By Neil Evans
Rail out 6m and track around a Soft 5 so likely on or near the pace early before gradual trend towards the middle of the track.
Race 1 3YO MAIDEN HCP (900m): |
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The foot goes down hard early over the short course in an exciting opener, with a few well-bred first starters on show, and one of them looks ready to debut with a bang. Debutant Randwick filly 6. Fituese (Deep Field x Cattalo by Tiger Hill) is bred for speed and looks the one to beat off a dominant trial win when she careered away under a nice hold winning by seven lengths.
Dangers: Warwick Farm filly 7. Latina Beauty, also by Deep Field, returns after a failed first prep, and looked smart winning a recent trial. Debutant Wyong gelding 2. Medellin (Eurozone x Categorical b Hennessy) trialled okay, and stable has had a strong start to the season; while expect sharp improvement third-up from stablemate 4. Buckin' Rippa who faded in a strong maiden at Scone last start.
How to play it: Fituese to win. Odds and Evens (First 2): Split.
Race 2 BM 64 HCP (900m): |
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Now the older horses mix it with some progressive 3YO's over the same distance. Lightly raced 5YO Wyong gelding 3. Perfect Style looks ready to return off a five month break, with two sharp trials, and just missed this track and grade first-up last prep.
Dangers: While 3YO Rosehill gelding 7. Peak finished okay in a Class 2 at Gosford, he was no match for the winner, but returns to the same track and trip where he charged home to win his maiden two starts back, and is an obvious threat. Watch for 6YO Newcastle gelding and top-weight 1. Postmaster General flying home off a strong early tempo. Did his best work late resuming in the Hurricane over the same trip, and normally holds his form second-up, and 3kg claim is pivotal. Warwick Farm 4YO gelding 4. Lord Zoulander has early speed and led up in all three runs this prep before being over-powered well into the straight, so drop back to this distance is a big plus. Keep safe 3YO Randwick filly 9. Chelsea Reign who compounded resuming in this grade at Hawkesbury, but drops in weight, draws the inside, and the blinkers come off.
How to play it: Perfect Style each way and trifecta 3,7/1,3,4,7/1,3,4,7,9. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1500m): |
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Tough race at set weights, with many chances. Gosford 4YO gelding 3. Estroverto is hard fit now after four runs back, and can break the "duck" at 14th career start. Has found the line well for three straight second placings, and draws to get a lovely trail with cover around midfield.
Dangers: Rosehill 3YO gelding 11. Lucky Imperator comes back a long way in grade after totally outclassed third-up in the Group 3 Gloaming behind subsequent Group 1 winner, and draws a nice trailing gate. Expect big improvement at second start from 3YO Godolphin gelding 12. Manseneta who was well backed on debut at Kembla, but didn't attack the line. Draws to get a soft run on the fence, and the blinkers go on. Rosehill 4YO gelding 2. Corporal went straight off the boil after a nice closing first-up run this track nearly two months back, but leading metro stable sent him back for a quiet trial. Improving 4YO Scone gelding 5. St Anton has never been far away in three runs to open his career, and was well backed when finishing less than three lengths from a smart winner last start, but has drawn wide; while 3YO Randwick colt 10. Just Society boxed on okay first-up in that same race as Manseneta, and can also improve.
How to play it: Estroverto to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 4 F & M MAIDEN HCP (1600m): |
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Promising 3YO Randwick filly 3. Perfect Impression looks ready to win third-up after charging home along the inside at Kembla, but found one stronger late who swept down the middle of the track. Even more effective when she gets to the outside, and her one-off debut run in autumn was in Group 2 company.
Dangers: Randwick 4YO mare 2. Bacinblack was competitive in good maiden company in autumn, and got home hard resuming at Goulburn. Extra trip is up her alley, but inside gate may not suit natural get-back style. Another 3YO Randwick filly from leading yard 4. Apicius hasn't done much in two runs back, but looks better suited here down in weight.
How to play it: Perfect Impression to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Perfect Impression runs second at Kembla on September 28
Race 5 C, G & E CL1 HCP (1300m): |
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Now the boys' lock horns in a race of good quality. Newcastle 4YO gelding 3. Magic Charlee has finished nicely in two runs back this prep, and also better suited over longer, but drops 2.5kg and will be rattling late.
Dangers: Talented 4YO Scone gelding 6. Melik debuted with a dominant barrier-to-box win at home when heavily backed, and the second horse has since won, but this is a decent step up in grade; while rival 5YO Scone gelding 4. Eleazar went close in a Class 2 at Mudgee after dropping back from Highway company, and in well at the weights after rider's claim.
How to play it: Magic Charlee to win and box exacta 3,4,6. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 F & M CL1 HCP (1300m): |
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Back to the girls at same grade and trip, and keen on 4YO Godolphin mare 5. Terrior who resumes in a suitable race from a good draw. Won on debut this track in late autumn, and has had two quiet trials.
Dangers: Well-bred 3YO Randwick filly 2. California Salto resumes off two trials for top metro stable. Made sound progression in first prep, bolting in her maiden at Warwick Farm when heavily backed, and draws the inside here. Randwick 4YO mare 4. Tepario flopped badly on the Heavy 10 at Warwick Farm last start, but returns to the same track and distance where she finished hard to win her maiden six weeks ago. Last-start country maiden winner 3YO Hawkesbury filly 10. Birdy can't be under-estimated but facing tougher task here.
How to play it: Terrior to win and quinella 2 and 5. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 CL1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1880m): |
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Can be tricky affairs at set weights over this distance, but does look a race in two! Talented 3YO Godolphin filly 12. Tisane has been banging on the door all prep, and was horribly unlucky last start at Gosford missing by a head. Looked a massive chance in the postponed Hawkesbury meeting on Sunday, and draws the fence on the 54kg limit weight.
Dangers: Promising 3YO Randwick filly 11. Foxborough is the best weighted runner all meeting coming back from a distant third placing in the Group 1 Flight Stakes. Carries 2kg less here on the limit, and back in autumn powered home to miss by a head in the Listed Fernhill over a mile. Warwick Farm 4YO mare 4. Proven Class did a solid enough job resuming in BM 64 grade at Kembla after nearly a year off the scene. Draws to get nice cover, but sharp rise in distance is a query.
How to play it: Tisane to win and quinella 11 and 12. Odds and Evens: Split.
Tisane runs second at Gosford on October 3
All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Newcastle meeting