By Neil Evans
Track good 4 and rail true.
Race 1
2. Lady Olenna has this at her mercy, coming back to the short course. Had already been taken out of a maiden at Gosford last week before the meeting was abandoned after two races. Fitter now with plenty of tactical speed, and the leading senior jockey takes over. 8. Scarlet Monarch is lightly raced and can go close second-up back on firmer ground. Both 4. This One Time, resuming off a long break and trained on the track, and 9. The Piccolino, having his fifth run this prep can fight for the trifecta position.
How to play it: Lady Olenna to win.
Race 2
6. Rail Trail is a tough and improving three-year-old ready to break through after beating all but the winner in two runs in his first full prep. Loves to roll forward and right at peak fitness now. 10. Miss Arisa, a two-year-old filly by Headwater in the Cassandra Stummer stable at Muswellbrook, is a big market watch on debut. Bolted in a trial at this track only five days ago and starts off in winkers. 4. Naftali is the other key chance after hitting the line hard first-up off a long break; while 3. He’sthechief, a three-year-old by Supido, is another first starter coming off two improving trials and is bred to go quick.
How to play it: Rail Trail to win.
Racing returns to the Upper Hunter on Monday.Credit: Jenny Evans
Race 3
1. De Louviere presents a shade under the odds here, but still the clear one to beat second-up dropping back from a much deeper race at Wyong where he motored home from the back. Back up 2kg for the drop in class and will naturally drift well back again from the wide draw, but should relish the bigger and more spacious track over a touch further. Big watch on 9. Rock All Night, which can improve sharply over a longer trip coming back from provincial company. 3. Deemee is over the odds shooting for back-to-back wins, fourth-up. 12. Whittelsbach is the best of the rest at her third start, also coming out of that same Newcastle maiden as the former.
How to play it: De Louviere to win.
Race 4
9. Fortissimo is a promising two-year-old trained on the track which reloads 24 days after fighting hard to score a narrow win on debut here in heavy ground after being very well backed. Margin was slim, but starting on a bottomless heavy 10 is always a tall order for a new one, and despite a sharp rise in distance, he can be given plenty of time to balance up & sweep over them on much firmer footing. 1. New Pharaoh is a locally trained four-year-old also well-placed to go back to back. Tracked the speed before going home strongly to break through first-up at Tamworth, and from a handy trailing draw near the speed, he’s bred to run the extra trip out hard. 5. Call Me Terry is another local with more than enough ability, having run home well all prep, but may be forced further back this time from a wide draw. The start will be vital. At much bigger odds, 11. Corpsman is capable of running into a place deep into her prep.
How to play it: Fortissimo to win.
Race 5
13. Miss Capitale, a metropolitan filly by Capitalist, got under the market radar when finishing best to win on debut on the Mid North Coast and the form from that race held up immediately. Has been given a quiet trial since and offers plenty of scope. 9. Speedy Henry is a home tracker and a clear threat resuming after scoring a tough win on debut at Dubbo. Likely to jump favourite. 2. Bolt Away Now stuck on OK first-up at Gunnedah, but would have to improve sharply to trouble some of these from a wide barrier. 7. Navy Steel, a fresh winner at Wellington in heavy ground, and 8. Ronny Bee, resuming from the inside draw, can both add value into wider exotic plays.
How to play it: Miss Capitale to win.
Race 6
1. Tact, a metro three-year-old by superstar The Autumn Sun, can strike second-up here stepping up a furlong in trip. Stuck on well after tracking the speed when resuming in a better race at Newcastle, and this is his best trip. 5. Leovanni looks the likely threat drawn inside and deep into the prep. Has placed in all four runs this prep well when well in the market, and only needs to get clear running from the 350m to be in the finish again. Gap to the rest headed by 16. Zoomorphic, which is trained on the track and will relish getting back on firmer footing fourth-up. 4. Spenzalot and 9. Pieronimo can both finish in the minor money.
How to play it: Tact to win.
Race 7
7. Kantishna, a talented local filly, gets her chance to win again well into the prep. Has been a little soft at the end of consecutive races in similar grade over the same trip, but has gone back to the trials successfully and better placed on drying ground. 3. Totoka must have a serious chance resuming from a nice draw and easy trial. Took on Group company as a spring three-year-old and was far from disgraced, and only career win so far came when fresh. 6. Too Darn Lovely, a stablemate of the top selection, is over the odds second-up with a key gear change and coming back home where she’s unbeaten from two starts. 9. Brighella is an ex-Godolphin and Victorian-based three-year-old having his first start for the new Tamworth yard off a 10-week break. 8. Pearl’s Treasure can sneak into a place at big odds.
How to play it: Kantishna to win.
Race 8
14. Rockbarton Angel has peeled off back-to-back flashing wins from a mile back in her last two, and no reason why she can’t do it again. This is an ideal and spacious circuit, ridden very quietly from the outside draw, and getting to the middle or beyond again late in the day. Naturally steps up to a stronger grade, but swept past the handy Meet Me In Bondi last start and that form reads well for this. Handles all ground. 2. Point Basse has plenty of ability and looms as the logical threat fourth-up coming back from deeper races. 13.Otium is a tough and underrated Mid North Coast galloper which can run a race back on firmer ground, and dropping in weight. 8. Everlast Kiss and 10. Sanzeno both add value into exotic plays.
How to play it: Rockbarton Angel to win.
Best bets
Race 4: (9) Fortissimo. Race 6: (1) Tact
Best value
Race 8: (14) Rockbarton Angel
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
