Latest News

By Neil Evans

Track Soft 6 and rail true:

We start the Showcase feature day with the maiden sprinters on a soft surface and a few showers around. Plenty of chances in a big field, but progressive filly 3. All Too Vegas can peak at her third start. Was close-up in the placings on debut before again placed at Tamworth still a long way from the winner, but did travel through poor inside ground. Fitter now, and much better suited here on the bigger and more spacious circuit where she can settle a few lengths back and get to the middle past the 300m. Bred to thrive in soft going being out of a Desert King mare.

Dangers: Big watch on 5. Palentino Swinger who hit the line well here when resuming for only her second start. Watch the betting on 6. Billabong Rose who debuts in blinkers off a sound trial for a leading local stable; while 10. Firefinch with a senior jockey on second-up; and 11. Just Joan who was right behind Palentino Swinger here 13 days ago; head the rest.

How to play it: All Too Vegas to win

Up sharply in grade over the same trip, and 5. Compelling Truth can make it two straight this prep, and take his win rate at this track to a superb 80 percent from five starts. Powered through the grades early last prep running smart sectionals before tackling much deeper metropolitan opposition on both sides of the Qld border. Was then given a break after dropping out in a tough CL3 Highway at Rosehill before reloading with a dominant win here in weaker grade by more than five lengths, running a smart time. The significant step up in depth and quality here is more than off-set by a 7kg drop in weight, and given his liking for soft ground with a stronger jockey taking over, he's the one to beat again

Dangers: Naturally, tough sprinter 3. Iron Hat is a big threat, hard fit and coming off a strong closing win in the feature Lightning Sprint at Gunnedah; while 2. Blitzar reloading off a smart first-up win when defying a betting drift is on the next line. Big gap to the rest.

How to play it: Compelling Truth to win

The feature Silver Goblet for the two-year-olds shapes ideally for exciting filly 4. Singing Star who impressed on debut in claiming the Preview in smart front-running fashion from a similar draw. Up 2kg here, but had plenty in reserve that time, and she's beautifully placed via classic soft track breeding if any downgrades are in play. Has the necessary tactical speed to off-set the wide draw as well.

Dangers: Must keep safe via any betting action 2. Naftali, a colt by Deep Field who starts his career behind a dominant trial win. Be surprised if the winner comes outside those two, but keep safe consistent local filly 7. Saint Philomena has beaten all but the winner in her last three, and was backed from $2.80 into $2.50 when chasing home the top selection in the Goblet Preview. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Singing Star to win

In a wide race, underrated filly 9. Hammoon Summer is big value, with a significant change of rider deep into her prep. Has only missed a place once in her last five, the latest charging home from midfield through heavy ground ground to be beaten only a neck before taken to the front last start from a wide barrier and boxed on strong behind a heavily backed winner. Better when she's ridden from just off speed, and with more tempo in this race, she can settle behind & then switch out to the middle past the 350m & finish best.

Dangers: Plenty of those headed by 2. Dreambender who hasn't been far away in two handy maidens this prep. Keep very safe too, 13. Silent Tomahawk who looks well placed after running home well in heavy ground at only her second start. Ex-Qlder 1. Casablanca reloads third-up with blinkers on for the new home stable; while 11. Missile Love also with a key gear change well into her prep can add value into trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Hammoon Summer each way

Staying at the distance here for the first of the Winter Country Classic qualifiers, and confident tough mare 8. Outback Crumpet has found the right race second-up. Liked the way she hit the line from near last when resuming in a handy CL1 at Gunnedah, and she draws to sit closer in the run here, with the top country jockey taking over. Was very consistent across her initial prep, storming home to win her maiden at Coffs before rounding out the prep with a solid CL1 placing behind a smart one. Should park around midfield with cover before being given her head past the 350m.

Dangers: Not much between the main challengers headed by improving 6. Moon Zone who is trained on the track, and stuck on okay when chasing home Compelling Truth first-up off a seven month spell. Another improver 7. Naked Eye third-up; and hard fit home tracker 9. D'arpano are the best of the rest.

How to play it: Outback Crumpet to win

Now the boys' qualifier, and promising 13. Fifty Five Mustang emerges as the one to beat in what is now a weakened race. Progressive galloper who ran home hard from the back third-up in a stronger Class 2 at Scone.

Dangers: Expecting a stronger effort from 2. Hit The Rim who drops back from a deeper CL3; while including both 4. Leopardi, resuming off a quiet trial; and home tracker 10. Beau Factor peaking fourth-up over more ground.

How to play it: Fifty Five Mustang to win

Up significantly in grade, and talented 15. Fletchlo tackles a deeper and wider race on a significant weight drop 10 days between runs. Won two straight in smart fashion through April, inducing a fast-finishing CL3 win here over the same trip when backed from $5.50 into $4.60. Came off a let-up to do his best working late in a BM 68 at Kembla carrying 59kg. Drops 4kg for a return to country level, drawn to get good cover back in the pack, and importantly has won three from four so far in soft ground.

Dangers: Two runners, 10. Rebel's Edge fourth-uip behind a solid closing run in the tougher Country Cup at Scone; and 11. Watch Me Rumble also peaking fourth-up in preferred soft ground; are both well over the odds. Respect for 4. Sizzle Minizzle who has been in and around the money in tougher country features since mid March; and home tracker 5. Smooth Esprit, also coming through the Country Cup at Scone. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Fletchlo each way

Confident we can come home aboard lightly raced 2. Evasive Nature, despite drawing wide. Had two runs at provincial and country level last prep, the latter bolting in from the front on heavy ground as a red-hot favourite. Hasn't publicly trialled, but comes to hand quickly, and has the superior early speed. Thrives in rain-affected ground, and will go on to win better races

Dangers: Big watch on 6. Always A Saint who is trained on the track, and banging on the door third-up. Keep safe 10. Speck who reloads behind an impressive debut win here; while another debut winner 11. Star Bling; and 1. Legolas resuming behind two trials; are the best of the rest.

How to play it: Evasive Nature to win

BEST BETS:
R2 5. COMPELLING TRUTH
R8 2. EVASIVE NATURE

BEST VALUE:
R5 8. OUTBACK CRUMPET

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Dubbo meeting