Summary of Best Bets
Best Bet: Race 4 No.2 Unleeshing
Next Best: Race 3 No.11 Lady Of The Castle
Best Value: Race 1 No.6 Farfetched
Turf talk:
- Rail +3m 1600m-W/Post, +1m Remainder.
- With the soft track and rail out, on-speed horses will have a slight advantage overall. Tempo will be key to the overall outcome of races.
Race 1
Tricky little race to kick off proceedings, not sure any of these are out-and-out 1000m horses.
Happy to take the punt with the extremely well-bred (6) Farfetched. Solid progression between trials and should find the lead here.
No surprise to see market support for (1) Astronomix, sharp improvement between trials and gains the services of James McDonald on debut.
(5) Charlina has a race fitness edge second up but does look a touch short in this market.
(4) Appin Opal has trialled up well and looks a nice type who again should land on speed.
Selections:
(6) Farfetched
(1) Astronomix
(5) Charlina
(4) Appin Opal
Suggested bet: Farfetched EW
Race 2
Loved the way (4) Portofino found the line first up over 1200m, straight to 1400m now second up and finds McDonald.
Surprised how short (6) Viva Mauricio is, yes he found the line smartly last start but 1550m back to 1400m is a slight query.
Put a line through the last start effort of (7) Movie Night when settling some 20-plus lengths off the speed. Back to midweek grade is a plus.
I always respect the Waterhouse & Bott team second up when rising in trip and (8) Saytara fits that mould.
Selections:
(4) Portofino
(6) Viva Mauricio
(7) Movie Night
(8) Saytara
Suggested bet: No Bet
Race 3
Good race this with solid enough speed expected up front over the 1150m.
I loved the debut effort of (11) Lady Of The Castle. She showed promise at the trials prior and looks better suited here second-up.
Both (9) Gorgeous and (5) Double Vision have trialled up impressively on two separate occasions, both have shown tactical speed and should use their good gates.
(3) Epic has come up at big odds, back-to-back solid trials, but does have a bad gate.
Selections:
(11) Lady Of The Castle
(9) Gorgeous
(5) Double Vision
(3) Epic
Suggested bet: Lady Of The Castle
Race 4
It’s (2) Unleeshing’s race to lose on paper. She’s been solid without winning this prep but now gets McDonald in the saddle and drops back in grade swiftly. From the draw she should land closer and prove the horse to gun down.
I loved the tenacity late of (6) Wootten It Be Nice when charging over the top, he’s the danger with untapped upside.
(4) Shanoni gets in light with the 3kg claim, with the slight rise in class the question mark second-up. Stablemate (3) Kilkenny draws positively and should land on speed, forgive last start and assess him on his first two efforts this prep.
Selections:
(2) Unleeshing
(6) Wootten It Be Nice
(4) Shanoni
(3) Kilkenny
Suggested bet: Unleeshing
Race 5
The race of the day, littered with some sharp, progressive types.
(8) Capture Me couldn’t have been more impressive on debut, running up to some slick trials. Seventeen days between runs and looks exceptionally well placed from barrier four staying at 1100m.
The big watch is (10) Albany Road, gelded into this prep and has looked strong in both trials, an on-speed galloper who will take catching.
(9) Raskol completes the trio of progressive types, smart second-up win but again needs to find further improvement.
(1) Calga Power is next best off a sharp tick-over trial.
Selections:
(8) Capture Me
(10) Albany Road
(9) Raskol
(1) Calga Power
Suggested bet: Capture Me
Race 6
Wide-open event.
I’ve been impressed by the recent trials of (6) Starphistocated this time in. 1400m is a touch short but gate seven should see him have his chance.
(9) My Phar Lady was dominant first-up, recording a career peak. Gate three is sticky but Jason Collett is in fine form.
(1) Off The Press deserves to be favourite, the knock is the wide draw and extra 100m as he may be vulnerable late.
(8) Starry Desert and (10) Piperita are next best.
Selections:
(6) Starphistocated
(9) My Phar Lady
(1) Off The Press
(8) Starry Desert
(10) Piperita
Suggested bet: No Bet
Race 7
This looks to be a nice race for the race-fit (14) Climb The Ladder. Consistent recent form but has struggled to break through into the winner’s circle. He should be positive from the inside draw and land on speed, and from there he’ll get his chance up to 1800m.
(5) Kenmare Bay goes 1550m straight to 1800m here third-up, another consistent type in the mix.
(3) Associate put up a career peak last time out over 1600m, suitable rise now and will appreciate the firming deck.
(8) Investment is next best.
Selections:
(14) Climb The Ladder
(5) Kenmare Bay
(3) Associate
(8) Investment
Suggested bet: No Bet
