By Neil Evans
Track Soft 5/6 and rail out 5m from 1900m to 800m, then 6.5m the remainder so likely near the speed early before trending wider on giant 11-race card.
Race 1 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1600m): |
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We start over the mile in what shapes as a three-prong battle among Randwick stables. Improving gelding 4. Kirwan's Lane is primed for the mile after doing his best work late second-up at Kembla behind a handy one, and draws to get a cosy trail.
Dangers: Progressive filly 9. Perfect Impression finished off well at Warwick Farm first run for six months, and is bred to handle the ground. In well at the weights after rider's 2kg claim, and hit the line hard second-up in first prep.
How to play it: Kirwan's Lane to win and quinella 4 and 9. Odds and Evens (First 2): Split
Race 2 2YO MAIDEN HCP (900m): |
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Now the babies step out over the short course, and resuming Rosehill filly 4. Time For Peace from the Lee Curtis yard looks ideally placed in these conditions coming off a strong heavy track trial where she led and was never fully extended. Back to more suitable company after bumping into eventual Golden Slipper winner at only second start. Sire won the Group 2 Pago Pago in heavy ground.
Dangers: Debutant filly 6. Ready To Soar (More Than Ready x Wedgetail Eagle by Lure) was held together in a nice heavy track trial when leading off the fence run in similar sectional times to the top selection. Watch the betting on Godolphin filly 5. Glaciers whose shown enough at the trials; while another first starter Warwick Farm filly 8. Winning Business (Shooting To Win x Business Day by Zabeel) also looks forward off two progressive trials.
How to play it: Time For Peace to win. Odds and Evens: Evens a special.
Time For Peace runs second in a trial at Rosehill on March 16
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1875m): |
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Promising 4YO Warwick Farm mare 7. Red Hot Chillypins is on a nine day back-up, and pushed out in trip fourth-up after charging home to miss by a head at Kembla over the mile. Only needs to find cover from an awkward barrier to be the one to beat.
Dangers: Impressed with the debut run at this track over 1400m from 3YO Randwick filly 11. Soul Purpose in what was a strong maiden, and trainer quickly steps her up in distance carrying 2kg less. Improving 3YO Rosehill gelding 4. Unamerican was ridden in front fourth-up at Kembla, and easily overhauled, but the inside was inferior ground that day. Likely to sit behind the speed this time, and blinkers come off.
How to play it: Red Hot Chillypins to win and quinella 7 and 11. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 4 BM 64 HCP (1875m): |
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Good race, with plenty of chances, and going wide on a 4YO from the Paul Perry stable in Newcastle who looks well over the odds. Tough 7. Into The Oblivion is hard fit and won his last two in heavy ground, surging home in dominant fashion at Taree before arriving from further back in a CL3 at Pt Macquarie. This is another step up, but treated okay at the weights, and the more rain the better.
Dangers: Progressive 3YO Rosehill filly 6. Amica is primed for this tougher grade after claiming her maiden two runs back at Goulburn, before even more impressive working out to the middle on same track and sweeping home in a BM 58. Down 2.5kg, and jockey is flying. The handicapper hasn't missed big-striding Wyong 4YO 1. Succendam who climbs to 61kg from a wide draw, but he'll appreciate getting on to a big track. Dominant CL1 winner first-up before working home okay in a BM 70 at Wyong. Watch for him late over longer trip. Improving 4YO Newcastle gelding 4. Bedivere finally won a third race ridden closer at Coffs Harbour after threatening all prep. Has enough ability on rain-affected ground, but will likely drift a fair way back from an awkward gate.
How to play it: Into The Oblivion each way and box trifecta 1,4,6,7. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 BM 64 HCP (1875m): |
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Same grade and distance, and this is even more open. Godolphin 3YO filly 11. Night Witches has plenty of promise, and returns to the track where she effortlessly won her maiden two starts back before doing her best work late this grade at Kembla. Bred to handle the conditions, and blinkers have been removed.
Dangers: Scone mare 4. Concessions is rock hard fit, and exploded home to win the Armidale Cup by nearly five lengths. Up 2kg, but has been freshened, and draws the inside on suitable ground. Improving 4YO Randwick mare 8. Loves To Rock was a comfortable BM 58 winner from the front two runs back, and the second horse has since won, before a fair effort in tougher BM 74 metro grade. Better suited here, but a query over this trip on the bigger track; while Hawkesbury 4YO 3. Brown Thomas reacted third-up in soft ground from the back of the field at home to win his first race in a year, but this is harder, and rises 2.5kg. Include in wider exotics Newcastle mare 9. Toe Tapper, and Rosehill filly 13. Marise who gets blinkers for the first time.
How to play it: Night Witches each way. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 MAIDEN HCP (1200m): |
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It doesn't much easier here with the maidens, although first starters should dominate. One of them 3YO gelding 8. Secretly Awesome (Snitzel x Street Secret by Street Cry) from the Gerald Ryan yard looked very strong in a recent trial win working across to the front before challenged late. Has to overcome a wide draw, but might be way above average.
