By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail True:
Race 1 CLASS 1 HCP (1425m): |
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Kembla-based runners are set to dominate the opener on Showcase Cup day, with a progressive three-year-old the one to beat. All Too Hard-sired 1. Mr Rock It closed off strongly in a much deeper metro BM 72 16 days ago, and desperately wants to get back out over more ground deep into the prep. Naturally a big jump in weight has been off-set by a 3kg jockey claim, and blinkers are off for the first time.
Dangers: Underrated seven-year-old 2. Destacado resumes with a 2kg claim behind a steady trial; while a big gap to the rest.
How to play it: Mr Rock It to win and quinella 1 and 2
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1010m): |
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This shapes as an ideal debut assignment for Smart Missile three-year-old 3. Missile Leader from a low draw. Hasn't publicly been seen since a nice heavy track trial in August, but has since been gelded, and this is a typical new prep from an evergreen Canberra stable.
Dangers: Drawn the fence, improving home track filly 4. Quire is the immediate threat after chasing home a speedster at Goulburn 17 days ago. Included in exotics 5. Fire And Gemstone second-up, and down sharply in weight after the claim; while local four-year-old 1. Lord Remy can improve on a quick back-up with winkers removed fourth-up.
How to play it: Missile Leader to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 CLASS 3 HCP (1200m): |
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Improving Canberra mare 2. Miss Ostend found the line okay in a similar-graded race at Goulburn, and afforded handy weight relief after the claim fourth-up. Clear one to beat in a weakened race.
Dangers: Keep watch on 7. Paper Daisy who will find this a little easier than a provincial BM 64; while both 3. Free State and 8. Tai Lung can add value to the first four plays.
How to play it: Miss Ostend to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1010m): |
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Back to the short course, and it stacks up a treat for progressive and lightly raced provincial filly 5. Artieos second-up. Showed speed at big odds when fresh in that sprint at Goulburn, and debut-winning jockey from late August gets back on with a key gear alteration.
Dangers: Big watch on smart home track four-year-old 1. Harley Street who resumes off a dominant trial win under a big weight. Doubt anything else can win, but exotic players can include 4. Greaves resuming from the inside barrier and a stablemate of the former.
How to play it: Artieos to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 5 MAIDEN PLATE (1200m): |
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Tricky maiden. Improving three-year-old 5. Rogue Lune looks ready to peak at third start for the leading home track stable. Worked home okay just behind the place-getters in a provincial lineup 23 days back, and less pressure here. Is by Puissance De Lune, and more effective if ridden a little quieter.
Dangers: Big watch on the betting with resuming mare and now stablemate 8. Santorini Sun having her first run for the Natalie Jarvis yard since switching from team Maher-Eustace. At bigger odds keep safe 9. Get 'Em In who reloads four weeks after a fair debut at Hawkesbury; while 4. Direct Target resumes off a fair trial.
How to play it: Rogue Lune
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 MORUYA TOWN PLATE (1200m): |
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The feature sprint shapes nicely for four-year-old 4. Espirito 16 days after sticking on strong in a Midway BM 72 at Randwick, and the winner of that race then flashed home to unluckily miss in a BM 78 on Saturday.
Dangers: Provincial-based 6. Don Luigi has been tough through the line from on-speed in his last two, and gets much needed weight relief here. From the inside draw, keep safe ultra consistent 10. Delightful Dream who hit the line impressively in a lead-up sprint here, and hasn't been out of a place in his last five; while expect home tracker 3. Kattegat to be finding the post late third-up.
How to play it: Espirito to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 7 BIG DANCE ELIGIBLE MORUYA CUP (1425m): |
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The feature race serves up plenty of chances headed by talented five-year-old 14. Toretto who can bounce straight back from a city failure in a tougher BM 78 23 days ago. Previously he charged home to beat a good quality Federal field in Canberra, and with only 54kg on his back, can settle well off the speed with cover and produce a superior closing 400m.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by locally-based stablemate 2. Five Kingdom who resumes under a big weight nine weeks after failing in the Little Dance at Randwick. Despite a wide draw, keep safe 13. To The Nines who finished best to win a CL3 Highway two starts ago before a tough effort in BM 72 metro grade. Watch the betting from the inside draw aboard 4. Highly Desired who comes off a four week turnaround via a quiet trial; while 3. Philipsburg backs up from an even effort at Randwick on Saturday..
How to play it: Toretto each way
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 8 CLASS 3 HCP (1650m): |
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Good open battle for this class over the middle distance to finish. Keen on Canberra five-year-old 6. Cash Register down significantly in weight from a softer draw. Came off a CL2 win at the Sapphire Coast to hit the line late in three consecutive runs before again attacking the line here over the same trip a fortnight ago. Ready to win again.
Dangers: Big watch on 4. Last Quest who draws to get a soft run third-up after beating the top selection in that CL2. Tough six-year-old 3. Budderoo Blitz again has a strong claim off a dominant BM 58 win, and draws to get cover off the speed; while 2. Direct Affect fifth-up with gear changes; and 5. Bel Suono down in weight; both go in trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Cash Register to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
BEST BETS:
R2 3. MISSILE LEADER
R4 5. ARTIEOS
BEST VALUE:
R7 14. TORETTO
All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Moruya meeting