By Neil Evans
Track likely improving to good 4 and rail out 5m from 900m to 300m into a cut/away and the remainder true.
Race 1: BENCHMARK 66 HCP (2100m)
We start over the longer trip on a surface that could well improve to good 4. Tricky affair with a couple of last start winners, and plenty that have gone around many times. Unde-rated six-year-old 4. Cliffs Of Moher can go back-to-back over similar trips. Surged home in heavy ground to beat a similar field at Scone a fortnight ago. From a soft trailing draw and rising just 1.5kg in weight, he’s well suited.
Dangers: Provincial six-year-old 5. Rockamo comes off a strong win here in a weaker class 17 days ago, but has proven to be equally effective in wet or dry ground. Has to get across from a wider draw, but gets a significant weight drop. Tough and hard fit front-runner 1. Careering Away is clear next best, having been run down by the top selection last start, and meets him a little better at the weights.
How to play it: Cliffs Of Moher win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 2: MAIDEN HCP (1400m)
Keen on well-bred provincial mare 10. Star Impact peaking third-up over more ground with blinkers added. Worked home nicely last start when 10 weeks between runs against slightly deeper opposition, and given a timely weight drop back on firmer ground.
Dangers: A return to drier ground is a plus for four-year-old 3. Menotti who can figure fifth-up. Was swamped here late in heavy ground last start, but draws to do little work early, and this is weak. Watch the betting on lightly raced provincial mare 4. Amalfi Queen who can improve sharply second-up; while 1. Big Time Charlie improves fourth-up and expecting 9. My Khaleesi to run home hard carrying her lightest weight in a long time.
How to play it: Star Impact win; quinella 3 and 10. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 3: CLASS 2 HCP (1600m)
Provincial four-year-old 2. Geisel jumps sharply in distance third-up, but much better off back on firmer ground, and won his only previous start here.
Dangers: Big watch on ex-Tony Gollan-trained seven-year-old 3. Torowoto having his first run for new local stable. Drops down sharply in grade after two plain efforts in Queensland, but naturally up 4.5kg in weight. The rest are battlers, although included in exotics bets 4. Travoli who returns to drier ground with important gear changes; 5. Intercept who draws to get a nice trail; and last-start Class 1 winner 7. Candy Kiss dropping in weight for this tougher grade.
How to play it: Geisel win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 4: MAIDEN PLATE (1000m)
The Stephen Jones stable at Scone has a big grip on this, and naturally the betting will be a key. Like progressive mare 8. Sussu to go one better on firmer ground after charging home to miss narrowly on debut in heavy going.
Dangers: Stablemate mare 6. Pliskova was very good here second-up in heavy ground when forced to work from the wide barrier. Watch the betting on ex-Victorian 3. Lord Of The Sun who resumes for a new local stable behind a steady trial. Expect improvement at third start from home-track stallion 1. Dubliner Boy with winkers replacing blinkers. Trained on the course, 5. Miss Chapeau is another improver down in weight and finally getting back on a firmer surface; while Sooboog mare 7. Soosie Boog is a market watch resuming off a long break behind two quiet trials.
How to play it: Sussu win. Odds and Evens: Evens.
Race 5: TAMWORTH RUSH HCP (1200m)
Plenty of quality on show in the feature sprint. The firming surface and soft draw stacks up nicely for resuming and still lightly raced six-year-old 1. Primal Scream who boasts a 35 per cent winning strike rate. Won three straight last prep up to BM 88 grade before failing in the wet in a feature sprint at Muswellbrook. Been given two trials and can hit the ground running over the odds.
Dangers: A big test will come from rival local six-year-old 2. Anethole, who also returns off a similar break behind two progressive trials and prefers dry ground. Ultra-consistent five-year-old 5. Golden Point resumes without publicly trialling, but comes to hand quickly and was terrific last prep, including a fighting win from midfield when he ran down Shelby Sixtysix at Rosehill. Included in wider exotics, staying type 3. New World Tapestry who can sprint well fresh off two trials with significant gear changes; while both home-track mares 4. Aunty Monnie, deep into her prep, and 6. Lashoni, sneaking back down in weight at big odds, can both run into the minor end of the money.
How to play it: Primal Scream each way; box exacta 1,2,5. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 6: MAIDEN HCP (1200m)
Confident provincial three-year-old 5. Burraneer Buoy can improve enough at only his second start to break through. Was big odds when working home fairly in heavy ground at Port, but the form from that race is strong with the second-placed runner bolting in a handy maiden next start and he draws better on preferred firmer ground.
Dangers: Resuming and lightly raced four-year-old 2. Divine Crescent is a big threat off two improving trials; while keep safe tough mare 13. Astern’s Girl third-up from a softer draw and down sharply in weight. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Burraneer Buoy win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 7: CLASS 2 HCP (1000m)
Under-rated provincial four-year-old 1. Barney Rabble has kept improving on heavy tracks this prep and can peak here back on drier ground
Dangers: Well touted and unbeaten home track five-year-old 2. Talbragar resumes for only his third start off a smart trial win, and is likely to start a hot odds-on favourite. Has natural speed and draws inside, although wouldn’t be diving into a ridiculously short quote. Gap to the rest headed by very honest mare 4. Emissive who peaks third-up.
How to play it: Barney Rabble each way; trifecta 1,2/1,2,4/1,2,4. Odds and Evens: Split.
BEST BETS
Race 2: (10) Star Impact. Race 4: (8) Sussu.
BEST VALUE
Race 5: (1) Primal Scream.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
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