Summary of Best Bets:
Best Bet: Race 3 No.6 Saint Aldwyn
Next Best: Race 6 No.3 Assailant
Turf Talk:
- Rail +6m Entire
- Tricky rail position with the wet track expected
- Rails-in-run expected to be ideal overall
- Prefer runners settling forward of midfield in transit
Race by race overview
Race 1
A Friday treat with a Highway to kick off proceedings here, as well as the normal Saturday Highway. At odds, I’m happy to side with the Wilkes-trained (1) King Larry. He was good fresh before a complete forgive run second-up when not seeing daylight. Draws well and can only run up to his best.
It’s D-day for (7) Lady Olenna. Up to 1200m is a slight query, but she has fitness on her side and gets in well with the claim.
(11) News Bound is another aided by a claim. From gate 1 she should find the rails in run, which is ideal.
(9) Move She Can rounds out the numbers, with the rise to 1200m reading well.
Selections:
(1) King Larry
(7) Lady Olenna
(11) News Bound
(9) Move She Can
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 2
Smart Maiden. Not a whole lot of speed expected up front.
I respect and have a lot of time for (8) Rajwa, but gate 8 is a big concern here, especially with no real speed up front.
(4) Assumed has been given a solid hit-out at the trials, not typical of the Waller camp. Draws well and could be a race-day horse.
(2) Zousari has the race fitness and will be the one looking to come over the top late.
Selections:
(8) Rajwa
(4) Assumed
(2) Zousari
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 3
Intriguing contest.
Eynesbury and Piccaderro are unlikely to go around here and are dual accepted. If so, I’m keen to side with the Waller-trained (6) Saint Aldwyn, gelded into this prep which should be the making of him. He always teased talent at the trials and looks ready to live up to them.
I respect the race fitness of (7) Willingham, but $2.15 seems very short.
(2) Rhetoric did enough on debut and should take good improvement out of that clash.
Outside of that, (3) Copycat needs to improve.
Selections:
(6) Saint Aldwyn
(7) Willingham
(2) Rhetoric
(3) Copycat
Suggested Bet: Saint Aldwyn WIN
Race 4
Respecting the first starter (3) Just Maz, but $3.00 is short. Smart trials, with the latest in good time.
(7) Rach is an intriguing runner. She maps to find the rails in run, one back on the leaders, which is key. She’ll need luck at the right time but looks well placed.
(9) Mediterra is next best with race fitness on her side.
Selections:
(3) Just Maz
(7) Rach
(9) Mediterra
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 5
Good speed expected up front here over the 1550m.
Happy to side with the current favourite (5) Steel Strike. Back-to-back impressive figures without winning and now hits this race full of fitness. Wet or dry shouldn’t pose any issues, with Hyeronimus in the saddle the cherry on top.
(2) Bat Out Of Hell should improve back to 1550m, a track and trip specialist and looks the danger on paper.
(8) Golden Loom put up a huge figure last time out. Soft tracks look to be the key to this gelding’s form.
(6) Roussillon rounds out the numbers after being well backed in early markets.
Selections:
(5) Steel Strike
(2) Bat Out Of Hell
(8) Golden Loom
(6) Roussillon
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 6
With the complete lack of speed up front here over the 1900m, I’m keen to side with the Waterhouse & Bott-trained (3) Assailant. Loved the improvement between trials and love the booking of Hyeronimus first up. Hard to beat.
Con Karakatsanis has (10) Allegro Miss in career-best form. Dominant last start win over 1900m at this track. The query is the lack of speed and her run-on pattern.
(8) Humanity can bounce back to form after an average last start effort. A win wouldn’t surprise.
Selections:
(3) Assailant
(10) Allegro Miss
(8) Humanity
Suggested Bet: Assailant WIN
Race 7
Above-average speed to round out the day and it looks the hardest contest of the night.
Happy to put (1) Fine Vintage on top here with the claim. Like the drop back to 1100m and the inside draw.
(3) Kimberley Secrets is another who gets in well at the weights coming out of a very strong rating last start clash. The wet track is a positive.
(10) Catahoula rounds out the numbers.
Selections:
(1) Fine Vintage
(3) Kimberley Secrets
(10) Catahoula
Suggested Bet: No Bet
