| Best Bet | Next Best |
|---|---|
| R2 No.2 Whatalegacy | R6 No.9 Zealously |
Turf Talk:
- Rail +3m Entire – with the dry track it should play fair – in the straight, lanes 2–6 will likely be key.
- Overall, horses off speed will need plenty of tempo to get into the race.
The Stats That Matter:
- Over the past 90 days Adam Hyeronimus is striking at an impressive 25.7% with a positive POT of +45.9%.
- The Bjorn Baker stable is one to follow over the past 90 days up to $10 SP — the team is striking at 23.5% with a healthy POT of +16.4%. They’re effective with runners second and third up.
Race 1
Tricky maiden to kick off proceedings here. I do respect the placement of Crusader Voyage, two solid placings down in Victoria and now finds James in the saddle. The query is the price. I expect Comic Culture to improve sharply also — two fitness building runs and looks ready to fire now. Outside of that, the O’Shea & Charlton gelding (8) O’sheamus is next best.
Selections:
(1) Crusader Voyage
(4) Comic Culture
(8) O’sheamus
(7) Listen Sweetheart
Suggested Bet – No Bet
Race 2
Fascinating race here. Keen to side with the in-form, race-fit Whatalegacy. He improved sharply last start and can take further improvement into this event, now third-up. Social Circle brings Highway form to this event and does get in light with the claim, the knock is the wide draw. We’ll lean on the market late with Matima, first-up for the new camp and has trialled well. Outside of that, Miss Freelove will land up on speed from the draw and can improve sharply.
Selections:
(2) Whatalegacy
(5) Social Circle
(1) Matima
(3) Miss Freelove
Suggested Bet – Whatalegacy WIN
Race 3
Tricky staying contest. California Grass goes on top after finding form in her past two runs. She maps well here from barrier 2 and handles firm tracks. Captain Maverick needs a touch of luck early to offset the draw — rock-hard fit now and should get his chance. Majorian hits this race in career best form, a track-and-trip winner two starts back and again looks suited. Leaders Listen rounds out the numbers with the use of the claim.
Selections:
(6) California Grass
(3) Captain Maverick
(2) Majorian
(1) Leaders Listen
Suggested Bet – No Bet
Race 4
Happy to side with Seven’s here, extremely well backed last time out at Rosehill before getting too far back in transit. He peaks fitness-wise and from the wide draw, with McDonald aboard, I’d suggest he’ll roll forward. Hurstville Zagreb maps well from barrier 3 coming off two fitness-building trials — he brings smart figures from his prep but does give race fitness away and looks short market-wise. Inncourt has been the market mover — 1900m back to 1600m is the query. The last-start winner Cosmic Lad rounds out the numbers from a lovely draw.
Selections:
(3) Seven’s
(4) Hurstville Zagreb
(9) Inncourt
(10) Cosmic Lad
Suggested Bet – No Bet
Race 5
I expect the Chris Waller-trained Kilonova to prove hard to beat coming off a forgive run last time out. He’s been back to the trials with a 75-day break and from gate 6 should get the run of the race. Rantan is in career-best form for Ron Quinton — the big query is the glaring 0/8 at 1100m. Istolea Merc has been met with some solid early market support — he’s impressed in two recent trials and looks suited over 1100m first-up. Inoue has caught the eye in some smart recent trials. Tricky map to kick off the prep but he’ll be coming home strongly late.
Selections:
(12) Kilonova
(3) Rantan
(2) Istolea Merc
(8) Inoue
Suggested Bet – No Bet
Race 6
Keen to side with the Peter Snowden-trained Zealously here first-up. Back-to-back sharp trials and gets in very well at the weights. He’s an out-and-out dry tracker and gets a lovely map from gate 3. Imperial Force is another who enjoys the firm decks — the Baker yard couldn’t be going any better at the minute and on the home deck he’s the danger. The stablemate Shezanalister is in the picture too — loved her recent 1030m trial in good time and she has a 4/5 first-up record. The dynamic fresh Wondereach rounds out the numbers from a slightly sticky draw.
Selections:
(9) Zealously
(3) Imperial Force
(4) Shezanalister
(7) Wondereach
Suggested Bet – Zealously WIN
Race 7
There doesn’t look to be much speed up front — this plays into the hands of Our Queen. She was well backed first-up and saluted in solid fashion. Typically of the camp, I expect her to take smart improvement into this event. Winston Hills draws poorly but hits this race in form — the slight drop back in grade is key to his chances. The consistent The Replicant goes in the mix — multiple track-and-trip wins and finds an in form Hyeronimus.
Selections:
(4) Our Queen
(3) Winston Hills
(7) The Replicant
(2) Gently Rolled
Suggested Bet – No Bet
