Latest News

By Neil Evans

Track improving to Good 4 and rail True:

We open the Showcase Country Championships meeting over the mile on a track that will improve back into Good range, with hot and dry weather forecast. Still progressing North Coast four-year-old 4. Kennysing is well placed to peak fifth-up at the distance, and make it two wins from his last three. Was dominant from off speed in a thinner field two starts back before again working home from further back three weeks ago. Drawn to get cover around midfield and should thrive on the bigger track.

Dangers: Honest 3. Aquarius has been running home fairly in and around this grade on both sides of the border; while Gold Coast-based 1. Vantastic slips down a little in grade deep into the prep. Include fourth-up runners 6. Too Much Heaven sneaking down in the weights.

How to play it: Kennysing to win
Odds and Evens: Split

This sprint battle for the restricted sprinters shapes beautifully for emerging provincial three-year-old 4. Jumping Power Two who still has plenty more to give fourth-up. Led all the way at only previous run here when fresh, and ran a race record when beating a CL1 country field a fortnight ago. Bit more depth in this, but he draws to utilise that early tactical speed, and relishes firm ground.

Dangers: Don't undersell tough 7. Midweek Hussler from a low draw after a dominant win in much weaker grade. Hard fit and over the odds with a 3kg claim. If home tracker 2. Lucifer's Reward can tuck in from the wide gate, he'll be running into the finish. Has been around the money since finishing best to win a similar race here four starts ago, and gets a much-needed 3kg allowance, with winkers coming off. From the inside draw and fifth-up, 8. Golden Fantasy can also run into minor money.

How to play it: Jumping Power Two to win
Odds and Evens: Split

No loafing here in the short course dash, with plenty of chances. Like tough four-year-old 1. Toy Boy Roy coming back a furlong in trip fourth-up, with winkers being added. Has fought tenaciously in his last three to miss narrowly, twice having to work early from wide draws, and while he jumps from near the outside again, his early speed comes to greater effect over this shorter trip.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by improving provincial filly 9. Les Girls second-up with blinkers coming off; while 3. Shaggy Rogers resumes as a three-year-old for a leading country yard, although drawn wide. Home track filly 11. Iamrustyparker and can add value into the exotics.

How to play it: Toy Boy Roy to win
Odds and Evens: Odds a special

Now with the maidens over a tricky middle distance at set weights. Confident ultra honest home track six-year-old 7. Mallee Boy Express can peak here fourth-up over this longer journey. Has tracked the speed and beaten all bar the winner in two of his three runs back, and returning home on a drying surface is a further plus.

Dangers: Any number can queue up, but if capable and lightly raced 9. King's Star finds any sort of cover from the wide barrier, he will be in the finish third-up. So too still improving local 1. Count De Monnaie who has shown gradual improvement through a prep that's been going for 11 weeks. Keep safe too at good odds 6. Mahomes who is still trying to break through at his 36th start, but has been close-up in his last two and draws to get a soft run. Another one drawn wider, 4. Khumbu with significant gear changes.

How to play it: Mallee Boy Express each way
Odds and Evens: Odds

Plenty of value in this one too, especially with the early favourite at a cramped price. One of a few first starters, keen on Caravaggio three-year-old 5. Roman Rebel to hit the ground running. Was taken along nicely in two easy trials over 1000m late last year, and has since been gelded. Reportedly working well, and importantly draws to get plenty of cover.

Dangers: Lonhro mare 10. Cateechee is naturally a big watch, resuming in her first run for the Kris Lees stable at Newcastle since transferring up from Victoria where she held her own in stronger maiden company, sparingly raced last year. Has shown good progression at the trials, and blinkers come off. Despite drawing wide, lightly raced 1. Oojah Capow is some value second-up; while 6. Scotland resuming; and 9. To So Few improving into his second start, can both run into the minor money.

How to play it: Roman Rebel each way and box exacta 1,5,10
Odds and Evens: Split

Good strong race for this grade and should be very competitive across the market. Settled on progressive 8. Darci Diva who comes off a professional BM 58 victory second-up. This is tougher, but he drops 3kg from a nice low draw where he can stalk the speed, and a leading country jockey takes over.

Dangers: Again plenty of them headed by consistent 1. Albanjo who has only been out of the placings once in his last five settling back and hitting the line, and big weight has been off-set by a 3kg jockey booking. Keep safe 7. Benetti who drew out third-up, but has plenty of ability. Last start maiden winner 12. Bellzen is trained here, and looks up to this rise in class; while improving 9. I Know The Trainer has found the line okay in three runs across deeper grades, but not convinced the inside draw does his racing pattern any favours.

How to play it: Darci Diva to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Wide open affair here, although no better value than four-year-old mare 3. Inspiration who can peak second-up dropping in grade. Did her best work late from the back in a much deeper Country C'ship Preview race behind a highly rated winner, and she will be well suited settling back here over further with a much longer run home.

Dangers: Tough 2. Don't Forget Dad has fought on well after rolling forward in his last couple, and hard fit deep into the prep. Another one over the odds is local mare 9. Qukes who is also fit and stepping up from weaker company, and the more the track dries the better chance she is. Included in trifectas and first fours 6. Barry's Lane who draws the fence; 8. Prince Of Troy going back up in grade fifth-up; and improving mare 16. Jacinda Belle fourth-up if she starts.

How to play it: Inspiration to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Now for the big non-claiming feature run at Class 5 level, with the top two booking their spots for the Final at Randwick. Naturally very little separates many of these, but very keen on talented and local three-year-old 7. Olakau'atu bouncing back hard after failing to run out a Highway third-up at Rosehill. Just got lost late there, but previous two wins in the country were strong, and he drops back to the pet seven furlong trip.

Dangers: Naturally, 6. Lisztomania has a touch of class after rattling home to miss narrowly in a metro CL3 over the border before dominant in the Preview at Port from midfield. Looks supremely weight too back down on 56kg, but not much breathing room at this price if she drifts too far back from the inside draw in this full field. Smart home track mare 5. Boncassie has been given four weeks and a quiet trial since a dominant front-running win at CL4 level, but faces a tough task from a wide draw. Close watch too at big odds on talented 13. Wonderwhen who drops significantly down to just 54kg second-up; while both 10. Been Foggy second-up; and tough mare 12. Beef Week Princess at even bigger odds coming back in trip; represent each way value.

How to play it: Olakau'atu each way
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R1 4. KENNYSING
R6 8. DARCI DIVA

BEST VALUE:
R3 1. TOY BOY ROY

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Country Championships meeting at Coffs Harbour