Latest News

By Neil Evans

Track likely Heavy 9 and rail out 2.5m from 800m to 370m into a Cut/Away

We open up over the sprint trip on a track that's expected to drop well into heavy range with plenty of rain forecast, and there are many chances. Queanbeyan filly 7. Prophet's Pride (also accepted for Race 3) has good ability, and can win again after sweeping home for a dominant maiden win first-up at home. Hasn't seen a heavy surface yet, but bred to handle it.

Dangers: Provincial five-year-old 6. Archie's A Star can break through third-up from a better draw. Just missed resuming before doing it tough from the gate in a bunched finish at Wagga. Consistent mare 2. Annual has won two of her last three from just off the speed, and right at home in the ground. Comes through a handy CL1 form-line. Keep safe 3. Get Shafted who resumes without any official trials, but showed enough last prep on rain-affected ground. South Coast mare 4. Princess De Roca was swamped trying to lead all the way third-up as a short-priced favourite, and the drop back in trip on a much softer track are plusses. Canberra eight-year-old 1. Exaggerate has been up for a long while and constantly working home under big weights, but again will need a tonne of speed on up front to finish over them at this distance. Not sure 5. Sestina will back up in six days, but her close-up effort in deeper grade on Canberra Mile day puts her right in this.

How to play it: Prophet's Pride to win and first four 2,6,7/1,2,3,4,6,7/1,2,3,4,5,6,7/1,2,3,4,5,6,7. Odds and Evens: Split

Keen on progressive four-year-old 1. Mancconi who was well fancied fourth-up at Wagga before getting little room when it counted. Still finished off okay behind a talented winner, and he looks supremely placed in a set weight race after the claim.

Dangers: Expecting sharp improvement from three-year-old 3. Rhythmboat dropping in grade fourth-up; while watch the betting on Deep Field mare 5. Luckyimwithaimee who debuts behind a steady recent trial, with blinkers on; and Smart Missile filly 9. Smart 'N' Ritzy who debuts off a trial win, and bred to thrive on heavy tracks.

How to play it: Mancconi to win. Odds and Evens: Odds a special

Provincial five-year-old 3. Alan finished best to win a BM 58 here two runs back before no match for the winner at Nowra, but that hosre has since won again impressively on Canberra Mile day. Boasts solid wet track form.

Dangers: Emerging filly 2. Prophets Pride drew better in Race 1, but she can figure here after that dazzling fresh win. Gets back in the run so wider draw might suit. Tough four-year-old 1. Ronny Rock Art loves to jump and roll, although will need everything to go his way stepping up a class. Include 4. Cut To Pieces fifth-up in exotics.

How to play it: Alan to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Honest and fit provincial mare 7. Classy Gal gets her chance to break through in a weak race deep into the prep. Hasn't been far away in her last few against some better ones, and continues sneaking down in the weights. Bred to relish a heavy track being by Street Boss out of an Exceed And Excel mare.

Dangers: Provincial three-year-old 1. Densaur is a clear threat fifth-up coming through solid form lines. Led for a long way in a better maiden 18 days ago, only query is if the track gets too heavy. Improving 2. Promise Bay will appreciate more ground with gear changes at his third start; while improving filly 11. Kitty Purring with blinkers replacing winkers; can also run into a place.

How to play it: Classy Gal each way. Odds and Evens: Odds

Big field here with naturally plenty of chances. Tough four-year-old 1. Choccy Gaf will find this more to his liking after failing to run on in a much stronger provincial race nine days ago. Has to cart 61kg from a wide gate, but that might be the best place to be late in the day, and he's superior in heavy ground.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by five-year-old 2. Tornac who is hard fit, and blinkers come off. Has continually found the line this prep, and has placed two from three on heavy tracks. Moruya mare 3. Lai See is a pure wet tracker, and draws to get cover in conditions to suit. Keep safe 6. Loose Love who finished hard in similar grade two weeks back. Home track four-year-old 8. Sir Finn won a weaker race here three weeks ago, but drops in weight and relishes wet tracks; while 4. Costa Chin Chin resumes over an ideal distance. Will naturally get back from the draw, but normally runs a bold race fresh.

How to play it: Choccy Gaf to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Feature race of the day stacks up nicely for Sebring mare 1. Meg after four runs back. Charged home to win a BM 75 in Canberra three runs back, and loved the way she hit the line late in a much deeper Country C'ship Qualifier 18 days ago. Naturally back up in weight for this, but the extra furlong suits, and she looms as the superior wet tracker.

Dangers: Another Canberra visitor 2. She's All In has placed in her last two, including the Bega Cup here two starts back. Draws to get a cosy run with a key 3kg claim, and she has a 40 percent winning strike rate from five starts on heavy tracks. The return to a wet track should also aid lightly raced mare 6. Temoin Chaud who looks well placed fourth-up, and has built an impressive 33 percent winning strike rate from 15 starts. Gap to the rest headed by 5. Roseirro fourth-up; and 3. Napoleon Solo.

How to play it: Meg to win and box exacta 1,2,6. Odds and Evens: Split

Wide and tough closer. Lightly raced six-year-old mare 11. Spritely Emily gets a class drop at the right time, and finds a suitable race. Finished off okay in a much tougher Highway company before holding her ground in a provincial Cl1, and she's well treated at the weights after the claim.

Dangers: Provincial four-year-old 2. Iverson swept home for an impressive maiden win at after coming through some handy races, but only previous run on heavy was beaten a long way. Improving mare 10. Singing Dixie finally broke through in a weak race two weeks back, and her form on rain-affected ground is solid enough. Watch the market on 1. Gaylard who has a very ordinary record, but found the line okay here three weeks ago when specked at a big price; while include in exotics four-year-old 13. Hombre Grande second-up.

How to play it: Spritely Emily to win. Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R2 1. MANCCONI
R6 1. MEG

BEST VALUE:
R3 3. ALAN