Latest News

By Neil Evans

Track Soft 7 and rail out 3m:

We start with the maidens sprinters on a testing read with the track likely to stay deep into soft range. Keen to back lightly raced and improving Flying Artie filly 4. Gilmore who chased home a potential star in her first run for nine months, and gets a 2kg weight drop here.

Dangers: Tough 1. Sumo Star has been right on the winner's heels in two runs back, and this looks a shade easier, although an inferior rider takes over. The market will be a solid indicator with 2. Starry Jack resuming off a 14 month break and two tidy trials for only his second start. Both 7. Alegna fourth-up with winkers going on; and Headwater filly 8. Helpisonitsway on debut in blinkers off a smart trial win; can run into the minor money.

How to play it: Gilmore to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Very capable three-year-old 3. Skylight Song resumes for a second fully prep behind two progressive trials. Did all but break through last spring, running three close second placings at metropolitan and provincial level, and is by renowned wet track sire Your Song.

Dangers: Progressive four-year-old 1. Gulf Of Panama was a certainty beaten third-up when held up for a long way at crucial time in the straight. Drawn further out this time carrying 1kg less, with a higher rated hoop taking over; while 4. Star Legacy worked home late in a country maiden four weeks back, and the winner of that race has since scored again under a big weight.

How to play it: Skylight Song to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Same distance for a wide open maiden, and at big odds it's the right recipe for improving home track four-year-old 2. Single Shot at just his second start. Finished off okay on debut over a similar trip, despite not being suited buried away back on the inferior inside, but drawn to get to the outside here, and gets in only 1kg over the minimum after the junior rider's claim.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by 5. Beetson who peaks third-up despite drawing wide. At each way odds, keep safe improving filly 9. Yamba's Award who found the line well from midfield first-up on the Beaumont track. Include both 3. United Front who improves into his second start from a softer draw; and 12. Angara second-up with a key gear change; in exotic bets.

How to play it: Single Shot each way and trifecta 2,5,9/2,3,5,9,12/2,3,5,9,12
Odds and Evens: Split

Staying distance now for the maidens, and it shapes nicely for progressive and underrated three-year-old 6. Itsagooddeel fifth-up in his first proper prep off a six week freshen-up. Failed to run home in metro company two starts back, but was very stiff not to win at Gosford when help up for a run at a crucial time, but bursting for this trip now.

Dangers: Must respect progressive metro filly 9. Aunt Roberta who charged home late to miss narrowly second-up, and blinkers have been added. Gap to the rest, but include 5. Iberian Ruler third-up from a better draw; 3. Rapid Impact deep into the prep; and 2. Battalion fifth-up with a gear change; in trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Itsagooddeel to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Plenty of chances in this headed at good odds by tough three-year-old 1. Xtrarevz who comes back significantly in distance nine weeks between runs. Only finished further back than second once in five starts from late spring, winning a CL1 at Canberra before just missing in deeper CL1 provincial grade. Has to carry a big weight, but right at home on soft tracks, and given a nice easy and recent 1200m trial.

Dangers: Improving filly 4. Street Gossip is the natural threat fourth-up from the inside gate after working home okay last two in deeper metro BM 72 grade. Keep safe 5. Queenmaker who drops back sharply from Group 3 company fifth-up, and has a strong placing strike rate from 14 starts; while 2. By Nine who draws to get a trail second-up; and 7. Regal Inheritance off a third-up Canberra maiden win; are both capable of finishing in the money at each way odds.

How to play it: Xtrarevz each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Same grade and set-up again, and very little separates the better fancies. Like the value about resuming and talented colt 4. Lehndorff who hasn't started since dropping out in the Group 1 Victorian Derby in late October. Has been fitted with two improving trials up to 1200m, and punters can draw a line through his first-up run last prep when coming from near last over a similar trip to finish only two lengths from subsequent much higher graded Saturday galloper Stroke Of Luck. His only career win so far came in heavy going.

Dangers: Lightly raced and improving 1. Flying Destiny will be hard to hold out at his fifth start, especially if the inside ground holds up okay. Has been placed in his last three since a smart barrier-to-box win on debut at Kembla. Expecting sharp improvement second-up from 2. King Adviso with an important gear change, and likely ridden a bit quieter; while at each-way odds, 5 Cable Tie must be kept safe.

How to play it: Lehndorff each way
Odds and Evens: Split

After four runs back this prep, tough five-year-old 1. The Empire is ready to strike again. Was twice close-up in metro company after tracking the speed before being ridden quieter when hitting the line late in a similar race at Hawkesbury. Hits peak fitness with a crucial 3kg claim, and best form is in soft ground.

Dangers: Metro three-year-old 6. Peace Officer has been given 23 days and a very quiet trial since charging home to win first-up in soft ground; and progressive 5. Hunter Bred coming off consecutive wins in thinner country grades; heads the rest.

How to play it: The Empire to win
Odds and Evens: Split

The middle benchmark sprinters bring us home, and typically there's a stack of chances. Keen on progressive city three-year-old 7. Cappelletti who can go back-to-back third-up. Taken to the front three weeks ago and was way too strong in claiming his maiden, and bred to thrive in soft ground, especially if they're getting well away from the inside late in the day.

Dangers: Topweight 1. Time For Victory powered home from near last under a huge weight to win first-up in country BM 66 grade, but has to overcome a tough and wide draw here on a more testing circuit. Included in all exotic bets, talented mare 5. Passistas resuming off two trials; and 11. Athena Nyx third-up.

How to play it: Cappelletti to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

BEST BETS:
R2 3. SKYLIGHT SONG
R8 7. CAPPELLETTI

BEST VALUE:
R6 4. LEHNDORFF

All the entries, form and replays for Thursday's Wyong meeting