By Neil Evans
Track around Soft 5 and rail out 3m so should play a little off speed
Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (1900m): |
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We start a good card with the staying maidens. Randwick 3YO colt 1. Don Arcangelo comes through a strong Kembla formline well beaten by Kermanding who then won a metro BM 68 last Tuesday. Ideally suited up to this distance at his third start.
Dangers: Rival Randwick filly 9. Toostar can break through fifth-up in her first real prep. Wasn't overly suited in the run in a CL1 at Kembla but still found the line well. That was more than three weeks between runs, and winkers come off. Another filly 2. Bella Violet beat all bar the winner in that same race as the top selection, but only plain to the line, and should also appreciate the longer trip fifth run in. Include Warwick Farm filly 6. Messina Magic if you're playing the trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Don Arcangelo to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 CLASS 1 HCP (1600m): |
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Small but competitive field over the mile. Promising 3YO Warwick Farm filly 4. Harmony Rose is the one to beat after a dominant debut win at Kembla. Bred to get over further being by tough Group 1 MacKinnons Stakes winner Glass Harmonium, and gets in on the limit weight after the claim.
Dangers: Randwick filly 2. Red Stiletto jumped sharply in trip and class third-off a long break, and was never a hope on heavy ground. Up naturally in weight for this big drop back in grade, and much better off on firmer footing. Rosehill 3YO 3. Keck surged home in the heavy to win his maiden here over the same distance at third start, although may need it wetter.
How to play it: Harmony Rose to win and quinella 2 and 4. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 3 MAIDEN HCP (1200m): |
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Keen on Warwick Farm 3YO 4. Black Bolt who resumes as a gelding, with blinkers off, for a leading stable off two progressive trials. Should run this out strong, being by Cox Plate winner Savabeel, and was only gunned down in the last few strides on debut at Kembla over further. Also accepted for the postponed Hawkesbury meeting on Wednesday.
Dangers: Godolphin filly 9. Attribution is the clear threat having been placed in all three runs so far, and draws to get a soft run right behind the speed. Former Kiwi 4YO 2. Jesse James resumes for a new metro stable, and won the second of two recent trials. Randwick mare 8. Indigenous made a mess of the start resuming at Kembla, but not surprisingly picked up where she left off in the first half of the year as a punters' nightmare. Has started clear favourite in most of her six starts, and only placed twice, although has generally tackled deeper opposition. Watch the betting on Scone 3YO 6. Tipping Point who has trialled okay, and draws the inside.
How to play it: Black Bolt each way. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 C, G & E MAIDEN PLATE (1100m): |
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Boys only here over the shorter trip, and there are a few strong chances. Warwick Farm 4YO 5. That's Better was well backed at this track having his first run as a gelding since mid-winter, and was only overhauled by a smart one. Fitter, and drawn to dictate again, he can break through.
Dangers: Ex-Victorian 4YO 1. Black Sage hasn't started for a year, but returns for a new Rosehill stable as a gelding. Looks well forward having won both lead-up trials, and trainers have made a stack of important gear changes. Godolphin colt 6. Chilliwack resumes for only his fifth start with no public trial. Was run off his feet behind two high class speedsters in autumn, but beat all bar smart galloper Muntaseera on debut at Rosehill this time last year. Big watch! Another promising 3YO 10. Stumped resumes off a lengthy break with no official trial after two Victorian runs in good metro company late autumn.
How to play it: That's Better to win and trifecta 1,5,6/1,5,6,10/1,5,6,10. Odds and Evens: Split
That's Better runs second at Gosford on October 29
Race 5 F & M MAIDEN PLATE (1100m): |
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Now the girls' edition, and it's a tricky affair with several debutants on show. One of them, 3YO Newcastle Press Statement filly 14. Skip To My looks ready to go off a nice trial win here. Draws a soft gate, and the stable is renowned for striking fresh.
Dangers: Expecting a big return from Randwick filly 11. Party Lady after an ordinary debut in heavy ground mid-winter. Won the second of two recent trials, and looks to have strengthened up from her 2YO days. Rival filly and first starter 13. Shotgun Alli has been forward at the trials on rain-affected ground. Draws well. but being by Smart Missile out of a More Than Ready mare she may have a leaning towards wet tracks.
How to play it: Skip To My to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Skip To My wins a trial at Gosford on October 14
Race 6 F & M BM 64 HCP (1200m): |
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Good race, with plenty of potential and depth. Rosehill filly 7. Zoumist resumes for a leading metro yard, although no public trial. Made a big impression sailing home from the back to win her maiden at Kembla late autumn at only her second start, and will come to hand quickly.
Dangers: Progressive Randwick filly 6. Mrs Maisel has had two runs back from a spell in metro BM 68 grade working to the line okay, and draws to get plenty of cover. Talented local mare 2. Wicked Wench has been given a little freshen-up since resuming with a dominant win here under a big weight. Second-up form, though, not as good, and this is significantly tougher. Under-rated Quirindi mare 3. Dreaming For More returns to provincial company fourth-up after sweeping home to win a handy CL1 at Muswellbrook. Well treated at the weights after the full claim.
How to play it: Zoumist to win and quinella 6 and 7. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 7 C, G & E BM 64 HCP (1200m): |
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Now the boys' turn, same grade and trip. All aboard beautifully-bred Newcastle 4YO 2. Geo who didn't get much go his way second-up in a stronger metro race, but still finished off okay. Goes up a hefty 6kg, but a proven weight carrier, and has since trialled smartly for what is a significant drop in class.
Dangers: Lightly raced 4YO speedster 6. Sir Rocket has been given plenty of time since a tough fighting first-up win here when he was challenged at the 150m. Has also since trialled nicely, and will give a big sight from the low draw. Liked the way Warwick farm 4YO 3. Mercury ran home second-up in a similar race at Kembla.
How to play it: Geo to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 8 BM 64 HCP (1900m): |
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We close with an open battle over the same distance we started. Keen on improving Randwick 4YO 4. Clever Man who can peak fourth-up down in grade over an ideal trip. Has hit the line hard in his last two, and bred to perform over plenty of ground.
Dangers: Improving Rosehill mare 2. Off Her Roca will be hard to beat from a handy trailing draw, and out to an ideal trip. Finished strong to win here over the mile two runs back before doing her best work late less than two weeks ago. Warwick Farm mare 6. Duchess Of Windsor should be at peak fitness fourth-up and draws to get a soft run. Very well weighted carrying only 1kg more coming back from a metro BM 72. Local mare 3. Charmed Princess should have gone close last start after getting a mile back in a BM 66 at Grafton. Had powered home in her previous two, and blinkers have been replaced by winkers, but first time out over this journey.
How to play it: Clever Man to win and trifecta 2,4,6/2,4,6/2,3,4,6. Odds and Evens: Evens.
All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Gosford meeting