By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail True
Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (1100m): |
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We start a huge 10-race card with a weak maiden. Emerging three-year-old 6. Amisfield resumes off two trials with winkers added, and a big pointer with the more fancied stablemate being scratched.
Dangers: Hard fit local three-year-old 7. Awesome Spirit is the clear best of the rest fifth-up, with blinkers added.
How to play it: Amisfield to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1100m): |
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Same stable again from over the border, and it stacks up nicely for progressive filly 4. White House Girl who loomed to win first-up here 16 days only to be outgunned by one who had been heavily backed and enjoyed a softer run. Draws to stalk the speed, and should open her account.
Dangers: Keep safe Wandjina filly 9. Lady Rain who debuts behind two improving recent trials, with a key piece of gear. Honest 6. Look A'Like is well placed third-up with a more experienced jockey aboard; while improving 1. Superfield is a knock-out hope second-up at bigger odds.
How to play it: White House Girl to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1400m): |
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Keen on improving local filly 14. Wonderwhen via the same formline as the previous race when she worked home okay in a much better maiden. Advantaged under the set weights conditions, and drawn to get a softer run.
Dangers: Watch the betting on debutant four-year-old 4. Harvesta who won the second of two recent trials at the Gold Coast convincingly. Deep into the prep from a low draw with a 2kg claim, 1. Al Be Purple is one of several each way chances, including 9. Hardly The End and 7. Last Not Least.
How to play it: Wonderwhen to Win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 4 MAIDEN PLATE (1700m): |
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Yet another maiden, with little depth, over more ground. Improving mare 9. Diana Rocks was put into a very ordinary spot second-up before making late ground, and she can peak here over a further 400m in a weak race.
Dangers: Improving filly 13. Sebrini has been strong to the line in her last couple, and comes through generally deeper races, but drawing the outside gate is a hurdle. Included in exotics 8. Aunt Belle deep into her prep; and 10. She's Velika third start at huge odds.
How to play it: Diana Rocks to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 5 CLASS 2 HCP (1700m): |
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Plenty of chances in this one headed by progressive mare 6. Above The Lot who can go back-to-back at the track. Finished too strongly from midfield here 16 days ago, and this isn't any harder.
Dangers: Underrated five-year-old 1. Scatman was slow to begin at Moree, but still found the line to be beaten under two lengths. This is a notch tougher, but he's hard fit and draws to get cover. Capable mare 2. Unearthed worked home okay last start, but overall has been horribly disappointing this prep. Included in exotics 4. Electric Miss who was only two lengths from the top selection last start; and 9. Fenerbache who is up in grade but keeps improving.
How to play it: Above The Lot to win and box exacta 1,2,6. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2350m): |
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Now the staying plodders get their turn in a wide open affair, with most of the fancies coming through a stronger race on Kempsey Cup day two weeks ago. One of those, capable four-year-old 1. Laphroaig is ready for the crucial step back up in trip. Gets right back in at the weights after the full claim, and can grab a soft run coiled away back on the inside.
Dangers: You're never quite sure what's coming with 5. Italian Tune, but from this draw he only needs to run up to that last effort in that same form race to be in the finish. Must keep safe improving mare 9. Dunara who was only run down narrowly here last start, and is hard fit; while 6. Yarrinup Flyer also hit the line late in that Kempsey BM 74, but will need to slot in from an awkward draw.
How to play it: Laphroaig to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 7 CLASS 1 HCP (1200m): |
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Despite a sharp weight hike, four-year-old 1. Harlequin Field is well placed third-up dropping significantly in grade from a provincial BM 64. Draws to sit right behind what should be a solid speed, and will be hard to hold out.
Dangers: Have no doubt emerging Coffs three-year-old 3. Hauraki Gulf is potentially the most talented and progressive runner in the race. Went to the front and gave nothing else a chance claiming his maiden at third start, although will have to do it from a wide gate this time. Keep safe 2. Grey Enuff who beat a handy maiden field on debut here leading all the way; while improving mare 6. Kingstar Bullet goes in all exotics.
How to play it: Harlequin Field to win and trifecta 1,2,3/1,2,3,6,7/1,2,3,6. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 CLASS 1 HCP (1200m): |
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Speed should be solid up front again, and that augurs well for progressive stallion 2. Golden Point who can be tucked on the inside just off the speed and pounce late. Swept home in heavy ground for an easy maiden win here before charging home in similar company two weeks back. Over the odds!
Dangers: Promising home track colt 3. Alf's Magic bounced to the front and gave nothing else a look in at his third start. Has been given 24 days for his first assignment beyond maiden grade, and draws well but up in weight. Keep safe 1. Wuddacuddashudda who has progressed through two deeper provincial races, and will find this easier with winkers replacing blinkers. The rest are making up the numbers.
How to play it: Golden Point each way and box exacta 1,2,3. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 9 OPEN HCP (1400m): |
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Tough seven-year-old 3. Top Me Up Again was very good late in the Kempsey Cup after missing the start. That was a month after steaming home from the back in an even deeper race at Port, and if he jumps with the field, boasts the best closing final 400m in the race.
Dangers: Stablemate five-year-old 1. Relucent came through a strong formline to finish best and claim a CL3. Has been given a six week freshen-up, and draws to get a good run in transit off the speed. Gap to the rest headed by 6. Sidekiss who has found the line well in two runs this prep at the Gold Coast; while 8. In Heart's Wake surged home to win first-up and normally holds that form into her next run.
How to play it: Top Me Up Again to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 10 CLASS 3 HCP (1400m): |
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Wide open and testing battle to finish. Keen on progressive five-year-old 3. Havieron who rushed home to win a similar graded race first-up when having his first run in NSW. Draws to get a trail off the fence, and is already a second-up winner from only nine starts.
Dangers: Watch the betting on 1. Whittington Stone who resumes from a soft draw behind two progressive trials. Keep safe consistent 5. Deliberation who has two wins and three placings from his last five; while 7. Red Beryl who chased home Havieron last start; and the unreliable 12. Apache Blue who draws his best gate in a long time; are both each-way chances.
How to play it: Havieron each way. Odds and Evens: Odds
BEST BETS:
R2 4. WHITE HOUSE GIRL
R3 14. WONDERWHEN
BEST VALUE:
R10 3. HAVIERON
All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Grafton meeting