By John Schell
Selections based on a soft track.
Race 1
2. Our Bambino is a talented galloper on his day, and he comes into this on the back of a last-start win at this track over Tajawal. He’s a nine-time winner from 56 starts and only needs to run up to the latest effort to be a winning chance again. 3. Tajawal has been racing consistently with a win at Taree three starts ago before a second behind Our Bambino here and then finishing third in the Orange Cup when last produced. He has the talent to bounce back to winning form here. 4. Ring Ahoy failed at Scone at his last start but had been racing well before that, including a third behind Our Bambino and Tajawal. 7. Tainui is lightly raced but has two wins and three seconds from just five starts and looms as a major player again.
How to play it: Our Bambino to win.
Racing returns to Tamworth on Thursday.Credit: Fairfax
Race 2
1. Steel Claws has a string of placings to his name and went down narrowly when second at this track at his last start. He is ready to win and gets his chance here. 4. Cheeky Dancer ran well when placed at Hawkesbury at his second start, while 3. Dub wasn’t far away when a last-start second at Scone. 7. Pappiana has been racing well of late and has solid place claims.
How to play it: Steel Claws to win.
Race 3
11. Sukeban has only had two starts and has performed well enough in both of them to be rated a chance here. He ran fourth at Goulburn last time out and was only beaten two lengths in that event. 9. Puffin ran fourth on debut at Quirindi and has won a trial leading into this. 5. Bullant is a last-start Wellington placegetter that should not be underestimated, while 4. Aylberdini ran third in a trial at Scone behind Puffin and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
How to play it: Sukeban to win.
Race 4
1. Yanabah has been placed in two of five starts, including a last-start second at Gunnedah. He has the advantage of gate one here and an apprentice allowance. 4. Musumeci ran third in a trial at this track in preparation for this race debut and is worth plenty of thought. 11. This One Time resumed with a solid fourth at Scone and should have taken benefit from that hit out, while 3. Maxandus wasn’t beaten far on debut at this track.
How to play it: Yanabah to win.
Race 5
4. Mount Bona did the job well to score on a heavy track at Scone at his second start and then was close up when fourth at Newcastle. His form looks solid for a race like this. 1. Bolt Away Now was midfield at Scone last time out and that was the first time he’s been unplaced from four starts. 3. Antilocapra has a solid record and wasn’t disgraced when sixth at Gosford at her last start, while 7. Off The Scale shows talent and only needs to overcome a wide gate to be a leading contender.
How to play it: Mount Bona to win.
Race 6
8. Stratified won at Mudgee three starts back and has since been placed at Dubbo and Wellington. He’s drawn the rails here and gets his chance again. 10. Arctic Legend is a last-start winner at this track and bears close watching again, while 12. King Larry has a good record and won at Port Macquarie when last produced. 6. Super Extreme is a recent trial winner and a forward showing would not surprise.
How to play it: Stratified to win.
Race 7
6. Green Shadows is resuming from a spell here and is on target to make it into a second Big Dance in succession should he run well here. He won the Goulburn Cup last year and finished 13th in the Big Dance behind Gringotts. He’s had two trials leading into this return to racing and was close up in the latest of them. 1. West Of Africa won the Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast in January and has been racing well this campaign with a third in the Ajax Stakes before a third in the Muswellbrook Cup at his last start. He’s had a recent trial to be kept up to the mark for this. 2. Vivy Air ran second in last year’s Big Dance and strips fitter for a resuming run in the Star Kingdom, while 4. Ka Bling is talented and ran well in the Bert Lillye at Kembla Grange last time out.
How to play it: Green Shadows each way.
Race 8
12. Quick Sharp is lightly raced with a win and two placings from four starts. He was close up when third at Dubbo last time out and can bounce back with a win here. 7. Super Sioux is a last-start winner at this track can make an impact again, while 1. Dize won well at Wellington when last produced. 3. Water Lad has talent and a bold showing wouldn’t surprise.
How to play it: Quick Sharp to win.
Best bets
Race 2: (1) Steel Claws
Race 6: (8) Stratified
Best value
Race 7: (6) Green Shadows
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
