3 minute read
Track Heavy 8 and rail True:
Race 1 2YO COLTS & GELDINGS MAIDEN PLATE (1250m):
We start the holiday meeting with the male youngsters on a track slowly drying out, and may even sneak back just into soft range. Confident enough well bred 7. Railway Man can return with a bang for the Ciaron Maher stable at only his second start. Failed to fire as a clear favourite on debut earlier in the year, but has progressed nicely through two trials. Is by prolific I Am Invincible and out of a Group 1-winning Oakleigh Plate mare.
Dangers: Snitzel colt 6. Manos is primed for a big debut for Team Snowden. Comes in with key gear additions behind two trials, winning the former in handy time on Soft 7 ground. Another first starter from the Chris Waller stable 8. Rugby by Dundeel has been fitted with two quiet trials, and draws to get cover; while provincial-based and third-up improver 4. Justice Warrior, a well-bred colt by Justify; and Steel Strike who was even to the line on debut at Warwick Farm for the Waterhouse-Bott yard when backed from $5.00 into $3.60; are both in the each-way mix from handy draws.
How to play it: Railway Man to win
Race 2 2YO FILLIES MAIDEN PLATE (1250m):
The girls' edition isn't much easier with a couple of the early market fancies drawn wide, so any early pattern will be vital. Debutant 12. Tessy Tee rates on top for the Richard Collett stable. Has won both lead-up trials on soft and heavy ground, clocking an impressive 32.60 for her last 600m in soft going. Has natural tactical speed, and bred to thrive in the conditions, being by Rubick and out of a Smart Missile mare.
Dangers: The raps are good for 10. Sharon Drive, a daughter of Group 2-winning Zousain who debuts off two trials for the powerful Waller/McDonald combination. Well bred 2. And Found reloads for a second prep after two failures earlier in the year at big odds, but looks set for a better prep this time behind two stronger and forward trials on rain-affected ground. Gap to the rest headed by 5. Glitterscript fourth-up after running home well in a handy country CL1 when backed from $4.00 into $3.70.
How to play it: Tessy Tee to win
Race 3 3YO BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1250m):
Plenty of value in this three-year-old battle, but bred to handle the conditions, progressive filly 7. Equipage can make it two from two in her second prep. Was in and around the money in good maiden fields last campaign, although often ridden a little close, but when fresh at Hawkesbury and taken well back off the speed, she cut loose for a smart win rewarding punters who backed her from $2.15 into a $1.85 favourite. Extra ground is a further plus, and to soo is the leading jockey taking over.
Dangers: Another one gunning for back-to-back wins this prep, 8. Exceed Perfection was fit enough behind two trials to hang on at Kembla, and again drew to roll forward on speed. Resuming 5. Metallic Ruler has the blinkers coming off behind two trials; while including in all exotic plays both 9. Lady Boss, resuming for a second prep off two trials; and 12. Rapt hitting peak fitness fourth-up.
How to play it: Equipage to win
Race 4 3YO & 4YO BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1550m):
The four-year-olds join a similar-graded affair here over a middle distance, and in a race of many chances, progressive 2. Mickey's Medal looks the best value fourth-up from the inside draw. Tracked the speed at Hawkesbury before accelerating away for a dominant CL1 win, and carrying 1kg less after the jockey's claim, he can repeat the dose. Unproven in heavy, but the clearing weather should ensure he gets back to a more preferred surface rating.
Dangers: Tough on-speeder 1. Vanquished can give a big sight third-up back on a smaller and tighter circuit. Drops 2kg here after a game second-up effort at Kembla when collared late. Similarly well placed third-up is genuine mare 7. Pink Baroque with plenty of soft track experience. Watch the betting on 8. Until Valhalla who has more than enough ability to salute fourth-up, but has to get over from a wider draw. Over the odds fourth-up is 11. Tartana who steps up in class having won two of her last three at the provincials; while 6. Missile Seeker back down in grade but up in weight; and 5. Happy Saturday third-up; are both capable of running into the money.
