By Neil Evans
The track is rated a Soft 6 with the rail in the True position under overcast skies.
Race 1 (1:50pm) 1800RESPECT MAIDEN PLATE (1000m) |
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Testing maiden at set weights to get us rolling in what might prove to be a smart form race. Super One four-year-old 1. One Way Street ($3.20 favourite on TAB) is a giant of a horse out of a Street Cry mare, trained on the track and making his debut. Despite a patchy start, swept home impressively to win a recent trial and he looks way above average. Top non-metro jockey sticks solid for the real thing.
Dangers: Keep safe another first starter, Per Incanto (USA) metro-based filly 7. Per Ivy ($3.40) who convincingly won the second of two recent trials, while improving filly 6. Miss Maz ($4) draws the inside third-up and 5. Mishka Magic ($4.40) first-up off a steady trial, can both run into the minor end of the prize.
How to play it: One Way Street to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 2 (2:25pm) MOUNTIES GROUP 4YO & UP MAIDEN PLATE (1600m) |
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Up to the mile but less depth in this and that augurs well for progressive mare 7. Bedford Square ($1.95 fav) who can put this lot to the sword second-up. Stuck on okay resuming in better metro company through heavy ground, and this is a worthy progression for one consistently in the placings up to 2100m last prep.
Dangers: Improving mare 8. Miss Delia ($2.60) is the clear threat rising in distance third-up. Hit the line nicely in a deeper maiden at Randwick despite being unwanted in betting, and drew to find good cover. Big gap to the rest headed by 5. Tailoring ($4) who likely wants further second-up, but leads the trifecta and first four players.
How to play it: Bedford Square to win; quinella 7 and 8; and trifecta (in order) 7-8-5
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 (3:05pm) #NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m) |
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Small maiden field but far from cut and dried. Progressive four-year-old 1. Stay Wealthy ($2.60) has the tactical speed to offset a tricky draw and is ready to win second-up. Kept finding to miss narrowly resuming here over the same trip and carries 1.5kg less after the claim.
Dangers: No doubt Rip Van Winkle filly 2. Gin Martini (Ire) ($2.30 fav) wins the ability argument and should be ready to produce first-up for a second prep behind two trials. Was stretched to Group 1 level as a two-year-old in autumn but she may need one run in this ground. Watch the betting on resuming mare 4. Too Much Lippy ($3.50) off a quiet trial.
How to play it: Stay Wealthy to win
Odds and Evens: Split a special
Race 4 (3:40pm) STAND UP AGAINST DOMESTIC & FAMILY ABUSE CLASS 1 HCP (1350m) |
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Keen on Tavistock mare 7. Niffler ($4.80) who resumes after a near eight-month spell for just her second start. Has been fitted with two progressive trials up to 1175m and from the draw, this shapes as an ideal starting point.
Dangers: Emerging three-year-old 5. Groover ($3.90) bounced to the front on debut at Kembla and hung on for a gritty win. Blinkers come off but top metro rider has been booked, having ridden the gelding twice at the trials. Capable filly 2. Seven Twenty ($3.60 fav) has been kept ticking over at the trials since a fair closing fresh run at Newcastle six weeks back. The form out of that race is good and she draws to be tucked away with cover around midfield. Big watch on 6. Cushy ($5) who finished best to land her maiden fourth-up beating Stay Wealthy who rates a serious chance in the previous race, while 8. Field Wiri ($4.60) is the clear best of the rest.
How to play it: Niffler to win and first four 5,7/2,5,6,7,8/2,5,6,7,8/2,5,6,7,8
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 5 (4:20pm) WYONG MAGIC MILLIONS WEDS DEC 15 4YO & UP MDN HCP (1100m) |
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Hard to see progressive four-year-old 1. Hypnosis ($2.90 fav) not breaking through here, third-up staying at the trip and from a soft draw. Went under narrowly last time as a well-backed fancy and with most of these seemingly making up the numbers, he's the one to beat in preferred soft ground.
Dangers: Resuming mare 5. Kyalla ($3.30) has to overcome a tough draw but she's been forward in two trials and has the necessary gate speed. Include in wider exotics, 3. Belleplaine ($8) who resumes without officially trialling but can come to hand quickly, and improving mare 11. Penopera ($11) third-up.
How to play it: Hypnosis to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 6 (4:55pm) DOMESTIC & FAMILY ABUSE AWARENESS BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1100m) |
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Always had plenty of time for Zoustar mare 4. Never Second ($2.70 fav) although she hasn't always run up to her market price. Resumes for a new metro stable with gear changes behind two trials and draws to sit right behind the speed. Significantly was dual-accepted for Gosford on Wednesday before being saved for this.
Dangers: Godolphin filly 9. Glittery ($4.40) looks over the odds resuming behind two trials and the wetter it gets the better. Similarly five year-old 3. Maccomo ($7.50) returns from a 15-week spell via two improving trials, while both 2. Leave Me Some ($9) second-up and 8. Discompose ($9.50) off back-to-back wins in weaker country grades, cannot be dismissed.
How to play it: Never Second to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 (5:30pm) WYONG'S NEXT RACE MTG THURS DEC 9 4YO&UP BM 64 HCP (1600m) |
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We wrap up the card over the mile. Provincial mare 2. Buba ($2.80 fav) not only drops in grade from metro opposition but showed last start she's a pure wet tracker. Swept past them for an arrogant provincial win in heavy conditions two runs back before looming in tougher grade at Rosehill eight days ago, but resented the firm surface and didn't finish off. All three career wins have come in heavy going and more rain is expected as the day wears on.
Dangers: Progressive 4. Bak Da Man ($4.60) swept home from midfield for a dominant second-up win in weaker country class and he's also right at home in wet conditions. Keep safe improving mare 7. Carolina Fire ($3.90) third-up, while 5. Mon Amore ($5.50) also relishes rain-affected ground.
How to play it: Buba to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
BEST BETS
R3 1. STAY WEALTHY ($2.50)
R5 1. HYPNOSIS ($2.90)
BEST VALUE
R4 7. NIFFLER ($4.40)
View the final fields with full form & race replays for Wyong here