By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail out 4m from 1100m to 450m; 2m to the WP & true the remainder:
Race 1 SUPER MAIDEN HCP (1000m): |
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Lightly raced colt 4. Justice Warrior can go one better after filling a minor place first-up in the country as a heavily backed favourite. Fitter now, and drawn to get a softer run right behind the speed.
Dangers: Big watch on progressive filly 1. Nymphadora who has been freshened and trialled since closing off late as an unplaced and long odds-on favourite here seven weeks ago. Include in all trifecta and first fours 2. Brokerage back on drier ground, at big odds 3. Donwon second-up; and Sunshine Coast-based 9. Benzou who ran home late from well back here on debut and drops in weight.
How to play it: Justice Warrior to win
Race 2 PROVINCIAL MAIDEN PLATE (1100m): |
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Lightly raced 1. Leantothemoon is nicely suited here at her third start, and drawn to find an ideal trail with cover. Missed narrowly here fresh in a similar race, but naturally improves staying at the distance, given that run came off a five week break.
Dangers: The wraps are big for Russian Revolution three-year-old 5. Hawker Hall who makes his debut off two strong trial wins for the Kris Lees yard. 9. Aroha Stone returns behind two trials for his first full prep after a disappointing and one-off debut run in late autumn. Big gap to the rest headed by 8. All Too Wild, a filly by All Too Hard in the Tracey Bartley stable, on debut behind a dominant trial win.
How to play it: Leantothemoon to win
Race 3 4YO & UP MAIDEN HCP (1300m): |
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Lightly raced four-year-old 3. Altair I Am has more than enough ability in this line-up, resuming off a 17 week break and easy trial.
Dangers: 1. Lucky Force progresses off a fighting on-speed effort first-up at big odds 8. Frosty Jo is well into her prep, trained on the track and drops 2kg; while sparingly raced 10. I Am Wild can run into the money back on firmer ground.
How to play it: Altair I Am to win
Race 4 4YO & UP MAIDEN PLATE (1500m): |
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Again the older maidens lock horns, and emerging four-year-old 3. Space Age is well placed to break through at his second start. Was heavily backed before leading for a long way on debut at Canberra, but gets an easier tempo up front here over a furlong further, and a far stronger jockey takes over.
Dangers: Keep safe lightly raced 4. Tastula who is over the odds second-up from a long break coming back from metro opposition; while 5. Al Flores is tracking to peak fourth-up over further despite drawing wide. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Space Age to win
Race 5 CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 68 HCP (2000m): |
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Progressive four-year-old 5. Flying Bandit is screaming out for this longer trip fourth-up. Has continually hit the line impressively from well back this prep, the latest coming from near last to be beaten only two lengths in deeper Saturday Midway BM 72 company, and the stable preferring him to a winnable race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday is a further pointer.
Dangers: 6. So Sleek also likes to get back and run home, and peaks third-up at this longer trip; while home track mare 4. Colours Of Autumn can charge into the finish.
How to play it: Flying Bandit to win
Race 6 MIDWAY BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1600m): |
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In a very competitive race, tough five-year-old 5. Whatadilemma can strike fourth-up staying at the distance, significantly with blinkers being added. Charged home into a place twice before doing plenty of work here a fortnight ago and failing to finish off. Drawn to sit closer this time with cover, and he boasts a race-winning turn of foot.
Dangers: 2. Rolling Magic has finished best from just off the speed to win his last two, including that latest race as the unplaced top selection. Stays at the mile, but facing a tougher task from the trickier gate here so likely to go around a shade under the odds. So too 1. Magicon who has to slot in from a wide gate second-up carrying top weight. 4. C'mon Mate is knocking on the door for a second career win, and also drops down from Midway BM 72 metro company, with gear changes in play. 9. Devine Outcast should be right at her peak now after hitting the line late in three runs back from a freshen-up.
How to play it: Whatadilemma to win
Race 7 FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1100m): |
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Progressive Godolphin filly 5. Glorioso can pounce second-up. Did her best work late from an awkward gate same trip and company first-up here a fortnight ago, and parking a little closer this time from a softer draw, she can put them to the sword and quickly progress to better races.
Dangers: Keep safe lightly raced 6. Joyner who drew to get a soft run second-up; similar with 9. Rantan who also maps to get an economical run after running home late first-up in a deeper metro company. Early market favourite and third starter 10. Ellipsis comes back from that same Warwick Farm race as the former, but under the odds in what is a handy line-up; so too 8. Fragrant Cloud who led all the way comfortably on debut in the country, but carrying 1.5kg more from a wide draw in a much deeper race. Watch for any money around Canberra mare 3. Sunchyme resuming off a home trial win; while 1. Super Zippi is over the odds second-up with a 3kg claim.
How to play it: Glorioso to win
Race 8 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1100m): |
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The boys' edition closes the meeting, and underrated six-year-old 3. Lord Bob can make the step up and strike for the third time in four starts at big odds. Won a country CL3 easily before running home okay at Muswellbrook, then was impressive rushing home late to claim a BM 66 at Dubbo. Naturally this is deeper provincial company, but he drops 2kg over a suitably 100m further, and is way over the odds.
Dangers: 7. Cassiel makes his eagerly-awaited return as a gelding with key gear changes off two progressive city trials, winning the latest seven weeks back in dominant fashion. Has had a false start already this campaign, but equipped with plenty of potential. Improving colt 11. Insist is right in the mix third-up back slightly in grade. Keep safe 5. Mr Rock who can improve second-up from a low draw.
How to play it: Lord Bob each way
BEST BETS:
R5 5. FLYING BANDIT
R7 5. GLORIOSO
BEST VALUE:
R8 3. LORD BOB
All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Hawkesbury meeting