By Neil Evans
Track Soft 7 and rail True
Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1400m): |
---|
Goulburn visitor 7. Astrogazer led for a long way on debut at Moruya when backed from $6.00 into $4.60, and gear changes have been made including the addition of winkers. Task has been made easier with the early favourite being preferred at Sunday's Goulburn meeting.
Dangers: Watch for any money on stablemate 2. Menuhin who also returns to a more spacious track third-up, with blinkers back on. Local and lightly raced filly 9. Lost Ya Sock also gets blinkers third-up; while 8. Majestic Deel improves over a furlong further at his second start.
How to play it: Astrogazer to win
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1000m): |
---|
Home tracker 4. Cambar, a colt by emerging sire star Pierata, debuts for a leading stable. Was strong through the line in a recent soft track trial, and drew to get cover just off speed, with the jockey claiming 2kg.
Dangers: Home track mare 3. Miss Mikki Isle debuts behind a steady trial on the Riverside track. Emerging filly 10. Shesoutofthisworld hops the border on debut with gear additions after a solid trial at Echuca. Gap to the rest headed by 1. Mary Le Bone, returning for a second prep without the blinkers and behind a solid trial.
How to play it: Cambar to win
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1200m): |
---|
Tricky albeit very moderate maiden here with little separating the first few. Locally-trained 13. Master Artist can improve enough off a modest debut run on the Canberra synthetic in what is a weakened race. Bred to thrive in soft going.
Dangers: Expecting sharp improvement second-up from Victorian 9. Rowdy Shebang who also comes through that same synthetic formline. Ex-Victorian mare 7. Ace Of Lace reloading from the inside draw, off a five week break in her first outing for the new local stable; can add value into exotics.
How to play it: Master Artist to win
Race 4 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m): |
---|
Any number of chances in this, but home tracker 3. Newyork Missile represents terrific value at big odds stepping up a furlong from a strong maiden win here a fortnight ago. Draws to get a similar run a few lengths off the speed, and while there's more depth and quality in this field, has been living on soft and heavy tracks all prep.
Dangers: Progressive 1. Craft beat all bar the winner in consecutive outings up to BM 58 level before struggling on the synthetic at Canberra when backed into clear favorite. Much more comfortable back on soft turf over this journey especially with blinkers being applied, but from a testing draw, threatens to go around under the odds. Sparingly raced 6. Roman Hands can improve sharply down in grade second-up, and getting on to a bigger course; while Victorian 7. Vonk also comes off the synthetic third-up and over further. Include honest and resuming mare 9. Dreamstone in wider exotics.
How to play it: Newyork Missile each way
Race 5 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m): |
---|
Lightly raced home track mare 3. Danceenuff is a smart customer when fresh, and looked ready to go in an open class trial a fortnight ago. Hasn't raced since last October, but comes to hand in a heartbeat, relishes soft ground, and this looms as an ideal starting point for the new prep.
Dangers: Albury-based mare and smart debut winner here 6. Daze Off emerges as the clear threat, although a little query coming back a furlong in trip so soon. Keep safe lightly raced 7. Xspiritous second-up from the inside draw. Be shocked if the winner comes outside those three; but 2. Miller Time resuming from a soft draw; and at much bigger odds 8. Wegotabetterhoffa third-up, can both run into the minor money.
How to play it: Danceenuff to win
Race 6 CLASS 3 HCP (1200m): |
---|
Promising Canberra four-year-old 2. Gundy Guy can kick start a progressive prep here second-up over a furlong further. Drops back from a tough fresh effort in a stronger Highway lineup at Randwick where he held his ground. Put three dominant wins together last campaign, is already accustomed to carrying big weights, and can utilise his draw to park right behind the speed with cover.
Dangers: 1. Salute Again, a stablemate of the on top selection in the previous race, resumes from the inside draw where he can settle back around midfield with cover, and be saved for one crack over the final 300m. Winkers replace blinkers, and the big weight has been off-set by a 4kg claimer booking. Another one resuming from over the border behind two trials, 4. Doogan's Design should also get a sweet run from the draw, and has a sound record at this track. 9. You're On Mute comes off a narrow but tough CL1 win first-up at Forbes; while 5. Jinsoku is the best of the rest, up in class and shooting for a third win from his last four.
How to play it: Gundy Guy to win
Race 7 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1400m): |
---|
The toughest and likely most open race on the program is saved for last. Progressive six-year-old 6. Star Buyer finds the right race in which to peak third-up, with winkers going on, and a stronger rider back abard. Loved the way he attacked the line late in similar company at Moruya three weeks back.
Dangers: From the inside barrier, Victorian mare 12. Make It Sweet will be hard to hold out after sweeping home for an impressive first-up win here, and the runner-up from that day then bolted in at Albury last week. Keep safe at good odds 5. Tizso Fab who is over the odds reloading seven weeks between runs from an all-the-way BM 58 win at Albury. Include in all exotic bets 11. King De Lune who has been given a 25 day freshen-up via a trial win; and 14. Madame Meteor coming off a dominant BM 58 win at Albury.
How to play it: Star Buyer to win
BEST BETS:
R2 4. CAMBAR
R5 3. DANCEENUFF
BEST VALUE:
R7 6. STAR BUYER