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.
Race 1 – 1:00PM BOOK SPRING NOW HANDICAP (1100 METRES) |
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Scratchings have knocked this around a bit. 2. Charge hasn’t been disgraced in all four starts to date behind a few handy ones. Interestingly in both his trials this time in he’s led all the way whereas in his races he hasn’t looked like leading. He has looked good in those trials and with the all the speed coming out he might lead here too. Good chance.
Danger: 4. Altair finished just ahead of Charge when they met here back on April 11 which was Altair’s last run. His two trials have been a bit less obvious and note Bowman rides this one so that could be a lead. Respect. 10. Malos didn't do a whole lot at his only outing in a strong maiden at Gosford back in March. He trialled well enough at Warwick Farm recently and is worth thought. 8. Home Scene returns in blinkers and he'll be afforded a much easier run than on debut off a wide gate. Wouldn't count him out in what really is anyone's race.
How to play it: Charge WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds).
Charge leads all the way to win a trial at Rosehill on July 23
Race 2 - 1:35PM TAB HANDICAP (1100 METRES) |
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Wide open race with a lot of trial form to dissect. I assume 5. Quenya will get back from the wide gate as she’s done in her trials. She’ll need a bit of luck but I’ve seen enough in those trials to suggest she has some ability, she’s a half-sister to Chetwood, and with a bit of luck in running she should be somewhere in the finish.
Dangers: 4. Olive Leaves from the Hawkes stable wasn’t asked for anything significant in running third in her only trial on July 23. She was beaten seven lengths but did look to be going okay and I respect her place in the market. Any support would add to the confidence. 8. Sylvia’s Mother, also from the Hawkes stable, won a trial in slower time on the same morning and I thought she was doing it pretty well there. Drawn to be right up there and she could run a cheeky race. 6. Rockaway Princess is another to only have the one public trial leading into this race and she was hidden away between horses as she poked through to run third here back on July 20. Drawn the outside but it’s not such a big deal at the 1100m start at the Farm.
How to play it: Quenya E/W ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds).
Quenya hits the line nicely into third in a Rosehill trial on July 9
Race 3 – 2:10PM HALF YEARLY MEMBERSHIP HANDICAP (2200 METRES) |
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The form out of the corresponding race here two weeks ago looks to be way to go. He’s not a prolific winner to date but 7. Cormac has his chance to turn the tables on Follow Suit for running a close third in the race in question. Punters Intel shows he covered an extra 43.2m on that occasion, some 7m more than the winner. He meets that horse 1kg better at the weights, Kerrin McEvoy retains the ride and he looks very hard to beat without being super confident.
Dangers: 4. Prescience probably has the most improvement out of that race given he was second-up from about 15 months off the scene. He followed Cormac into the race and was right alongside him at the finish. Expecting him to run well. 2. Follow Suit is building a good record at the Farm with both recent wins coming over this course. Goes up 1.5kg but retains Bowman and he’d only have to hold his form from last start to be in the finish. 6. Allcash had a reputation as a wet tracker but he did shape up well running second behind Follow Suit, pulling ground off him late. These stayers can take it in turns but he’s racing well enough to be considered a contender.
How to play it: Cormac WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds).
Follow Suit beating Allcash, Cormac and Prescience at Warwick Farm on July 18
Race 4 – 2.45PM RIBCHESTER – 4XG1 WINNER HANDICAP (1200 METRES) |
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With the big scratching of Star Of The Seas this race appears left wide open for 4. Spring Charlie to make it three from three. He hasn’t done anything wrong winning both his starts at Gosford well enough though he did throw a scare through those who took $1.75 first-up. Has obvious ability and going on that last win he’ll appreciate the 1200m too.
