By Neil Evans
Track soft 5 and rail true.
Race 1
10. Ripley, a two-year-old colt by Too Darn Hot on debut for the Ciaron Maher stable, can strike in the opener. Given plenty of time since a late spring trial, and again trialled up nicely at the provincials two weeks back. Draws OK, and significantly starts his career in blinkers. 6. Hawker Hall draws wide, but looks primed for a big return off two progressive trials, bolting in the latest in heavy ground by more than five lengths. 1. Captain Eagle let punters down, missing by a long neck first-up at Wyong as the hottest of favourites and drew awkwardly. 7. Secure is clear best of the rest resuming as a gelding off a nice trial.
How to play it: Ripley to win.
Race 2
12. Winner Of Kowloon, a three-year-old by Shamus Award on debut for the Bjorn Baker yard, emerges as an exciting prospect. Won both lead-up trials with plenty in hand and draws to get a soft run inside. 9. Ninette, a debutant filly by Zoustar in the Hawkes camp, also looks to have plenty of ability via two recent Rosehill trials. Watch the betting closely on both these runners. 11. Silver Wedding is also first-up off a forward trial, but likely to drift back and may find this a bit slick. 6. Maid Of Moolah, which ran home hard on debut at Hawkesbury, and talented 8. Mother Goose second-up, can both finish in the minor money.
Winner Of Kowloon trainer Bjorn Baker.Credit: Getty Images
How to play it: Winner Of Kowloon to win.
Race 3
3. Mia Ballerina won’t get a better chance to break through, finding an ideal race after a five week freshen-up and easy trial, with a key gear adjustment. Had placed in three consecutive starts whether coming from off speed or setting the pace before boxing on for a long way on the Kensington track last month. Well placed under the set weights conditions, jumping from an ideal trailing gate, and the top jockey is back on board. 7. Ti Amo Tanto can peak third-up from the inside draw over a shade more ground. 8. All Star, a colt by I Am Invincible, is a big watch returning for his second start seven weeks after a plain effort at this track on debut. Keep safe at bigger odds 5. Semibreve, improving into her second start.
How to play it: Mia Ballerina to win.
Race 4
1. Mural Crown can put aside endless frustration and 81 weeks since he last raced and return with a bang. Hasn’t raced since the spring 2023 when he was close-up in consecutive BM 64s and always hard in the market. Comes back now to the track where he won impressively on debut in the winter of that year, beating a smart field of youngsters, and running 1.09.80 for the 1200m. Drawn to get a good run and gets in well at the weights after the jockey takes 3kg off. 2. Apex is a smart youngster and natural threat resuming for a second full prep behind a handy trial. Gap to the rest headed by 7. Cassiel, which also has plenty of ability on the fresh side, and has trialled well. 8. Zoukerino is in the each-way mix from the inside draw, while 6. Oryx is the best of the rest fourth-up having been scratched from Saturday’s Kembla meeting to be saved for this.
How to play it: Mural Crown to win.
Race 5
Plenty of chances again in a strong betting race, headed at the value by 9. Ellipsis, an exciting filly by Written Tycoon resuming for a second prep. Thrashed her opposition on debut in the country last spring before close-up in consecutive higher grades. Given plenty of time since, and two easy trials, and further advantaged if the surface stays in soft range. 2. Written Scandal is progressive and has shown good acceleration from just behind the speed to win two of his last three. 4. Flying Embers landed a strong betting move when surging home from midfield to claim a Midway Class 1 at Hawkesbury first-up, but much more depth here. Talented and lightly raced Newcastle filly 7. Flame Of Hestia made a big statement resuming at home, exploding a mile clear to win by more than six lengths. Draws to get a gun run again, tucked in with cover just behind the speed.
How to play it: Ellipsis to win.
Race 6
5. Maison Louis can claim a tricky and tactical affair over much further, and take her winning strike rate to 60 per cent from five starts. Swept home for a dominant maiden win in the country before running home all too late on an ordinary surface at Gosford. Ridden a touch quieter and bounced back hard, zooming home to win a Class 1 at Goulburn over a mile by nearly four lengths. Naturally this is tougher making her city debut, but she right up for this longer trip and bred to handle all going. 6. Full Hao is lightly raced and reloads 12 days after a dominant off speed Super Maiden win at Hawkesbury. 8. Kenmare Bay hasn’t had much go his way in three runs this prep, still beating all but the winner. Gets blinkers added fourth-up but will have a job tucking in from a wide draw around a trickier course. 12. Jayashree, drawn wide but very fit, is the best of the rest ahead of 13. Eclair Awesome, which is over the odds rising in grade behind consecutive wins.
How to play it: Maison Louis to win.
Race 7
2. Renosu, a progressive Godolphin five-year-old, is well placed to resume in style in a good race with several chances. Very sparingly raced last year after a BM 100 win at Warwick Farm in early April, but always blessed with plenty of sprinting ability. Has won both lead-up trials and drawn to get a nice trail right behind the speed. Stablemate 1. Pisanello is smart on his day, but hasn’t quite recaptured the form of last prep when he swept home for three consecutive wins up to BM 80 Saturday grade. That said, didn’t get many breaks hitting the line late at Group 3 level first-up at Rosehill before closing off fairly last time in Listed company at Flemington. Awkward draw and naturally goes back up in weight, but James McDonald, who won twice on him last spring, is back aboard. 5. Fire Star, which won four straight up to BM 88 level to cap a terrific campaign late last year, resumes off a quiet trial. 7. In Flight is a talented mare resuming off two steady trials, and four of her five career wins have come over this trip. 10. Piastri, which draws the fence and gets in with a light weight after the claim, reloads off a five-week break.
How to play it: Renosu to win.
Race 8
14. Cormac T is primed to strike fresh behind two improving trials up to 1200m. Was right in the money in two states last prep, runner-up twice at Wyong before going home best to win a BM 78 at Eagle Farm when pushed out to 2400m. Naturally at her best over further, but has been well fitted to run this trip out first-up. 5. Mountain Top put in a shocker at Kensington second-up, but much better at Warwick Farm taking a sit and chasing hard through the line before a poor effort from near the speed in tougher BM 78 company last Wednesday. On the quick back-up, the jockey change is significant. Stablemate 3. Seafall is a big watch first-up from the inside draw behind two quiet trials. 6. Our Empress Zoe, improving third-up over more ground, and 7. Satness, deep into the prep, head the rest.
How to play it: Cormac T to win.
Best bets: Race 2 (12) Winner Of Kowloon. Race 3 (3) Mia Ballerina
Best value: Race 6 (5) Maison Louis
