By Neil Evans
With some rain around, track likely Soft 5 & Rail True from 1000m, so trend should be towards the middle
Race 1 C, G & E CL2 HCP (1200m): |
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The boys kick things off, and now we're on nothing worse than a Soft track, resuming Wyong gelding 4. Trumbull looks hard to beat. Hasn't started for eight months but stretched out beautifully in a dominant Beaumont trial win, and reportedly has continued working well.
Dangers: Local gelding 3. Lucky Mission trialled quieter on that same day, but ran a big race closing hard on debut last prep and is in leading stable. Taree visitor 6. Cartel resumed off a five-month break with a strong BM 66 win at home, and normally holds form into second-up run. Warwick Farm 4YO 7. Lord Heron won his maiden second-up at Gosford, and while this is tougher, drops in weight and will either lead or sit right behind the speed from inside draw.
How to play it: Trumbull to win and quinella 3 and 4.
Race 2 F & M CL2 HCP (1200m): |
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Now the girls' turn in a very competitive race. Looks the right track and map for Wyong 4YO 3. Mighty Marmalade to charge over the top. Has three seconds from her last four, typically rattling home all too late, but draws a better gate here where she can get plenty of cover, and doesn't have to be exposed too early on the long run in. In well at the weights after form rider's claim.
Dangers: Tough and in-form Randwick filly 2. Hibiscus Lady has won her last two in dominant fashion from on the speed, although tested more here up in trip. Big watch Newcastle filly 1. Miss Quaintly who charged home on debut through soft ground in her only prep last winter before tackling stronger company over longer. Been given two quiet trials for leading trainer/rider combination. while local mare 4. Cuban Sizzle who just missed resuming over a shorter trip at Scone; and Wyong mare 5. Bid 'N' Bare who likes soft ground and won only previous second-up run; are both long-priced chances.
How to play it: Mighty Marmalade each-way and box exacta 1-2-3.
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1300m): |
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Warwick Farm-trained gelding 3. Full Recognition should break through at third career start up in trip. Wasn't far off the smart Classique Legend on debut before flattened out a little too quick chasing as a well-backed favourite last start. Better suited on bigger track, and the one to beat.
Dangers: Rosehill colt 6. Royal Captain is third-up off a long break. Been solid to the line in both runs back this track, and can finally deliver on the potential he showed as a 2YO. Expect improvement second-up from talented Randwick filly 7. Bride Of Vengeance who didn't fire resuming at Kembla.
How to play it: Full Recognition to win and quinella 3 and 6.
Race 4 3YO & UP MAIDEN HCP (1400m): |
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Lightly-raced Randwick filly 2. Neshmiya looks headed for better races. Made up plenty of ground late resuming behind a promising one at Hawkesbury, and should appreciate the long run in here over slightly further.
Dangers: Consistent mare and stablemate 1. Furlana never shirked a stride chasing home the well-credentialled Sister Sledge at Hawkesbury, and she gets her chance third-up despite wide gate. Godolphin filly 9. Mimi should improve off a fair first-up run and is drawn to get a lovely trail.
How to play it: Neshmiya each-way.
Neshmiya's first-up run at Hawkesbury on February 21
Race 5 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (1400m): |
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Tricky affair with a few first starters, and one of them could be well above average. Randwick colt 9. Significance (Frankel x Aqua Bella by Oasis Dream) hit the line hard in a deep 2YO trial behind smart Catch Me in soft ground. Early racing pattern suggests he will love the long straight here.
Dangers: Randwick colt 1. Bullet Fly has the race fitness and experience after two close-up efforts, and gets a lovely trail from the draw. Debutant Rosehill colt 8. Person (Pierro x Ofcourseican by Mossman) has had three trials, stretching out nicely to just miss in his latest. Well-bred Godolphin filly 13. Amitto (Lonhro x Anamato by Redoute's Choice) also trialled well ahead of her first start; while include resuming Randwick colt 11. The Snooperstar in wider exotics.
How to play it: Significance each-way and quinella 1 and 9.
Race 6 MAIDEN HCP (1200m): |
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Open battle, with plenty of 3YO's having their first start off mixed trial form, but one looks ultra exciting! US-bred colt 5. Tapiconic (Tapit x Touch Love by Not For Love) for leading metro stable. Bolted in first trial and again looked good in second one from off the speed on unsuitable smaller track.
Dangers: A 2YO on debut who is bred to ultimately get much further looms as a threat. Randwick-trained colt 11. Just Thinkin' (So You Think x Nothin' Leica Cat by Tale Of The Cat) quickened nicely to win a good trial where there was a big margin from the first two back to third. In good juvenile hands & leading rider stays on for race debut. It's taken plenty of patience and a couple of false starts to get Godolphin gelding 4. Pretorius (Exceed And Excel x Zauberflote by Singspiel) to the races, and while his recent trial was sound, draws a tough gate first-up.
How to play it: Tapiconic to win and quinella 5 and 11.
Tapiconic's barrier trial at Wyong on March 12
Race 7 CL1 HCP (1600m): |
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Plenty of chances, but sticking at big odds with lightly raced ex Kiwi-based 3YO 4. Sir Harry now in top Rosehill stable. Improved significantly second-up at Kembla under a big weight, and has since trialled. Stays at the mile, but bred to get further.
Dangers: Randwick gelding and clear favourite 2. Superbowl Sunday put his maiden win beyond doubt early at Kembla in third career run, but did switch off late, and the trip here from a wide alley might be a query. Warwick Farm gelding 5. Live The Moment hit the line hard to win at Hawkesbury, and appears suited up in trip on a big track. Promising Warwick Farm gelding 10. Soldier Of Love returned off a long break to win first-up as a heavily-backed fancy, and drops 3.5kg in weight for this tougher task.
How to play it: Sir Harry each-way.
Race 8 PROVINCIAL C'SHIP QUALIFIER CL5 (1200m): |
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Promising filly 13. Evalina resumed in the Inglis Sprint before dominant BM 64 win against her own age, beating Ligulate who has since won. More pressure here, but will appreciate the long straight under just 54kg.
Dangers: Smart colt 9. Golden Tycoon is second up off a bold run against stronger at Rosehill; last start BM 64 winner 12. Kanavu looks headed for a good autumn after two runs back; 3YO Kembla colt 7. Fortification is well treated after leading all the way to win a good CL2 second up under 60kg; while at big odds 4YO mare 3. Ellie's Encore powered home resuming in a good BM 76 form race behind Torpenhow, and always improves into her next run.
How to play it: Evalina to win; Ellie's Encore each-way and trifecta 7-9-13/3-7-9-12-13.
Race 9 BM 64 HCP (1400m): |
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Typically open battle to finish, although leaning to local filly 8. Sunreel who did little resuming at Wyong, but always takes giant strides into her next run. Won second-up last prep before progressing quickly to Group 3 level over the mile.
Dangers: Randwick filly 12. Galway Girl found the line okay resuming in a good CL2 at Kembla, and also improves second-up. Beaten a whisker at metro BM 70 level in the spring. Warwick Farm 5YO 1. Red Currant finished off strong from a mile back resuming in a deeper race, and even better suited on more spacious track.
How to play it: Sunreel each-way and box exacta 1-8-12.
All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's meeting at Newcastle