By Neil Evans
Track likely Good 4 and rail out 2m
Race 1 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN PLATE (1200m): |
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Most of these have already gone around many times, with no joy. Was taken by the latest trial of Vancouver three-year-old 14. The Mystery Guy who sat behind the speed over-racing, but still found the line nicely well behind the winner, but came through horribly chopped up ground. Debuts in blinkers, and draws to get to the outside.
Dangers: Expect 7. Circularity to improve off a game effort first-up for more than a year, with blinkers coming off, although drawn off the track. Was scratched from Bathurst on Sunday to run here. Consistent 5. Castlehyde was rolled as a hot favourite in a weaker race, but he's honest and draws a softer gate. Keep safe 9. Kneze first-up from a low barrier with winkers added; and local four-year-old 11. Sapello who will be running home second-up.
How to play it: The Mystery Guy each way. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1200m): |
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Now it's the girls' turn, and there are plenty of chances in a tough race. Keen on provincial filly 12. Sebrini who resumes behind two progressive trials. Made up plenty of ground in two runs through late autumn, and will get enough speed on here to chase home.
Dangers: Not sure 6. Obey will back up in three days, but she is desperate for this longer trip at her fifth start after having little luck getting home in her last couple. Improving mare 7. So Sassy has trialled in dominant fashion since a fair return effort in a smarter provincial field seven weeks ago. Has to overcome a tricky gate, but blinkers have been added. Watch the betting on 1. Angela Sistina who resumes from a wide draw off a nice trial, and has a little touch of class in this grade. Local mare 3. Ishim has been freshened, and over the odds after sticking on strong here five days ago; while 15. Topender can improve second-up coming through a handy maiden.
How to play it: Sebrini each way and first four 1,6,7,12/1,3,6,7,12,15/1,3,6,7,12,15/1,3,6,7,12,15. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 CLASS 2 HCP (1200m): |
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Progressive four-year-old 4. Boom Boom Basil is primed to strike second-up over a little more ground. Found the line okay from midfield in a deeper affair, and capped a brief autumn prep working home in a much stronger Highway. Sparingly raced and headed for bigger targets.
Dangers: Improving home track mare 10. Mook's Sister is the immediate threat from the inside barrier after sweeping home to upset a handy CL1 field two weeks ago. Under-rated 3. Pyrmont has plenty of ability, and resumes for a new country stable, but has a tough draw; while including local six-year-old 5. Pass The Card in exotics third-up.
How to play it: Boom Boom Basil to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1600m): |
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Handy race for this grade. Tough six-year-old 3. Ollivander should boast a much better winning strike rate ahead of his 38th start, and will get a good run on-speed from the inside gate.
Dangers: Both 11. Forever Jude third-up over a longer trip; and 12. Gold Lunar on a quicker back-up; are over the odds.
How to play it: Ollivander to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 CLASS 1 HCP (1400m): |
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Improving provincial mare 2. Visceral loomed stylishly and looked home for all money at Coffs in a similar race but somehow couldn't get past the leader. Hits peak fitness here fourth-up, and drawn to do no work from the inside barrier.
Dangers: Progressive mare 5. Zouflu surged home to beat a promising one two starts back before failing to run home on a very poor surface. Better suited here, and looks nicely treated at the weights. Expect sharp improvement second-up from 3. Apache Red getting on a much firmer surface. Improving 6. Rainbow Rocket is best of the rest after breaking his maiden at third start; while the others are going around for practice.
How to play it: Visceral to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 SPRING CUP (1200m): |
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Feature race is full of chances in a classy and tactical battle. Promising home track six-year-old 7. My Benalla roared back from nearly 20 months off with an impressive and fast finishing win in BM 66 grade. Given three weeks since, with a significant weight drop for this tougher race, and is bred to get over far more ground.
Dangers: Imported five-year-old 3. Visinari has his first run as a gelding in more than a year. Form up to Group 2 level in the UK was rock solid, and recently trialled impressively. Local iron mare 5. Cassy's Sister is on the six day back-up after boxing on strong from the front in a handy provincial BM 68. Another on Australian debut as a gelding for the leading local yard, ex-Kiwi five-year-old 6. Edit has been fitted with two progressive trials, and started favorite in five of his six runs back across the Tasman, winning twice.
How to play it: My Benalla to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 7 CLASS 3 HCP (1000m): |
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Good competitive and wide open sprint to finish. Speedy provincial mare 10. Miss Devinci can go back-to-back after landing a weaker sprint second-up. This is tougher, but she has enough scope for improvement sitting on the limit weight.
Dangers: Capable mare 1. Tango Stepz can be hard to catch, but she won her only previous start at this track, resuming two runs ago, and draws to get a nice run behind the speed. Keep safe 5. Witness Collector who has enough early speed to overcome a horror draw, and boasts a tidy third-up record. Under-rated mare 8. Invincible Ninja found Highway company a bit rich third-up, but she's capable back in this grade with a 3kg claim; while including improving mare 11. Upside in exotics.
How to play it: Miss Devinci each way and trifecta 1,5,10/1,5,8,10,11/1,5,8,10,11.
BEST BETS:
R3 4. BOOM BOOM BASIL
R5 2. VISCERAL
BEST VALUE:
R6 7. MY BENALLA
All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Tamworth meeting