By Neil Evans
Track improving to Good 4 and rail True
Race 1 3YO & UP MAIDEN PLATE (2100m): |
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One of those small field staying battles at set weights that could well be decided well before they hit the home straight. That said, progressive three-year-old 5. Raging Bull will likely go off as a hot favourite from the inside draw. Showed plenty in two metro runs through winter before very plain as a solid favourite in a much deeper race at Hawkesbury. Best weighted runner by a mile, but does step up sharply in distance on a tighter track so wouldn't label him a raging "banker" just yet.
Dangers: On the score of progression, three-year-old 4. John Of Lancaster is bred to get even further, and can run the quinella third-up over an ideal journey.
How to play it: Raging Bull to win and quinella 4 and 5. Odds and Evens: Split a special
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1350m): |
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Capitalist three-year-old 4. Island Legend is the one to beat on debut sporting blinkers. Fitted with two purposeful metro trials, and draws to get a nice run.
Dangers: Expect metro four-year-old 1. How Do You Sleep to improve sharply second-up over more ground. Well bred filly 6. Healthy Beauty was even through the line second-up in a thinner country race, and the winner came from the tail to thrash them, but she can improve with blinkers also added.
How to play it: Island Legend to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN PLATE (1100m): |
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Keen on three-year-old Zoustar colt 4. Battleton on debut for a strong metro stable off some impressive work at the trials.
Dangers: Progressive three-year-old 3. Adios went down narrowly on debut when well supported in betting, and the form from that race has held up already; while four-year-old 1. Legend I Am is over the odds resuming from a long break off a smart trial win.
How to play it: Battleton to win and trifecta 3,4/1,3,4/1,3,4. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 CLASS 1 HCP (1600m): |
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Small field and it's all about the topweight! Progressive four-year-old 1. Ma And Pa steps up to the mile second-up after an impressive barrier-to-box win at Hawkesbury. That came off a near six month spell, and with one of the strongest on-speed pilots around booked, he will take plenty of stopping again.
Dangers: Improving four-year-old 2. The Denzel has returned in good order, twice missing narrowly after hitting the line from off the speed. Looking for this distance, but surely concedes an advantage to the top selection around the tighter turning track. Improving four-year-old 3. Tip Top Timing is clear next best deep into the prep from a good gate.
How to play it: Ma And Pa to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1100m): |
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Poor depth in a small field at set weights makes smart Capitalist filly 11. Shihonka a good thing resuming off a dominant provincial trial win. Very competitive in two runs up to Listed level as a two-year-old, and only needs to slot in from an awkward gate to put this lot to the sword.
Dangers: Progressive four-year-old mare 7. Stunning To Win can push on second-up after a solid enough return when well backed; while stablemate mare 8. Yumi resumes.
How to play it: Shihonka to win and trifecta 11/7,8/7,8. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 6 CLASS 1 HCP (1000m): |
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Another small field should play into the hands of progressive local three-year-old 5. Kiss Sum who resumes for a second prep. Won't have to settle as far back here from a good draw, and has comfortably the strongest closing 400m in the race.
Dangers: Consistent colt 2. Conglomerate hasn't missed a place in three runs this prep, and winkers have been applied, but doesn't have the natural ability and scope of the top selection. Big gap to the rest headed by resuming filly 4. Sky Castle; while the others are making up the numbers.
How to play it: Kiss Sum to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 BENCHMARK 68 HCP (1100m): |
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Much wider sprint here. Highly touted Coffs four-year-old 2. Parksville can return to the winner's stall, coming back from two solid efforts in stronger metro fields. Has good tactical speed, and will slip forward from a good draw and take plenty of beating.
Dangers: Capable four-year-old mare 3. Undeniable is the immediate threat after a smart CL3 winner at Eagle Farm two starts back before close-up in a deeper grade than this. Well treated after the 3kg claim, and only concern is switching to a tighter turning track having exclusively campaigned on bigger circuits for most of the year. Keep safe progressive local mare 6. Eyewitness who led all the way here 18 days ago, and has a 50 percent winning strike rate six starts.
How to play it: Parksville to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 CLASS 1 HCP (1350m): |
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Emerging home track four-year-old 1. Different Strokes is still on the rise, and can strike back in distance on a five-day turnaround. Hasn't missed a place in four provincial runs to start his career.
Dangers: Promising five-year-old 2. Invincible Vision bounced to the front on debut and never really looked like getting rolled. Up in grade from a tougher draw, but is still improving. Talented filly 8. Mascherata has flattened out in tougher grades since an exciting and dominant win first-up, but she's better served over a bit more ground and too sharp to dismiss.
How to play it: Different Strokes to win. Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS:
R6 5. KISS SUM
R7 2. PARKSVILLE
BEST VALUE:
R8 1. DIFFERENT STROKES
All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Wyong meeting