| Race | Horse | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| R6 | Alabama Fox (Best Bet) | Two quiet but sharp trials; maps ideally from barrier 5 and gets the claim. |
| R3 | Exclusive Artist (Next Best) | Peaks now; well placed up to 1800m and goes close with even luck. |
Track
- Rail +3m Entire – with the dry track it should play advantageously to those landing forward of midfield throughout transit.
Stats
- Over the past 90 days Adam Hyeronimus is striking at an impressive 25.7% with a positive POT of +45.9%.
- The Matthew Smith stable is the one to follow over the past 90 days up to $10 SP; the team is striking at 27.6% with an impressive POT of +32.2%. They are effective with runners first, second and third up.
Race 1
Tricky maiden to kick off the card. Pictor was too bad to be true first up at Canterbury when backed heavily late into $1.85 – he just had an off day. Happy to trust his SP and recent trials; he’s the one to beat if he turns up. Avenue Montaigne looks well placed first up over 1400m after three fitness-building trials, but the wide draw is a concern. Pierro Lad found the line well last start and looks suited rising in trip. Panova was solid last time and is in the mix off her two runs to date.
Selections:
(3) Pictor
(5) Avenue Montaigne
(4) Pierro Lad
(8) Panova
Suggested Bet – No Bet
Race 2
No surprise to see the progressive Jellicious come up very short after back-to-back impressive wins. The 61kg is the only minor concern, but she looked to have plenty in reserve last start. Kakadu Sunset ran third behind her last start and gets a handy weight swing but still needs to find a length or two. Jolly Good Fellow and In And Out round out the numbers as place hopes only.
Selections:
(1) Jellicious
(8) Kakadu Sunset
(3) Jolly Good Fellow
(6) In And Out
Suggested Bet – Jellicious WIN
Race 3
Exclusive Artist didn’t get the right run in transit last time out — with even luck, he could’ve easily gone close. He peaks fitness-wise now and looks well placed stepping up to 1800m. King Pedro is the danger – the ex-Kiwi has looked sharp late in both of his 1000m+ trials and is a big watch despite the fitness query at 1800m first up. Wounder peaks here off a career-best effort over the trip, while Sting In The Tail was luckless last start and can improve.
Selections:
(6) Exclusive Artist
(1) King Pedro
(7) Wounder
(8) Sting In The Tail
Suggested Bet – Exclusive Artist WIN
Race 4
The gap between La Roja and Dance To The Boom looks too wide in early markets. Both come through the Randwick BM78 where La Roja was much stronger late. The small field is the only concern for her. Dance To The Boom should find the front and gets the McDonald booking, but $1.60 looks short. Sweltering was solid late in that same race and can improve, while It’s A Wonder resumes off strong trials.
Selections:
(4) La Roja
(3) Dance To The Boom
(5) Sweltering
(7) It’s A Wonder
Suggested Bet – No Bet
Race 5
Wide open event. At $2.90 I’m happy to take on Verbil – good first up but rises sharply in grade and needs to improve. Stagnum looked in need of the run fresh and can lift sharply second up with strong prior figures. The Replicant is ever consistent but finds it hard to win, while Believe In Angels gets to the right trip now and looks set to peak.
Selections:
(5) Stagnum
(2) Verbil
(3) The Replicant
(7) Believe In Angels
Suggested Bet – No Bet
Race 6
Keen to side with the well-bred Alabama Fox first up after two quiet but sharp trials. Maps ideally from barrier 6 and gets the claim. Fleeting Spirit had no luck in transit last start but draws perfectly here and looks the danger. Mamushka should peak third up, while Master Of Disguise was luckless fresh in Highway grade and is a market watch after firming early.
Selections:
(6) Alabama Fox
(7) Fleeting Spirit
(9) Mamushka
(5) Master Of Disguise
Suggested Bet – Alabama Fox WIN
Race 7
A competitive affair with several hopes. Well Timed was excellent first up then had excuses second up – back to midweek grade, he looks well suited. Peace Officer ran on strongly first up and now finds McDonald, maps to get the right run. Bojangles was good late first up and is a second-up winner, though the jump in trip is a small query. Silvanito had no luck last start and is the watch runner.
Selections:
(1) Well Timed
(6) Peace Officer
(5) Bojangles
(9) Silvanito
Suggested Bet – No Bet
Race 8
A very open race to close the program. Sydney Bowler was doing his best work late first up when short of room and strips fitter here, though needs luck from the draw. So Good So Cool comes off a forgive run and has been kept up to the mark with a trial. African Daisy was an impressive last-start winner and gets in light here with the use of Braith Nock’s 2kg claim, the query is the rise past 1200m. Huon has put in two smart efforts this time in for the in-form Litt camp. From gate 2, he should enjoy a smart run in transit and rounds out the numbers.
Selections:
(6) Sydney Bowler
(7) So Good So Cool
(5) African Daisy
(3) Huon
Suggested Bet – No Bet
