Summary of Best Bets
Race 6 No.11 Cinsault (Value)
Race 5 No.10 Alabama Fox (Next Best)
Race 9 No.2 Hawker Hall (Best)
Turf Talk:
- Rail +1m for the entire circuit.
- Firm track expected with an on-speed advantage likely.
Race 1
(2) Knightsbridge showed some encouraging signs on debut at Flemington and has been given time since then to mature. He resumes here after two impressive trial performances and we know Gai has a strong record with two-year-olds, so expect a promising first-up run.
(8) Thyme To Go looked sharp winning a recent trial where he led throughout and from the inside gate should roll forward again and take up a handy position.
(6) Profitabelle makes her debut off an excellent trial win where she showed a sharp turn of foot and shapes as a genuine chance first-up.
(3) Outspan comes into this off two quiet trials but looks ready to go, appears to have some early speed and is capable of running well on debut.
Selections:
(2) Knightsbridge
(8) Thyme To Go
(6) Profitabelle
(3) Outspan
Suggested bet: No bet
Race 2
(1) Navy Buoy could not have been more impressive when scoring here last start, putting the field away with ease. He strips fitter again and looks a genuine chance of bringing up a third consecutive win, and from barrier three should roll forward comfortably and look to control the race from the front.
(4) Mount Bona is also chasing a hat-trick after showing a terrific turn of foot to work through traffic and score last start and from the inside gate should enjoy a soft run again.
(8) Snowy should be rock-hard fit now after four runs this preparation and while he hasn’t had much luck with barriers, a touch of luck in running could see improvement.
(7) Pride Of Jezza has been racing consistently of late, albeit in slightly easier company, and if able to take another step forward at this level is capable of featuring.
Selections:
(1) Navy Buoy
(4) Mount Bona
(8) Snowy
(7) Pride Of Jezza
Suggested bet: No bet
Race 3
(6) Clancy brings some strong form lines around Bartolf, who has since gone on to perform very competitively, and that reads well here. He has had two excellent trials leading into this and looks ready to fire first-up.
(16) Spice Baby shapes as a nice chance if she runs here, coming off a terrific last-start win with Zac Lloyd retaining the ride, though she may need some luck from the wide draw.
(4) Zaragoza has been a difficult horse to read at times, but his best form is certainly good enough to be competitive in a race like this and drawn well should be ridden positively.
(11) Everyone’s A Star has been mixing her form of late, but if she can recapture something close to her best she is capable of featuring.
Selections:
(6) Clancy
(16) Spice Baby
(4) Zaragoza
(11) Everyone’s A Star
Suggested bet: Win (6) Clancy
Race 4
(3) Steel Strike hasn’t been doing much wrong of late, just finding a couple better each time. The rise to 1600m looks suitable and he draws a much kinder gate after being trapped wide last start, so improvement is expected.
(13) Hereward looks to have plenty of ability and was terrific when breaking his maiden at Canterbury last start in fast time and strips fitter again.
(15) Cheval De Bois looks ready to take on this grade after a handy debut run followed by an impressive maiden win where he appeared to have plenty in reserve.
(6) Perfect Justice has been consistent throughout the preparation and this assignment looks no harder.
Selections:
(3) Steel Strike
(13) Hereward
(15) Cheval De Bois
(6) Perfect Justice
Suggested bet: No bet
Race 5
(10) Alabama Fox has attracted strong early market support and continues to race very consistently, running on strongly last start before being nabbed late and will strip fitter again here.
(7) Pretty Powerful looked good first-up and the gelding operation appears to have had the desired effect, with the rise to 1500m no issue.
(1) Rolling Magic has been racing consistently throughout the preparation and was rewarded with a deserved Nowra Cup win last start, stripping fitter again fourth-up.
(6) Alabama State was solid last start when finishing in the placings and should take good fitness benefit from that run.
Selections:
(10) Alabama Fox
(7) Pretty Powerful
(1) Rolling Magic
(6) Alabama State
Suggested bet: Win (10) Alabama Fox
Race 6
(11) Cinsault started a short-priced favourite last start and the market proved spot on as she scored with authority. She will be fitter for that run and appears to have plenty of upside still to come, with the rise to 1400m suiting.
(2) Changing Colours flew home last start recording one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting, which is encouraging stepping up in trip.
(14) Unleeshing wasn’t ideally suited by the tempo last start but should appreciate the rise in distance.
(9) Aroha Stone sat just outside the leader throughout last start before finishing over the top late and can continue on her upward trajectory.
Selections:
(11) Cinsault
(2) Changing Colours
(14) Unleeshing
(9) Aroha Stone
Suggested bet: Win (11) Cinsault
Race 7
(9) Dollar Magic has looked good since stepping up in trip this preparation, finishing strongly last start and suggesting there is still improvement to come.
(4) Goodlucktome resumes after a 33-week break and while this trip may be short of his absolute best, he brings a class edge and can run well fresh.
(3) Cigar Flick hit the line nicely from the back first-up and should take good improvement from that run.
(2) Romeo’s Choice wasn’t disgraced in Listed company last start and now drops back in class, shaping as a likely improver.
Selections:
(9) Dollar Magic
(4) Goodlucktome
(3) Cigar Flick
(2) Romeo’s Choice
Suggested bet: No bet
Race 8
(9) Sunshineinmypocket looks much better suited dropping back to this grade after racing well in stronger company and this shapes as a very winnable assignment.
(7) Step Aside scored well second-up and rarely runs a bad race.
(1) Cool Jakey finished off strongly last start recording the fastest final 600m and the rise to 1400m looks ideal.
(10) Midnight Opal hasn’t had much luck recently but finds a suitable race to bounce back.
Selections:
(9) Sunshineinmypocket
(7) Step Aside
(1) Cool Jakey
(10) Midnight Opal
Suggested bet: No bet
Race 9
(2) Hawker Hall looks one of the better bets of the day, possessing plenty of upside and the profile of a horse capable of winning stronger races than this. A tick-over trial between runs should have him spot on again.
(7) Candlewick resumes after a few months following a disappointing Group 3 effort, but her latest trial suggests she has returned in good order and she boasts an unbeaten first-up record.
(9) Massira was impressive winning here last start, enjoys this track and strips fitter again third-up.
(3) Eye Of The Fire resumes after a 17-week break and has a strong first-up record, likely to roll forward.
Selections:
(2) Hawker Hall
(7) Candlewick
(9) Massira
(3) Eye Of The Fire
Suggested bet: Win (2) Hawker Hall / (7) Candlewick – Save
Race 10
(17) Deal N’ Dash wasn’t ideally suited by the tempo last start but still finished off strongly and now looks ready for this trip.
(6) Eclair Encore has been knocking on the door with honest runs and gets in well at the weights with the claim.
(9) Full Hao was caught in traffic last start and never really got clear running, and the rise to 2000m should suit.
(8) Oakfield Hawk looks over the odds on exposed form and brings genuine staying ability.
Selections:
(17) Deal N’ Dash
(6) Eclair Encore
(9) Full Hao
(8) Oakfield Hawk
Suggested bet: No bet
