By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail out 3m from 1000m to 380m into a cut/away & True the remainder:
Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1400m): |
---|
From a soft draw and staying at the distance fourth-up, 5. Gigaton is set to break through. Worked home nicely when right in the market at Tamworth two starts back before being ridden closer and missing out narrowly in a deeper affair at Mudgee. Again parks right behind the speed.
Dangers: Lightly raced filly 11. Red Rags To Bulls drew the outside gate, but caught the eye charging home to only miss by a long neck in heavy ground at her second start. She was backed from $3.00 into $2.50 that day, and will carry 2kg less here after the claim. Improving three-year-old 4. Fantastic Beast can peak third-up after doing his best work late in a better race than this. 7. No Tackle isn't far away after three improving runs in heavy ground, although up in weight here on drier ground from a tricky draw.
How to play it: Gigaton to win
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1250m): |
---|
Emerging three-year-old 2. Obviously Good didn't get a lot going his way in a deeper race on debut when solid enough in the market. Draws to do less work in the run here, and this is a thinner line-up.
Dangers: 9. Tayla The Sailor will find this more to her liking after hitting the line hard in heavy going at Dubbo. Watch the betting on 4. Steel Claws with multiple gear changes after being backed on debut in a better race than this before working to the line late. 8. Showtime Sassy who has been in and around the money all pre, and boasts plenty of early speed; while blinkers go on 6. Dashing Vision, resuming for just her second start behind a solid trial; and 1. Fatal Shot gets big weight relief second-up stepping up from much weaker picnic grade.
How to play it: Obviously Good to win
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m): |
---|
Finally getting on to drier ground can pave the way for improving three-year-old 3. Whistling Straits to break through at his fourth start. Hit the line impressively to miss narrowly at this track two starts ago before even to the line in a deeper maiden at Scone. Just needs to tuck in from the awkward barrier before cutting loose from the 350m.
Dangers: Watch the market around 1. Artic Panther resuming without the blinkers for a second prep off a strong trial. 5. Clan D'oro resumes from a low draw and easy trial; while 6. Nothin' Seemstofit, improving into her second start; and 8. Samita down in weight second-up; both go in trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Whistling Straits to win
Race 4 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (2100m): |
---|
Plenty of chances in this, but dominant last start BM 58 winner at Dubbo, 2. Raiding can take the next step here. Was right behind the placegetters working home in a similar graded affair at Mudgee the start before, and he gets a nice weight drop after the 3kg allowance.
Dangers: 4. Bill Peyto broke a long run of outs in much weaker Picnic company last start, but a fast-finishing effort in a handy BM 58 the start before puts him right in this. 1. Weave That Web rarely runs a bad one over this sort of distance, and again draws to find a handy trail off the speed. 7. Muletta rushed home from the back to beat Bill Peyto at Tamworth, and carries 1.5kg elss for the rise in grade. Expecting a better run from 8. Piccapeppa up in grade but down in weight. Include honest 5. Hardyo and front-running 9. Careering away in wider exotix plays.
How to play it: Raiding to win
Race 5 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m): |
---|
Improving 4. Harbour Gold is better placed here fourth-up, with a gear change, 2kg weight drop and getting back on firmer ground. Hit the line hard two back in a better BM 58 before afford no favours from the gate at Moree.
Dangers: 3. Sunday Bell can make it two wins from his last three starts, having missed by a long neck at this track three weeks back. Keep safe both 6. The Mystery Guy resuming off a nice trial; and 9. The Affirmative who defied a betting drift to charge home from midfield to beat Sunday Bell in that race on Jul 1; while 8. Lavish Lady fifth-up; and 10. Eleni deep into the prep from the inside draw; head the rest.
How to play it: Harbour Gold to win
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m): |
---|
Very tough and wide race, but the supreme value lies with the only two-year-old in the field 10. She's All Sass who is hunting a second straight win at her fourth start. After two fair efforts to start her career, was ridden much closer at Muswellbrook in heavy ground, driving home best in a tight maiden finish. naturally tougher test here, but she's hard fit for the tripand again gets an economical run just off the speed.
Dangers: Reliable 3. Time Ruler hasn't missed a place in three runs since winning a weak CL2, and has the tactical speed to off-set a wide draw. Big watch on 18. Sanzeno reloading off a dominant second-up maiden win at Mudgee as the hottest of favourites. Include 5. Norman, 7. Lago's Daughter and 8. Gold Smiles in all trifectas and first four plays.
How to play it: She's All Sass each way
Race 7 CLASS 1 HCP (1250m): |
---|
Progressive filly 4. Up The Country can strike third-up from a better gate over a touch further. Has found the line well to beat all bar the winner in two runs back, and draws to get the right trail.
Dangers: Promising two-year-old 8. Nomorenightshift surged home from well back in heavy ground to beat a handy maiden field at Dubbo as a short-priced fancy; while both improving 9. Moon Zone fourth-up; and 5. Alertado who beat a handy maiden field two starts back; go in the exotics.
How to play it: Up The Country to win
BEST BETS:
R1 5. GIGATON
R3 3. WHISTLING STRAITS
BEST VALUE:
R7 4. UP THE COUNTRY
All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Gunnedah meeting