Dangers: Another 3YO, Wyong gelding 2. Bethencourt (Puissance de Lune x Rhythm in Paris by Bianconi) lands a nice debut race off two winning 1000m trials, the latest doing it impressively at both ends. Randwick filly 10. Our Fraulein draws the inside and has been in and around the money all prep, only missing by a nose this track last start
How to play it: Secretly Awesome each way and quinella 2 and 8. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 7 C, G & E BM 64 HCP (1200m): |
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An even field of males, although lightly raced 3YO gelding 5. Sedona from the Snowden stable at Randwick looks the one to beat resuming from a soft draw, with rider taking 2kg off. Trialled nicely behind high class Kementari, and first-up last time charged home for an impressive win at Kembla. Some query if the track gets too wet, and may need to work well away from the fence.
Dangers: Warwick Farm 4YO gelding 2. Sea Echo resumes off two quiet trials on rain-affected ground, but was very consistent through his first prep; while Gosford gelding 1. Playard found the line okay from well back fresh at home in his first run on heavy ground.
How to play it: Sedona to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 8 C, G & E BM 64 HCP (1200m): |
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Play it again Sam in one of the more tougher and open races of the day. Above average Randwick 3YO 2. Lancer defied a betting drift to power home and miss by a nose first-up at Gosford. Progressed okay in first prep after winning his maiden on debut, and shown a real liking for wet tracks.
Dangers: Newcastle gelding 1. Jack's Bar drops back from an average effort in the stronger Provincial C'ship qualifier here, but still needs to find a bit up 2.5kg in weight.
How to play it: Lancer to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 9 F & M BM 64 HCP (1200m): |
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Now the girls' turn same grade and distance. Very keen on resuming 4YO mare 4. Wicked Wench from the Kris Lees yard in Newcastle off a nice open trial win. Has a lovely turn of foot, and first-up win at Hawkesbury last spring was classy.
Dangers: Talented Godolphin filly 7. Lavande has continued to hit the line hard after winning her maiden at Gosford three runs back. Will drift a long way back from a wide draw, but loves rain-affected ground, and will be flooding home late. Rosehill 4YO mare 2. Tatiara can mix her runs, but looks well placed here on the map coming back from a string of higher benchmark metro races where she's never been beaten far. Will park right behind the speed, and well capable in this ground. Randwick filly 16. Phoenician Queen did everything right on debut in Canberra when heavily backed, and gets similar conditions here for the step up in grade.
How to play it: Wicked Wench to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Wicked Wench wins a trial at Gosford on March 20
Race 10 BM 70 HCP (1400m): |
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Another strong and very wide affair. Promising 4YO mare 9. La Grisa from the John O'Shea stable at Randwick resumes off a quiet trial, and is potentially the best galloper in the race. Trainer starts second prep with same tactic, seven furlongs on this track where she powered home late last spring. Won her maiden comfortably here at third start before beating a good BM 70 metro field over even further. Will need to find some cover from a wide barrier, but capable of reeling off a race-winning final 400m.
Dangers: Improving Warwick Farm gelding 5. Maroch gets a nice weight drop fourth-up over an ideal trip. Again will look to slot in off the fence back in the field and launch late. Gosford 4YO gelding 11. Hercules Mo finished hard from well back in the Provincial Qualifier at Hawkesbury, and draws to get plenty of cover back in the field; while progressive Wyong filly 14. Trajection was a dominant CL1 winner at Hawkesbury before didn't quite finish it at Kembla, although came through inferior ground late.
How to play it: La Grisa each way and box trifecta 5,9,11,14. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 11 WYONG PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER (1350m): |
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Feature race of the day at Class 5 level is the fifth and final chance for three more runners to gain a start in the Provincial final at Randwick on April 11. Keen on well bred 3YO and emerging stayer 11. Animate fourth-up down in weight and back in trip from a smart BM 64 win at Gosford. Has been freshened via a quiet trial, and should get the pace on to charge over the top from the second half.
Dangers: Talented 4YO mare 14. Bubbles Ball is part of a big team from the Kris Lees stable. Came off consistent form in strong metro grade to finish well in the Provincial Qualifier at Newcastle run in record time, and looks well in on 54kg limit. Consistent 4YO Kembla mare 13. Miss Scorcher came off a big first-up run at Canterbury to be beaten narrowly in the Newcastle qualifier, and will push forward from a middle gate. Promising 4YO Newcastle gelding 9. Lifetime Quest looks one of the better weighted runners all meeting dropping 4.5kg from two close-up metro efforts up to BM 72 grade. The blinkers go on, but will still need the breaks drawn right off the track. Tough Newcastle 5YO 4. Juventus can peak third-up after two tough assignments working home late first-up in a metro BM 88 before making some late ground in the Provincial qualifier at Kembla. Drawn better, but will need plenty of speed on up front. Watch the betting on 4YO local gelding 5. Celer who doesn't normally produce first-up, but looked sharp enough at the trials.
How to play it: Animate each way and trifecta 11,13,14/4,9,11,13,14/4,5,9,11,13,14. Odds and Evens: Split
All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Newcastle meeting