Latest News

By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday's Gosford meeting. Selections based on a soft to good track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

6. Explosive Torpido started a well-fancied $1.75 favourite on debut at Goulburn 17 days ago, and her run was full of merit in a high-rating event. The filly drifted back from an awkward draw, raced wide, had too much to do at the top of the straight and flashed home for fourth. Further, she showed the key asset of acceleration and savaged the line clocking some of the fastest closing splits of the meeting. She receives a much more positive race setup where she can settle closer from the soft draw, and stepping up to 1100m looks ideal. Additionally, all key indicators suggest she can only improve and will take some beating.

Dangers: 9. Little Baia carried 61.5kg, led at a genuine tempo, raced in the inferior ground and was just beaten on the line at Bathurst last start by subsequent winner Shiffrin. She brings a fitness edge relative to some of her rivals and will roll forward and take catching. 2. Encroachment chased a fast-tempo first-up and battled on well to run second at this track/distance. He is suited back to dry ground and has a favourable map. Add 8. Artiebett to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Explosive Torpido WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Explosive Torpido runs fourth at Goulburn on June 5

Leaning towards 10. Sicilian, who resumes here, and brings a race experience edge. She wasn't extended in her first trial and then had a solid hit-out over 1045m in a recent heat at Randwick. The filly has started hard in the market in Group/Listed races and profiles well for this event. Expect her to roll forward under the guidance of Tim Clark, and it will be hard to catch.

Dangers: Debutante 9. Estriella has style and won a recent heat at Warwick Farm easily and went through the line full of energy. Moreover, that trial had time/sectional merit relative to the morning. Another first starter in 11. Spring Lee looks a nice type and add 15. Turbulent to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Sicilian WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Sicilian runs second in a trial at Randwick on June 2

2. Extreme Frilly resumes and has had a quiet recent trial at Warwick Farm where she went through the full of energy and wasn't extended. Moreover, she was only narrowly beaten on debut last campaign in a strong form race that has since produced two subsequent winners. The mare profiles well for this event under the special race conditions, has the best turn of foot relative to her rivals and maps to have all favours.

Dangers: 7. Diamond Lily also returns to the track for the in-form Mark Minervini stable. She gets in with no weight after the claim for apprentice Georgina McDonnell and can rate to win. 10. Misty Dreams is coming out of time/sectional merit races this prep and has been racing consistently. She must contend with a tricky draw but has a race fitness edge. Add 5. A Tender Lady and 9. Gypsy King to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Extreme Frilly WIN ($2.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Extreme Frilly latest trial at Warwick Farm on June 9

9. Lovely Thoughts was solid on debut, running fourth at this track/distance a fortnight ago. The three-year-old was blocked for a run when the sprint went on, and she couldn't build momentum at a key stage between the 600m-400m section. Further, to her credit, once clear, she got through her gears well and was strong to the line. She will improve from that race experience and can settle closer from barrier one.

Dangers: 1. Atacama comes through the same race as Lovely Thoughts and beat her home while starting shorter in the market. He is rock-hard fit and is a definite chance. 3. Irish Falcon has multiple figures that can put him in the finish and 2. Dancemania can only improve second-up over more ground.

How to play it: Lovely Thoughts WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Lovely Thoughts last start at Gosford on June 8

Forgiving of 6. Gold Pattern's last start at Hawkesbury, where she had no luck and multiple factors against her. The filly wasn't suited to the race shape, raced in the inferior ground and was blocked for a run over the final furlong going through the line untested. Before that start, she ran time and won with ease. The John Thompson galloper has a strong platform and can improve stepping out to 1600m for the first time.

Dangers: 4. Lady Gold was outclassed last start in a stronger grade and was well beaten. However, that race was taken out by Grebeni, who has since won again, confirming the form. She drops significantly in class here, and if she repeats her prior start effort/figure, expect her to be hard to catch. 5. Smart As Smart is racing well, and 7. Miss Shalaa is as consistent as they come. Market watch on import 1. Highness, who has only trialled fairly but has strong overseas form lines for a race like this.

How to play it: Gold Pattern WIN ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Gold Pattern last start at Hawkesbury on June 11

Keen on 6. Divazino, who has a strong platform and his ratings/sectional profile, suggests she is ready to peak third-up over more ground. The three-year-old was run to suit last start but sprinted a strong 400m-200m split and maintained a solid finishing speed to the line. Additionally, that race rated well relative to the day, and the big margin to fourth confirmed the quality. She can settle closer from the soft draw, brings the best last-start figure and has proven to handle different race shapes. Expect her to relish the 1900m and be hard to beat with even luck.

Dangers: Market watch on 1. Fleet Commander who was an alarming drifter in his Australian debut at Kembla, and he struggled. However, he has strong overseas form lines surrounding the likes of Fawkner Park and Manbehindthemoney. 5. Artistic Gal and 7. Doraskaya come through the same race last start at Newcastle, and both ran on well. Add 9. Lake Road who has a favourable map.

How to play it: Divazino WIN ($2.15 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Divazino runs second at Hawkesbury on June 11

The late market trade suggested 3. Chipper would improve from his first-up run at this track a fortnight ago. However, after racing wide, he was honest in defeat and will have improved from that outing. Expect him to roll forward and take some catching.

Dangers: 1. Super Helpful is an import who has trialled well enough, and Tim Clark rides. 4. Chain Of Gold has a strong starting price profile and will be suited over more ground second-up. Add 10. Yankees who maps well.

How to play it: Chipper WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Chipper runs second at Gosford on June 8

5. Time To Boogie resumes here and has trialled well in preparation for this assignment. Further, he won his heat in style at Randwick and ran the fastest time relative to the morning. First-up last prep, he ran his rivals ragged, and repeating that performance/figure will make him hard to beat. Additionally, expect him to be hard to catch, and the gelding looks wound right up for this event.

Dangers: 6. Premosphere has a strong second-up profile, and Jason Collett rides for the first time. She is a knockout chance and maps to have all favours. 1. Amnesty has had back-to-back wins, and she can rate to win. 8. Twice As Special returns, and if they overdo it, she can sprint over the top of her rivals late.

How to play it: Time To Boogie WIN ($1.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Tim To Boogie wins a trial at Randwick on June 2

Best Bet: Race 6 # 6 – Divazino

Next Best: Race 8 # 5 - Time To Boogie

Best Value: Race 5 # 6 – Gold Pattern

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Gosford meeting