How to play it: Mickey's Medal to win
Race 5 BENCHMARK 72 HCP (1550m):
Smaller and more tactical field this time, and most are in the equation. Canberra-based 5. Eastern Glow nearly always settles back in his races, and often needs luck to win, but his form reads very well for this fourth-up, and with a leading metro jockey taking over. Did his best work late two starts back in a deeper BM 78 at Rosehill before again finishing off okay in a thinner country feature under 61.5kg. Settles a bit closer to the action here from this draw, and advantaged over more ground, just needs a clear crack at them from the top of the straight.
Dangers: Plenty of those headed by Scone-based 2. Russley Crown who has great ability on his day, and built a 30 percent win rate from 17 starts. Stuck on okay in the Country Cup over the home carnival two starts back before taken to the front in the Gunnedah Cup and only collared in the last stride. Must include improving mare 7. Elsie May who made some late ground resuming in a similar race as a despised outsider, and is unbeaten from two starts in heavy going. Watch the market around Irish-bred 3. All In The Mind, resuming off a long break and two trials for just his second run for the Bjorn Baker stable. Gunnedah Cup winner 1. Mayfair Spirit who draws to get a handy trail is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Eastern Glow to win
Race 6 BENCHMARK 72 HCP (1250m):
Lightly raced and progressive four-year-old 3. Accredited gets all the ticks here second-up, and coming through a superior formline. Won twice last prep up to this level, both times sitting just off the speed and driving home with purpose. Only held his ground resuming in similar company at Warwick Farm, but was backed from $4.60 into $3.60 that day, and the winner then went up a notch and beat smart sprinter The Black Cloud at Randwick on Saturday.
Dangers: Provided the inside going holds up, 8. Need Some Luck is the immediate threat also second-up. Comes through a deep BM 72 over the Scone carnival when making up late ground from the back behind a smart winner, and the second placed horse from that race then won in Listed company at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Be surprised if the winner comes outside that pair, but keep safe lightly raced 5. Hughes who resumes off a 43 week break behind three jump-outs for a strong Victorian stable. Hard fit and last-start Kensington winner 1. Oakfield Duke and 6. Dimitrov, resuming behind two trials for the John O'Shea yard; can both add value into exotic plays.
How to play it: Accredited to win
Race 7 BENCHMARK 88 HCP (1100m):
Back in trip but up in grade, and not much separates the leading contenders. Settled on high class country sprinter 7. Mogo Magic second-up. Sparingly-raced, he has maintained a high winning strike rate, and chased home The Black Cloud when resuming in a BM 78. Still looks well treated at the weights dropping 4.5kg for this, and right at home on rain-affected ground parking just off a likely strong tempo. By-passed the Listed sprint feature at Randwick on Saturday to be saved for this.
Dangers: Consistent mare 12. Dollar Magic produced a smart first-up win from off speed over the Scone carnival, and nearly always improves into her next run. Only missed a place once in soft going from eight starts, but is drawn wide. Despite drawing the outside gate, progressive 11. Jedibeel is a threat third-up in conditions he thrives in. Bolted in a metro BM 72 two starts ago when heavily backed from $2.10 into $1.70. Capable filly 15. Cigar Flick roared back to her best coming from last in a Saturday BM 72 just nine days ago, and gets 3.5kg weight relief for the step up in quality.
How to play it: Mogo Magic to win
Race 8 BENCHMARK 72 HCP (1900m):
We wrap the meeting over the longer journey, and in a wide affair, there's terrific value around Randwick four-year-old 9. Allhallowtide with a key gear change. Has run home into the placings in his last two through inferior ground, but winkers on for the first time and the leading jockey booked to ride, he can peak getting to the outside over this distance.
Dangers: Front-running mare 7. Frankly Elegant can naturally dictate, and give a big sight. Has dug in hard to win her last two at BM 64 level, and with weight relief and a liking for wet tracks, she's right up to this level. Underrated seven-year-old 12. Chateaux Park hasn't won for a while, but gets overdue weight relief for this step up in grade, and ran Frankly Elegant to a long neck at this track 13 days ago. Country-based 3. Holstein comes back from deeper metro opposition over the Qld border and five weeks between runs.
How to play it: Allhallowtide each way
