Latest News

By Neil Evans

Track Soft 6 and rail True:

We start over the short course on an improving surface, and this shapes as a race in two, with the value clearly with local filly 7. Fools Play resuming from the inside draw. Hit the line impressively into a place in two runs here last winter to start her career before failing to run home when pushed out in distance on what was a leader-biased track. Given plenty of time since, and despite having not officially trialled, has reportedly done plenty of work, and should get a cosy run just off the speed.

Dangers: Another home track filly resuming 6. Call Me Super is the natural threat, and likely to jump clear favourite. Was close-up in two spring runs last prep, running the capable Sharkosphere to under a length. Watch for any money aboard 1. Murwood Wolf resuming at home for just his second start; while keeping safe, improving 5. Russian Inn second-up.

How to play it: Fools Play to win

Like the value here about resuming three-year-old 7. Cassie's Lad who draws to get good cover just off the speed. Failed to impress last prep, but did tackle much deeper fields, and his recent trial effort suggests he's ready to turn the corner. Over the odds.

Dangers: Naturally early short-priced fancy 3. Uncut Gem will be hard to hold out third-up after having no luck from the wide gate last time. Previous first-up effort in heavy ground was a very solid pointer for this, but still looks under the odds from a middle draw. Expect lightly raced 1. Northern Boogie to improve second-up; while ex Qld filly 9. Lightscameraction having her first run for the new Port stable third-up; and 12. Staffa fourth-up; are both capable of running into the minor money.

How to play it: Cassie's Lad each way

Emerging three-year-old 3. Dysart is well placed to strike at only his second start. Liked the way he worked home from the back on debut in a handy maiden at Muswellbrook, and a bit more ground with a little drop in weight serves him well. The scratching of the stablemate is a further lead.

Dangers: Big watch on 5. Lord Akomeed who is banging on the door deep into his first full prep. Led for a long way two starts back before a change of tactics almost paid off when he motored home from the back to be beaten under a length a fortnight ago. Local filly 13. Cool Machine is also well in the market, and caught the eye getting home late in a handy Super Maiden here 24 days ago. Be surprised if the winner comes from anywhere else, but exotic plays can include 1. Bow Ribbon who finished hard here eight days ago.

How to play it: Dysart to win

Always plenty of chances at this level over the sprint trip, headed by honest five-year-old 1. Debussy second-up over 100m further. Stuck on well resuming at the provincials, and the leading jockey sticks solid.

Dangers: Talented 5. Pixie Hallow has won two of her last three, with those races spaced out. Has superior tactical speed, and with any sort of decent run in transit, will take some catching over this trip. Tough 8. The Wolf dug in hard to win two straight here before just edged out late at Taree two weeks back. Include 3. Uncertain Terms back from deeper Highway company fourth-up; and 7. Crop Duster second-up; in trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Debussy to win

Hard to see capable home tracker 2. My Mum's Toyboy being rolled third-up from this draw in what is now a weakened race. Was dominant when resuming on heavy ground before tracking the speed and missing by a neck 13 days ago. Steps up a furlong in distance, he can go forward and use a superior turn of acceleration early in the straight.

Dangers: Underrated 4. Rox'n'rol comes off a narrow and fighting maiden win at this track, and is well over the odds from a low draw; while at bigger odds keep safe 11. Super Art hitting peak fitness fourth-up; while 1. Powder Man second-up is the best of the rest.

How to play it: My Mum's Toyboy to win

No shortage of chances in this contest over the mile. At good value home tracker 1. Ashim is set to peak third-up off a month-long break over his pet distance. Sat closer in the run and went down narrowly in deeper grade than this two starts ago before working home late through traffic in a similar company last time. Better draw here out in the middle where he can pick up a trail from the half mile and get to the outside, capable of peeling off a strong final 300m.

Dangers: Lightly raced 4. Crazy About You is well in the hunt improving second-up, with a superior and leading jockey taking over. Behind two placings this prep, 6. Celebrity's Beau is a knockout chance from a handy trailing draw; while stablemates 8. Latin Lyric who draws to get a soft run off speed; and 12. Never Island third-up over further; are both worthy of exotic inclusion.

How to play it: Ashim each way

Same grade back in distance to close the card, and it shapes well for progressive four-year-old 2. Crowie's Shout fourth-up. Bounced straight back after flopping in a much tougher Highway by tracking the speed and easily accounting for a similar field last start as a well supported favourite. Again draws to roll forward, and the more the track dries out the better placed he is.

Dangers: Big watch on 5. Stratum Chief resuming off two rock solid trial wins. Drawn the fence, 3. Twilight Rock has been consistently in and around the money, and won his maiden in heavy ground by an effortless six lengths late last year. There was plenty to like about the last start win here of 4. Scotland who drove home down the middle despite sitting wide for much of the trip. Rarely runs a bad one, although has to overcome an even wider draw this time. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Crowie's Shout to win

BEST BETS:
R1 7. FOOL'S PLAY
R7 2. CROWIE'S SHOUT

BEST VALUE:
R4 1. DEBUSSY

All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Coffs Harbour meeting