By Neil Evans
The track is rated a Soft 6 with the rail out 9m the entire circuit and the weather showery.
Race 1 (1:50pm) SHARP OFFICE F&M BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1200m) |
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The girls get things rolling on a tricky read with the rail out a long way and not much between several of these. Home track five-year-old 1. Hello Sunshine ($4.60 on TAB) resumes off a forward trial and with a crucial 4kg claim. Her only win so far from 14 starts came here fresh and looked good at the trials.
Dangers: Metropolitan four-year-old 4. Miss Barty's Party ($4.20) has been in and around the money in four runs back. This is a little tougher but she was scratched from Sunday's Queanbeyan meeting to be saved for this. Big watch on 2. Princess Zeddy ($11) having her first run for the new Rosehill stable off a 19-week break. Trialled okay and blinkers are back on. Tough six-year-old 5. Mosht Up ($3.30 favourite) has a poor winning strike rate from 55 starts, but you can't ignore her strong closing run in deeper grade at Wyong only seven days ago. Again draws to settle midfield with a trail. Include hard fit 6. Stellar Blaze ($5) in exotics.
How to play it: Hello Sunshine each-way and trifecta 1,2,4/1,2,4,5,6/1,2,4,5,6
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 (2:25pm) THE PRINCE OF MEREWETHER CG&E MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m) |
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Very testing maiden with many either early in the prep or on debut. Local Shalaa three-year-old 6. Lord Winston ($4.40) did enough finding the line first time out to suggest he can claim this. The winner of that race was then narrowly beaten in a very handy provincial class 1 on Saturday.
Dangers: Improving three-year-old 1. Armour Force ($3.50) can peak third-up in just his second prep over a little more ground. Wasn't far away last start here in a bunched finish. Liked the way 2. American President ($2 fav) finished off late resuming in a metro maiden and the longer trip second-up looks ideal. Watch the betting on Dundeel three-year-old 5. Dreamdeel ($23) on debut from a nice draw behind two recent trials and bred to relish soft ground, while another first starter 7. Prefect Match ($19) has also trialled well enough to be in the finish.
How to play it: Lord Winston to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 (3:05pm) TAB.COM.AU F&M MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m) |
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Some key new ones on show in the girls' edition as well headed by Rosehill-based American Pharaoh three-year-old 4. Pharaoh's Dream ($3.10) who has had a long and deliberate stint at the trials, winning the latest in heavy ground and debuts from a soft draw.
Dangers: If improving filly 1. Estonia ($1.95 fav) can slot in for any cover from the wide gate, she'll be hard to hold out. Has beaten all bar the winner in two provincial runs back although has to carry 59kg. Yet another Real Impact filly 3. Angelical ($5) steps out from a kind draw and debuts having impressed, winning the second of two trials. Include debutante Shamus Award filly 5. Pure Dream ($151) in exotics.
How to play it: Pharaoh's Dream to win and box exacta 1,3,4
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 (3:40pm) OAS TECHNOLOGY BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (2300m) |
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The restricted stayers get their turn and it's time for provincial mare 4. Lady Redwood ($2.40 fav) to break through fifth-up in her first full prep. Has found the line well in her last two at provincial level and is screaming for the bigger track and longer trip.
Dangers: Progressive mare 6. Kadashi ($2.70) tracked a runaway leader a long way from home at Scone before sailing past at the furlong. Been ultra-consistent around the country venues and despite carting 2kg more, she can strike first time on a provincial track. By Fiorente so the longer the better. Honest 5. Done Good ($11) draws well and has more to offer than his two wins from 31 starts suggests, while well-travelled 3. Nothing's Sacred ($21) is a little each-way hope.
How to play it: Lady Redwood to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 5 (4:20pm) HUNGERFORD HILL MAIDEN PLATE (1200m) |
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Provincial three-year-old 1. Foolish ($1.55 fav) can break through at his third start especially if ridden with a sit. Stuck on well when run down late by the promising Sungblue and looks very well placed under the set weight conditions.
Dangers: Keep safe debutante Nostradamus three-year-old 3. Le Bernardin ($11) off two reasonable trials. Draws okay and has trialled like he would be more at home on the bigger Newcastle track and should relish soft ground, being out of a Manhattan Rain mare. Also keep safe 5. Spellcatcher ($4.80) who resumes on his home track from a wider draw off a nice trial win, while provincial filly 11. Oronoco ($9) is also in contention having rushed home to miss narrowly second-up in a country maiden.
How to play it: Foolish to win and quinella 1 and 3
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 6 (4:55pm) AUSTRALIAN BLOODSTOCK CG&E BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1200m) |
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Progressive four-year-old 2. Miracle Day ($1.65 fav) returns to his home track off a smart first-up win when he overhauled them easily at Muswellbrook as a hot favourite. That was his first run since switching from Victoria and while he's paid the price with the handicapper up to 62kg, looks city bound. Likely to start here instead of Gosford on Wednesday.
Dangers: Another four-year-old on a steady rise 1. Velorum ($5) can peak third-up from a soft draw and big weight off-set by a 4kg claim, while improving 9. Spanish Missile ($10) and 10. Blazing Beau ($13) both second-up off long breaks, can be put through trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Miracle Day to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 (5:30pm) YARRAMAN PARK BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1350m) |
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Open one to finish with a stack of chances. Home track mare 2. Toomai ($10) can improve sharply back in grade second-up with a key 4kg allowance. Much better placed here after failing to run on against stronger at Gosford and the more the track dries out the better.
Dangers: Improving 8. Viking Power ($7) can figure fourth-up despite a sharp rise in weight coming back in grade from a gallant provincial run. Ex-SA seven-year-old 7. Dynastic ($9) came off a 10-month break to rush home and win his first start in NSW in a country-graded BM 58. This is tougher though, and he goes up 2kg. Improving Taree five-year-old 6. Sound And Vision ($5 fav) surged home for a dominant win in weaker grade but he's drawn off the track, and the wetter the better. Included in exotics 5. Surf Sonic ($7.50) and 9. Hit The High Note ($9.50) both second-up.
How to play it: Toomai each-way and first four 2,7,8/2,5,6,7,8,9/2,5,6,7,8,9/2,5,6,7,8,9
Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS
R4 - 4. LADY REDWOOD ($2.40)
R6 - 2. MIRACLE DAY ($1.65)
BEST VALUE
R1 - 1. HELLO SUNSHINE ($4.60)
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