Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Wednesday’s meeting at Warwick Farm. The track was rated good 4 on Tuesday. Plus, a look at the Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.

Prepared to forgive 4. Tarka for his defeat at Canterbury at his second start. It was a strangely run race with horses taking off early and he was shuffled out to last from the inside gate and wasn’t able to get going. He was strong through the line suggesting he had something to give. Placed on debut at the Farm and with a bit of time to wind up this time he should take holding out.

Danger: 6. Task And Purpose on the back up from running second a week ago where she probably found herself a pair further back than ideal. She hit the line well without threatening and is close to a win. Small query for me is the 1250m to the mile but she’s the logical threat. 3. Estroverto took a fair while to wind up on debut at Wyong but did look strong late and stepping up to the mile looks to suit. Wasn’t overly fancied first-up so if there is support here then he’s some chance. 1. Salsa Man did finish strongly along the inside to win that race at Wyong suggesting the extra distance will suit. He was a $21 chance that day so I'm a little wary.

How to play it: Tarka WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Tarka can be forgiven for his last start sixth at Canterbury where he could only warm up late

The price is short enough but 5. Taygeta has shown plenty of talent in his trials and lands in a winnable race on debut. He was given a little test in winning at Rosehill on June 25 easily accounting for a couple of horses who have run well since. Drawn to have every chance and if he runs up to the trial then he’s the horse to beat. Betting closer to the race will tell us a lot.

Dangers: 8. Song And A Prayer is a big threat for mine. She was beaten at $1.55 at Kembla over a mile before a spell but her first two runs were eye-catchers in city maidens. She’s worked home in both her trials, ignore the margin in the latest, and it wouldn’t surprise at all to see her swamp them fresh. 6. Carano is also well worth keeping on the safe side. Four starts for Chris Waller in Victoria and he’s been well in the market on each occasion. I largely ignore synthetic track races and she pretty much held her ground at Pakenham last start. Market confidence will be significant and she has to be considered. 3. Safe Landing is another query runner, this gelding on debut for Kurt Goldman with just one trial under his belt for a close third back in February but nothing publicly since. Again the market will tell us a lot.

How to play it: Taygeta WIN ($2.15 TAB Fixed Odds).

Taygeta does it easily winning a trial at Rosehill on June 25

We’re looking at a small field here and that doesn’t make this particular race any easier. A bit of a stab but I’m prepared to forgive 1. Intuition his failure at Rosehill when out to 1400m. He drew wide there and sat outside the leader before folding up. He was much more effective second-up ridden patiently and he hit the line nicely behind Prime Candidate and Dawn Dawn at Canterbury. He should get some cover here and if he’s going to fire this time in he has his chance.

Dangers: 2. Devolving was never in the hunt first-up after getting back but made some ground without threatening in a bit deeper race than this one. I can see her sitting a bit closer this time around and am expecting an improved performance. 9. Two ‘N’ Wellgo is the probable leader and graduates from a Highway win at Randwick where he controlled the race and ran out a comfortable winner. He won’t be getting another heavy track but he’s in career best form and could give a sight again. 5. Squaw Peak tried hard when chasing home Bombarding at Wyong second-up. She’s a competitive filly who should be in the first few in running and is one of the chances.

How to play it: Intuition E/W (1-2) ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Intuition runs on strongly from the back second-up at Canterbury on May 23

It’s always risky going with a last start maiden winner jumping into solid midweek benchmark company but 7. Sweet Scandal looks a filly of some promise and was never going to be beaten in that maiden win two weeks ago. I expect her to either lead or be right there and given she’s entitled to have some upside compared to most of her rivals I’m happy to back up. She’s not as good a thing as she was at Canterbury when a $1.70 chance, though.

Dangers: 6. Seventhchic improved noticeably at her second run in behind Vienna Romance, running fourth. Drops 3kg and has the inside alley so she’ll be just off the pace and if there’s more improvement in her this is a winnable race. 2. Zonk is Zonk, what you see is what you get. She doesn’t win out of turn and I thought she had her chance in the same race at Canterbury. There’ll be plenty spruiking the Seahampton form out of it but, fact is, Seahampton should have won that race anyway. More than capable if the cards fall her way. 3. Mollyfied is a horse I can’t catch and she got me again when winning at Wyong third-up having been on board second-up at Canterbury. She’ll be thereabouts and is one of those horses I’m going to have to learn to always throw in.

How to play it: Sweey Scandal WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Sweet Scandal proves too strong scoring at Canterbury on June 27

If 3. Mr Haussmann backs up in good order after his quite nice second Australian start behind Seahampton at Randwick on Saturday then this race is his for the taking. He was only beaten 1.5 lengths there and kept trying to the line. Only had two starts at the mile in NZ and they were in G1 and G2 company so that’s no guide but he’s found Hugh Bowman to ride from the inside alley. Clearly the horse to beat for mine.

Dangers: 6. More Moet strikes me as a big improver third-up over the mile and back to midweek company. He did enough fresh at 1200m on unsuitable ground to suggest he’s come up well enough then never in the race at Rosehill. Much better on top of the ground and he could be a good each-way chance. 5. Fantastic Man is another who can lift sharply up in distance. His first-up run at Newcastle was okay but he usually improves with a run under the belt at did win at 1550m at Canterbury last time in. Can settle closer from a middle gate too and is not without a show. 1. Salesman is racing well in Provincial class races and the fact he’s top weight here tells you this racxe is of similar strength. Effective up to 2000m and is also an each-way hope.

How to play it: Mr Haussmann WIN ($1.95 TAB Fixed Odds).

Mr Haussmann’s handy fourth at Randwick last Saturday

Seems I’m in a very forgiving mood looking at this program because 2. Pianissimo is more than capable of bouncing back from an uncharacteristic run at Canterbury last week. He did have excuses so it’s worth having a closer look. While beaten over six lengths he went to the line untested from basically the top of the straight after finding dead ends. Occupational hazard of a backmarker. Ran the fastest last 200m (11.59 Punters Intel) in running second at Rosehill two starts back. He’s going to need the breaks going his way but only has to run up to his previous three efforts to be a big chance.

Dangers: 5. Magicus is bursting to win a race though I feel it’ll take a Hugh Bowman special to get him over the line. Looked to have the race shot to pieces last time at Canterbury but staggered from the 100m and was run down. That’s the big concern going up to 1400m. But he’ll be thereabouts. 9. Impasse was excellent fresh when beaten narrowly at 1200m here then jumped to 1550m and was flat after chasing the leader at Canterbury. Better for that run and he’s entitled to another chance if you liked him last time. 11. La Pont hasn’t done a lot wrong in seven starts out of town and he just found Tonsor a shade too strong at Newcastle last start. First try at the mile but an up and comer who could measure up without surprising.

How to play it: Pianissimo E/W ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Pianissimo had excuses for this effort at Canterbury on July 4

8. Wander disappointed as favourite at Canterbury two weeks ago but I think he’s a lot better suited to the make up of this race. He went forward to sit outside the lead from a wide gate last time and couldn’t go on with it at 1250m. He strikes a race where he won’t have to be in that spot, back to 1100m and drawn to get cover. Good on the Kensington track two runs back at this trip and capable of striking back here.

Dangers: 4. Argent D’Or is one dimensional which means the barrier is of little consequence as he’ll get back. If they are running on down the outside then he’ll be right in this as there looks to be enough speed for the backmarkers to come into play. He doesn’t win often but was good at Randwick in a solid form race and he could be dangerous here. 1. Oriental Runner drops sharply in class on the June Stakes where he wasn’t able to get anywhere near the lead as he likes to do. Led and have a good sight behind Albumin first-up and if he finds the front he will give them something to catch. 12. Vinnie Power has trialled up quite well for her return and she did sprint well fresh last prep going down narrowly at 1000m. She’s been in the first three in 13 of her 19 starts and no surprise to see her run into the placings fresh.

How to play it: Wander WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Wander runs second to Easy Eddie on the Kensington track on June 11

I wonder if 5. Tyzone just didn’t get he 1350m in the Eye Liner at Ipswich last start. He had a nice run better than midfield, gained an inside run on the turn and definitely hit the lead about 100m to go before the leader came back and worried him out of it. Twelve of his 13 wins have been at 1200m or less and he’s drawn to get a nice run just off the pace. Wouldn’t want to see him any shorter price than he is but he’s the one to beat.

Dangers: 1. The Monstar would probably prefer more give in the ground but he’s effective on good tracks and I don’t think he’ll have too much trouble getting up onto the pace from the wide gate. Outclassed in the Stradbroke, as you’d expect, but if he does find the lead he can take running down. 2. Zestful has obviously been set for this race first-up with two trials in June. She’s more than capable, narrowly beaten in a G3 mares race earlier this year before a spell, but she can mix her form a bit. She’ll be very strong late and is a decent chance. 10. Akasaki had support at odds and just failed to run down Easy Eddie at Rosehill on June 30. He was explosive from the back at Scone three starts ago and is an each-way chance here. It might also be worth throwing 4. Siegfried in at big odds, he didn’t have any luck first-up at Doomben and can improve sharply.

How to play it: Tyzone WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Tyzone is narrowly beaten in the Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich on June 16

Check out the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Warwick Farm meeting here and Grafton's Ramornie meeting here.