Summary of Best Bets
Race 4 No.4 Sovereign Hill (Best Bet)
Race 5 No.10 Cross Tasman (Next Best)
Race 7 No.1 Angel Capital (Best Value)
Race by race overview
Race 1
I’ll stick with (10) Regal Problem here in this week’s Highway, smart last start SP when failing to make any inroads. Speed on again here and Lloyd sticks.
(8) Warrior For Peace maps ideally in barrier 2 coming off two fitness-building runs. Collett jumps aboard now and will need to be at his best to offset the sticky draw.
(7) Spenzalot brings the best last start figure to this event, back to 1800m is the slight query.
(6) Mr Chips and (4) Holy Hell round out the numbers.
Selections:
(10) Regal Problem
(8) Warrior For Peace
(7) Spenzalot
(6) Mr Chips
(4) Holy Hell
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 2
Cracking Midway.
I’ll lean the way of (2) Rantan, who will need a stack of luck but has trialled up impressively. The talented sprinter loves these short trips and should get the right tempo on up front.
(1) Mal Coupe is the massive watch, slick trials and finds James McDonald in the saddle. The big query is the poor dry track record – has he come back a better horse now?
(5) Everyone’s A Star has been specked in early markets, back to back impressive figures and is another suited over 1000m off a 21 day gap.
(11) Sea Admiral goes up in grade and can continue to improve here.
Selections:
(2) Rantan
(1) Mal Coupe
(5) Everyone’s A Star
(11) Sea Admiral
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 3
Not sure this is the strongest edition of the Pierro Plate.
(4) Miss Chanel goes on top with a key race fitness and experience edge. She comes through a strong last start contest behind the sharp Chilly Girl and should land on speed to prove the one to beat.
(12) Zoo Dazzler maps poorly but comes here off some eye-catching trials. If they overdo it up front this filly will be humming home.
(1) Outspan brings a similar profile but has added race experience on his side, the class colt.
(2) Persian Wonder is the most intriguing runner, with James McDonald jumping aboard after a luckless debut – I liked his late work there.
Selections:
(4) Miss Chanel
(12) Zoo Dazzler
(1) Outspan
(2) Persian Wonder
Suggested Bet: Miss Chanel WIN
Race 4
Solid enough speed expected up front here.
(4) Sovereign Hill goes firmly on top for the Waterhouse & Bott camp. The lightly raced 4yo has put up back to back impressive figures in consecutive wins and has upside to come, mapping ideally again.
(11) Miss Kim Kar will need to use gate 3 to be competitive here with plenty of speed drawn wider. She hits this race off a strong last start effort and will enjoy 1400m.
The Queensland visitor (15) Arabian Rose goes in the mix and has been heavily specked in early markets.
Winning form is good form, and (5) Duvana brings that. Sticks at the 1400m.
Selections:
(4) Sovereign Hill
(11) Miss Kim Kar
(15) Arabian Rose
(5) Duvana
Suggested Bet: Sovereign Hill WIN
Race 5
(10) Cross Tasman brings a near impeccable SP profile to this week’s event and was beaten by an “out of the box” effort from Pippie Beach last time out. He gets an ideal set up here now deep into the prep and is clearly the horse to beat.
(9) It’s A Knockout comes here off a forgive run when trapped four wide the trip. Up to 1600m now from a good gate suits.
(2) Hellsing peaks in fitness now coming off back to back placings, smart use of the claim and draws ideally.
(6) Just Party is consistent of late, if he can find his best, he is good enough here.
Selections:
(10) Cross Tasman
(9) It’s A Knockout
(2) Hellsing
(6) Just Party
Suggested Bet: Cross Tasman WIN
Race 6
Solid speed expected up front over the 1200m.
It’s hard to go past (1) Apocalyptic. The 3yo filly has trialled up like a rocket and draws well from barrier 1. $1.65 is very short though.
(2) Savvy Hallie was impressive first-up in Queensland and has a race fitness edge here, mapping a treat.
(4) Karinska has been kept very quiet at the trials, which should ensure she springs well fresh. Sticky gate but should enjoy the speed on up front.
(3) Artistic Venture rounds out the numbers, another who has trialled well and keeps improving with every prep.
Selections:
(1) Apocalyptic
(2) Savvy Hallie
(4) Karinska
(3) Artistic Venture
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 7
The G2 Expressway Stakes is the feature event on the program. Fascinating small tactical affair with no speed to report up front.
I loved the way (1) Angel Capital has trucked up in both trials. He looks full of running and is suited first-up over 1200m in a small field. He’s a rocket fresh and will look to remain unbeaten fresh.
(3) Joliestar is another bomb fresh galloper who has been kept very quiet at the trials this time in. The small field is a slight query but she keeps James McDonald in the saddle.
(4) Lady Shenandoah is the unknown – trained as a 1200m sprinter last prep backfired, she’ll get out in trip this time in but always puts in a sharp fresh effort.
The race fit (5) Caballus rounds out the numbers with the fitness edge.
Selections:
(1) Angel Capital
(3) Joliestar
(4) Lady Shenandoah
(5) Caballus
Suggested Bet: Angel Capital WIN
Race 8
The second feature, the Apollo Stakes over 1400m.
I can’t go past the unbeaten (7) Autumn Glow – slick trials, adaptable and maps a treat. Clearly on top.
(3) Lindermann and (4) The Instructor are the place hopes in the race, with the event void of speed and those two likely to control it out in front.
Excited to see (9) Aeliana back at the races – she has trialled exceptionally well and ran a bottler in the Winx Stakes in the spring.
(8) Stefi Magnetica is next best.
Selections:
(7) Autumn Glow
(3) Lindermann
(4) The Instructor
(9) Aeliana
(8) Stefi Magnetica
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 9
A strong edition of the G3 Triscay Stakes with plenty of speed expected up front over the 1200m.
(4) Weeping Woman not only has a fitness advantage but has put up three class figures in a row leading into this event. It’s a massive map advantage to her also with tactical versatility.
With the strong tempo expected, (2) Manaal should be humming home late from an ideal draw and looks ready to go fresh.
(7) Verona Rose and (10) Lilac are next best – both have trialled up above their normal standards and are on big market watch.
Selections:
(4) Weeping Woman
(2) Manaal
(7) Verona Rose
(10) Lilac
Suggested Bet: Weeping Woman WIN
Race 10
Near impossible way to end the program.
(12) Polymnia has come up big odds, with back to back eye-catching trials and did run a super race fresh last time in.
(2) Bunker Hut always puts in fresh – the firm ground and use of the claim look suitable first-up.
(7) Althoff gets in light with the 3kg claim of Siena Grima and is racing in career best form.
(4) Getafix is the watch – when well backed he’s elite but can mix his form between runs.
Selections:
(12) Polymnia
(2) Bunker Hut
(7) Althoff
(4) Getafix
Suggested Bet: No Bet
