By Neil Evans
Track Soft 5 and rail True:
Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1100m): |
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On a track rating that will likely get closer to a Good 4 by the start, sparingly-raced and strong finishing mare 9. So Rosie can strike third-up five weeks between runs. Made up plenty of ground in a handy maiden here 10 weeks back before freshened and charging home into a place against deeper opposition. Well placed at the weights after the 2kg claim, and draws to get good cover back in the field.
Dangers: Big watch on handy mare 7. Electric Evie who resumes for her first run in a new stable. Improving 1. Devoted Deputy ran home well first-up, and is suited by the extra 150m. Big market watch on 3. My Mate Laney, a four-year-old by Snitzel, who debuts as a gelding for a renowned fresh stable behind two improving trials. Both 4. Northern Boogie from a wide barrier; and honest closer 5. Vinlago deep into the prep; can run home into the minor money.
How to play it: So Rosie to win
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1300m): |
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Very testing maiden over further here, but it shapes well for handy local filly 9. Lady Of The Hunter who has been mixing her form all year, but finds a suitable race to finally break through. Hit the line nicely here two starts back before being ridden too close next start and weakened late. Blinkers crucially go on, so too a stronger and more seasoned jockey, and this is a thinner race.
Dangers: Improving 1. Daytona Demon is knocking on the door after two even runs to start his career, although has to get across from a wide draw. Keep safe 11. Rethink It who is hard fit, and worked home well into a place at big odds last start. Included in trifecta and first fours, home tracker 10. Prince Carlos and 12. Reward's Daughter.
How to play it: Lady Of The Hunter to win
Race 3 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1900m): |
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A rise in distance from the mile, and a drying track, are the keys for six-year-old 1. Norman to score a long overdue fourth career win. Missed out narrowly in a weaker BM 58 two runs ago before being ridden from the back in a tactical change at Moree and flashing home late into a place. Under the same weight and over a further 300m, that run reads well for this.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by 3. Our Girl Eve who roared home from last to win a similar graded race second-up. Honest 5. Bill Peyto has been up for a long time, but suited getting out over this distance. Coffs-based stablemate mares 4. Mindspace and 7. Jacinda Belle are both third-up and value knockout chances.
How to play it: Norman to win
Race 4 CLASS 2 HCP (1400m): |
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Progressive mare 2. Agnodice is the one to beat after charging home for a dominant BM 58 win second-up in what is now a weakened race.
Dangers: Topweight 1. Retrieval will relish a big drop in class and a 4kg claim to off-set the weight after finishing at the back in the Northern Country C'ship Wildcard qualifier. Both lightly raced filly 6. Charge By The Hour, third-up and a stablemate of the top selection; and improving 4. Dyecast Missile can run into the money; while home tracker 10. Global Sensation second-up heads the rest.
How to play it: Agnodice to win
Race 5 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m): |
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A stack of chances in this one headed by local mare 6. Quick As A Flash who is well placed to strike third-up off a month-long freshen. Hit the line late here a month ago in a race with more form depth before again settling back and working home late behind Agnodice who looms as a serious chance in the previous race. Draws to get cover around midfield. Was scratched from Grafton on Sunday to be saved for this.
Dangers: Capable 3. Bold Hoi Ho is right in the race fourth-up with some weight relief after working home fairly in heavy ground. Watch for any money around 4. Taketheshot who resumes off a 10 month spell via a quiet trial. Both 8. Kalahari Heart who likes to settle well back and run home hard; and underrated 9. Stormy Pluck down in grade second-up; are worthy exotic players; while 1. China Grove is trained on the track, and resumes with a significant class drop.
How to play it: Quick As A Flash to win
Race 6 CLASS 1 HCP (1100m): |
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Confident promising filly 7. Fools Play can go back-to-back at this track, fifth-up and four weeks between runs. Ran three straight placings in handy maiden company, including a nose defeat from a wide gate, before tracking the speed and sweeping home for a dominant win here as a heavily supported favourite. Draws to get the same sort of run, and this isn't much harder.
Dangers: Another emerging three-year-old 1. Tryanza reloads a fortnight after leading until late in a handy CL1. Boosting tactical speed, 3. Pocket Picker can run a race four weeks after missing narrowly here against similar opposition. Last start off-speed maiden winner 4. Solar Power and improving 8. Gunmetal third-up; both go into exotic bets.
How to play it: Fools Play to win
Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1100m): |
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In a closing race with many chances, all aboard tough four-year-old 1. Iobject crucially coming back 100m in distance deep into the prep. Finished best to claim a similar race at Grafton three starts ago before struggling in heavy ground. Back to his best on firmer footing when beaten narrowly from the front in a better quality BM 66, and from the inside barrier, he either leads comfortably or sits right behind.
Dangers: Improving 6. Milingimbi returns for her first run since early last spring with a gear change, loves dry ground and is a first-up winner. Big watch on resuming 4. Island Legend who trialled well at this track, and has a handy fresh record. Keep safe 9. Vertical fourth-up; while veteran 2. Indian Thunder continues to race well through a long prep, bolting in a BM 58 at this track two starts back, but is drawn wide.
How to play it: Iobject to win
BETS BETS:
R3 1. NORMAN
R5 6. QUICK AS A FLASH
BEST VALUE:
R6 7. FOOLS PLAY
All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Armidale meeting