By Neil Evans
Track Soft 6 and rail true.
Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1200m): |
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Progressive and locally-trained four-year-old 5. Rembroy is tracking to peak third-up here over a furlong further. Has a better than 50 percent place record from nine starts, and the more the track dries out, the better placed he is.
Dangers: Lightly raced 3. Power Beau is also trained on the track, and shapes well second-up coming through the same formline as the top selection. The market will be a sound guide for resuming provincial mare 8. Lonhreel who has been given 23 days since winning the second of two trials at Muswellbrook; while 11. Fake draws to get a soft run on a significant seven day turnaround.
How to play it: Rembroy to win
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m): |
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Star Turn filly 11. Starsarise makes her debut from the inside draw in a very winnable maiden at set set weights. Has been working nicely since an easy trial 23 days ago.
Dangers: 1. Blazed Prince hasn't had much luck hitting the line hard in two runs this prep, and is the clear threat; while 3. Moon Treaty resumes from a soft draw in his first outing for the new local stable since switching from SA. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Starsarise to win
Race 3 MAIDEN HCP (1400m): |
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Liked the way lightly raced 1. Reflecting Fame hit the line at only his second start in a Super Maiden here. Will again be forced back from a wide draw, but fitter now for a race with less depth, and is bred to get further than this trip.
Dangers: Early favourite 2. Enterprise Dancer will also have to tuck in from a wide draw, but she was impressive hitting the line here on debut three weeks back as a short-priced fancy. Keep safe honest ex-Qlder 6. Always Split Tens who is very fit, and comes back sharply in distance for his first assignment with the new local yard; while 9. Holy Song draws inside with winkers going on.
How to play it: Reflecting Fame to win
Race 4 BENCHMARK 82 HCP (1000m): |
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Scone four-year-old 7. Outback Ringer is well placed to make it two straight wins this prep on a track he has a very solid record at. Tracked the speed before surging over the top late in heavy going first-up, and normally holds that form into his next run. Draws inside, and looks thrown in at the weights down on the 55kg limit.
Dangers: Big watch on resuming home tracker 10. Mystery Lad who draws to get the right sort of trail sporting gear changes, and three of his four career wins from only nine starts have come here. 9. Zakor also boasts a handy record at this course, and represents sound each way value on a big weight drop stepping up to a higher grade. Both 5. Markwell Dreamer who found the line well second-up at BM 74 level, and preferred here to a good quality sprint at Grafton on Thursday; and the speedy 6. I'm Not Slew fourth-up; are exotic players.
How to play it: Outback Ringer to win
Race 5 BENCHMARK 82 HCP (1600m): |
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Same grade of galloper over the mile, and in an open race it shapes best for tough Dubbo mare 7. Watch Me Rumble who has been banging on the door for a while this prep, and importantly gets away from real heavy tracks. Surged home from last in a similar race three starts ago before being ridden in front in a tactical change and dropped out. Got back to something near her best when only edged out late at home after doing some early work, but from a nice trailing draw here, she can finally snap the drought back on soft ground.
Dangers: 5. Prime Impact has been in and around the money in some handy races over the border, and comes back to NSW behind a two month freshen-up, and at his best on soft ground. Watch the betting closely on home tracker 10. Satay Chicken down sharply in weight and getting out to a more favourable distance. 1. Vincenzo draws to get a soft trailing run off a six week break and coming back from much tougher Listed company at Randwick, but naturally shoots up sharply in weight; while 2. Indifference heads the rest fourth-up with blinkers again coming off.
How to play it: Watch Me Rumble to win
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1200m): |
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Wide open and tough affair, but have plenty of time for Dubbo three-year-old 8. Stockholm who resumes off a near six month spell behind a smart and dominant trial win in heavy going. Was generally in the money right through last prep up to country CL3 level, and rolling forward from a wide draw here, he looks well placed to hit the ground running with the jockey taking 3kg off.
Dangers: 2. Keikoku has been up for a long time, but flashed home from last in a deeper BM 58 last start, although from a wide gate will need plenty of speed on up front again. Big watch on 7. Magic Flyer resuming for the leading local stable behind two soft trials; while 5. Stock The Rose second-up is capable of running into the money at good odds.
How to play it: Stockholm to win
Race 7 CLASS 1 HCP (1400m): |
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It doesn't get any easier in this, although among several chances, there's plenty to like about improving mare 6. Zahdi, who has been running home well in some slightly deeper races at Scone, and saves her best for soft tracks. Gets nice weight relief after the 2kg claim, and can finally grab a second career win.
Dangers: Keep safe progressive home tracker 4. No More Romance who won his maiden here as a heavily backed favourite, and drew to get a cosy run with cover just off the speed. Another local 3. To Be Frank draws the fence with a 3kg allowance. Must include 8. Invincible Red third-up who can add value into trifecta and first four plays; while 10. Major Makeover deep into the prep is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Zahdi each way
Race 8 CLASS 1 HCP (1000m): |
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We close the card over the sprint trip, and resuming home tracker 1. Great Siege will be hard to hold out first-up from the inside barrier off a smart trial. Won his maiden easily here back in early April as a heavily backed favourite.
Dangers: Progressive mare 8. Keitany is a serious threat second-up off a nice closing run at Gunnedah, and winkers go on. Be surprised if the winner comes outside those two, but keep safe improving 2. Legolas third-up; while at bigger odds, 9. Arafura Sea is hard fit and can run into minor money.
How to play it: Great Siege to win
BEST BETS:
R1 5. REMBROY
R4 7. OUTBACK RINGER
BEST VALUE:
R7 6. ZAHDI
All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Tamworth meeting