Dangers: 1. Bull Market is back as a gelding and he was good enough to win a Saturday race at Rosehill back in November. I thought his first trial was better than his second trial and while ultimately he probably wants 1400m he could run a cheeky race fresh. 2. Crafty Tycoon is a fairly honest customer resuming off one trial. He won fresh last time in at Newcastle with 62kg and is one of those horses you have to throw in among the each-way chances. 8. Skyscraper comes off a couple of very easy all the way wins in the country and does appear the leader here with just 53kg after the claim. Could give a sight.
How to play it: Spring Charlie WIN ($1.55 TAB Fixed Odds).
Spring Charlie makes it two from two at Gosford on July 19
Race 5 – 3.20PM ATC HONG KONG TOUR HANDICAP (1200 METRES) |
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There looks to be a decent amount of speed engaged so I’m hoping 3. Devolving can slot in just off them from the wide gate. She ran well first-up then improved when run down by Intuition here three weeks ago with a gap to third. Up in weight but back against the mares and I’d expect she’ll be close to her peak now. Good chance with a bit of luck.
Dangers: 2. Sweet Scandal has been able to lead and stave them off in her two wins so it’ll be interesting to see if she can handle the expected pressure here or be a little more conservative. I wouldn’t be counting her out and I expect we’ll see what she’s made of. 7. Unwise was the beneficiary of a third versus first protest when she was originally runner-up at Canterbury a month ago before being promoted. Soft trial to keep her ticking over since and she can be in the finish. 10. Classy Anna is yet to miss a place in nine starts and has found Bowman to ride her. Just outgunned at Kembla Grange last time and from the good gate she shouldn’t be too far away from them.
How to play it: Devolving E/W ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds).
Devolving finishes a close second to Intuition at Warwick Farm on July 11
Race 6 - 3:55PM DAWN APPROACH – CHAMPION 2YO IN EUROPE HANDICAP (1400 METRES) |
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8. Seaglass caught most people’s eye first-up at Randwick in a good form race from July 21. She was warming up late there, with Punters Intel data showing she ran the second fastest last 600m in 34.52, suggesting the 1400m will be right up her alley this time in. She won second-up last prep at Canterbury and does appear to have come back better. Just a matter of where she gets to in the run from a middle gate and she is the one to beat.
Dangers: 12. Sacred Edge made a pleasing return here two weeks ago, running on from last to finish midfield at 1300m. Extra 100m is a plus but probably wants a mile to be a winning chance. That said if he hits the line in the same fashion he can run into a placing. 9. Impasse was a little disappointing in two starts after a first-up narrow defeat but is back in business with a Kembla win where he sat handy, defied a betting drift, and proved too strong. Short enough in the market but a good chance. 2. Catmosphere is another coming off a provincial win and it was a very easy one at Wyong where he led throughout. If he runs up to a second to Thrilled here back in May he'd be in the finish of this.
How to play it: Seaglass WIN ($2.25 TAB Fixed Odds).
Seaglass catches the eye running fourth at Randwick first-up on July 21
Race 7 - 4:30PM #THERACES HANDICAP (1600 METRES) |
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12. Hammond Lane has been afforded no luck at all of late and if going to need a bit go his way this time too but he was gallant running fifth behind Curragh in a similar race here from two weeks ago where a lot of the chances in this race also come through. He was stuck wide last start and didn’t give it up. If he’d drawn well we would be dealing with a lot shorter price.
Dangers: 4. Intueri was battling a little bit prior to running a much improved second to Curragh in that race in question. Generally an on pacer and now he’s found some form he’s capable of holding it. 14. Valentino Rossa made his run along the inside to finish fourth in the same event when a minor drifter in betting. He’s been running on as usual and is an each-way chance again. 10. Mushaireb is an import from the Waterhouse/Bott yard whose best performances in the UK have been around the mile. Fitter for two trials over 1200m or so and if there's support for him he could show something fresh.
How to play it: Hammond Lane E/W ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds).
Hammond Lane has no luck in running fifth at Warwick Farm on July 18
All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s meeting at Warwick Farm