By Ray Hickson
Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting. Selections based on a heavy track.
Race 1 - 1:45PM RANVET PLATE (1100 METRES) |
---|
6. King Of Naples had no troubles with a wet track in both trials and stretched out nicely to win the latest here just over a week ago. If he can transfer it to race day this looks a very winnable race for him to kick off in.
Dangers: 3. Chipper was excellent on debut at Canterbury two weeks ago, chasing hard when runner-up to Spacewalk on a heavy track. Wide gate not really an issue at this starting point, he’ll be fitter and looms as a threat. 1. Alpha One comes through the same race where he led and stuck on okay in third. Drifter in betting there but handled the ground well so well worth including in the chances. 2. Basquiat was a $1.9 million yearling so it’ll be interesting to see how he performs on debut. Based on his trials he could well be very competitive here but market a strong guide.
How to play it: King Of Naples WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
King Of Naples wins a trial at Warwick Farm on March 10
Race 2 - 2:20PM TAB PLATE (1300 METRES) |
---|
6. Naval Seal is a $1.8m son of First Seal who had support on debut at Newcastle on a heavy track earlier this month and was basically beaten by the bob of the head. Drawn to be prominent again and if he’s not looking for further now he should be hard to beat.
Dangers: 9. Headliner is fitter for one run back where she was favourite but couldn’t chase down Compassionate at Canterbury two weeks ago. Beaten three lengths by Fangirl at 1400m back in October, no surprise if she improves on that fresh effort and is in the finish. 8. Waterford has raced once in the UK over 1408m and finished third on a good track. No public trials since joining the Waller yard but has jumped out a few times in Melbourne. Watch betting. 1. Barrichello has six placings from eight starts and a couple of fourths so he's never too far away. Probably needs to improve a bit on his second-up run at Newcastle but can't leave out.
How to play it: Naval Seal WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Naval Seal runs second at Newcastle on March 4
Race 3 - 2:55PM I AM INVINCIBLE @ YARRAMAN PARK PLATE (1100 METRES) |
---|
4. Hold On Honey should go forward from the outside and if he runs up to his debut second to Kallos would be hard to beat. Small question mark on a heavy track but he’s a horse that should at least be winning a maiden this time in. Should run well with improvement.
Dangers: 11. Deep Romance had a promising first preparation and tried hard on a heavy track at Canterbury in November before a spell. Trialled here just over a week ago, drawn okay ad should be competitive. 13. Upgrades did trial quite well here back in mid-February then not as effective, though not disgraced, on the synthetic. Bred to handle a wet track and could surprise. 1. Auckland trialled up quite well in his only appearance this time in and could show up here on debut.
How to play it: Hold On Honey E/W ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Hold On Honey wins a trial at Warwick Farm on February 28
Race 4 - 3:30PM THE MACARTHUR CLUB HANDICAP (2400 METRES) |
---|
7. Forever You will appreciate getting back out in distance after an even fourth at Rosehill over 1900m. Showed staying promise with two dominant wins, latest over 2350m, prior on wet tracks so is well worth another chance.
Dangers: 6. Legend Has It was very strong at the end of 2200m here six weeks ago and backs up after a tickover trial last week. He’s been placed in heavy ground so that’s not an issue and while there is a gap between runs he had a four week gap going into his latest win. 3. Nordic Pride has been racing consistently enough in Victoria and he was placed at Canterbury two starts ago. Drops 5kg on his last effort at Cranbourne and is one of the chances. 9. Kingdom Of Gold is an up and coming stayer who broke through for his first win in a Class 1 on a heavy track at Newcastle recently. Obviously up in class but trip and wet are ticks and he could measure up.
How to play it: Forever You WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Forever You runs fourth at Rosehill on March 12
Race 5 - 4:05PM THE AGENCY HANDICAP (1400 METRES) |
---|
8. Loch Eagle is a very promising colt who shrugged off his maiden status with a runaway win on a heavy track at Newcastle first-up. He bumped into a handy one second-up last prep and wasn’t far away at G3 level before a spell. Suited here and clearly the one to stop.
Dangers: 7. Straight Arron had good support at his only start at Sandown back in January and picked them up from near the tail to win easily. Yet to see a heavy track and his trial was on synthetic but bears close watching. 4. All England has been freshened up since failing at Newcastle a month ago. Form prior was honest and entitled to another chance. 13. The Maxinator went back to last at his first run for the Portelli yard and found the line late into third. Extra trip might be a plus and is worth including.
How to play it: Loch Eagle WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Loch Eagle wins at Newcastle on March 4
Race 6 - 4:40PM VINERY YEARLINGS HANDICAP (1600 METRES) |
---|
4. Diamil made a very handy local debut running second on a heavy track at Canterbury over 1250m and his overseas form says he’s looking for this sort of trip. Appears to have conditions to suit him and drops 2.5kg for what looks a modest class rise.
Dangers: 10. Badoosh often threatens and he wasn’t disgraced back onto a heavy track last time out beaten a couple of lengths in a similar race at Canterbury. Won his only start on his home track and is one of those horses who can feature with the right run. 9. Ita was competitive up to 2000m last time in so you’d imagine she’ll appreciate the step up in trip from two second placings at 1250m on end. 13. Main Stage defied them in an all the way win over 1800m at Kensington five weeks ago. Back to the mile but is honest and sure to give a sight.
How to play it: Diamil WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Diamil runs second at Canterbury on March 10
Race 7 - 5:15PM FROSTED @ DARLEY HANDICAP (1000 METRES) |
---|
5. Sky Command is a much better horse than her last start failure behind Mazu suggests. Prior to that she was run down by Shadow Crush and on that sort of effort she’d be hard to beat. Likes it wet, should find the lead and be hard to catch. Read trainer Gary Portelli's comments here.
Dangers: 1. Dragonstone contested the same race as Sky Command and didn’t make any impression from the back, which is unusual for him. Have to forgive him one bad run and isn’t badly treated after the claim. 8. Sixgun finally broke through striking a heavy track at Canterbury a month ago. While he hasn’t quite lived up to expectation he is very consistent and if he gets the race run to suit he’s more than capable of winning again. 14. Party For One is a very promising filly who scored a huge win at Canterbury second-up on a heavy track then again caught the eye in the Gosford Guineas. Keep her very safe.
How to play it: Sky Command WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Sky Command runs second at Randwick on February 5
Race 8 - 5:50PM HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP (1200 METRES) |
---|
10. Arranmore had her chance first-up behind Ruby Kisses at Canterbury a month ago but she didn’t give up the chase and will be fitter for it. Has some handy form around her and is sure to be right in the finish here.
Dangers: 5. Derbari is rarely too far away and made some nice ground when resuming at Canterbury two weeks ago. Stays at 1200m but second-up record is superior to his fresh stats so he’ll likely improve and that could be good enough to go close. 6. Shadow Devil won his first two starts at Gosford and both were very smart then not beaten far by Overpass down the straight at Flemington. Well worth another chance back around a bend. 17. Vivid Flash has done nothing wrong in two runs back, run down by Mayrose fresh then just couldn’t reel in Shades Of Rose both at Canterbury. Definite chance again.
How to play it: Arranmore WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Arranmore runs second at Canterbury on February 25
All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting