proper here, and drawn to get cover just off the speed, only wanting a clear passage from the top of the straight. 10. Piperita is a talented filly that was stiff not to make it two straight wins finishing hard at Newcastle 24 days ago. Drawn to get a cosy run behind the speed. Big watch at the value on 8. Eraantyva, a lightly raced mare improving second up off a long break, and her only career win so far came at this stage of the initial prep 11 months ago. 9. Miss Spacegirl is knocking on the door fourth up on a six-day turnaround. Went down narrowly twice at the provincials before running home OK behind a smart Saturday winner at Kembla. Has to tuck in, though, from the outside barrier. 2. Hallett has been freshened via a steady trial, but also has to get across from a wide draw under a big weight. 5. Little Jeannie has enough ability, but also faces a task third up from the wide draw.
How to play it: Pelosa to win.
RACE 8
11. Kadall maps to strike second up and claim the toughest and most open race on the program, although has also been accepted for the Randwick meeting on Saturday. Mixed his form under big weights in three Saturday runs at Doomben late last spring before spelling, then held his ground OK first up in a good quality provincial BM78, but second run in is his clear peaking time. 1. Edited By is a tough four-year-old boasting a near 40 per cent winning strike rate from 17 starts. Didn’t fire or have much luck when resuming in a deeper race at Canterbury, but hit back leading from barrier to box in a provincial BM78. Asked to carry 1kg more, and will need to slide over from an awkward gate. 2. Asgarda is one of several chances at good odds. Drawn to get cover third up and coming back from an unplaced effort in Victoria, but measured via an impressive feature off-speed sprint win at Abury the start before. Over the odds too is 9. Sydney Bowler peaking fourth up over 100m further. 3. Well Timed, coming back from the deeper Midway-Provincial Final, 4. Thunderlips, improving second up, and 14. She’s Unusual, resuming off two trials, all go into wider exotic plays.
How to play it: Kadall to win.
Best bets
Race 2: (4) Kundabung
Race 5: (4) Campaldino
Best value
Race 6: (6) Spirit Of Varanasi
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
