Summary of Best Bets:
Race 2 No.1 Fairway To Heaven – Talented type with two outstanding trials leading in.
Race 7 No.4 Anthracite – Impressive record and has trialled like a horse with upside.
Turf Talk:
- Rail True the entire circuit.
- Very even rail position where tempo will likely dictate the outcome of races.
Race by race overview
Race 1:
Good little race to kick off proceedings.
Keen to side with (1) Bryant, the Ron Quinton-trained galloper is one of the best maidens in the country with form lines around Miss Freelove and Raging Force. Smart recent 1050m trial and should prove hard to beat.
(5) Gus The Great has come up big odds, quiet but strong trials and will kick off the prep on his home track. Danger.
(6) Maidoff gets in light with the 3kg claim, solid 796m trial and maps well in the small field.
(4) Epic was too bad to be true fresh and can improve here.
Selections:
(1) Bryant
(5) Gus The Great
(6) Maidoff
(4) Epic
Suggested Bet: Bryant WIN
Race 2:
Good speed expected up front over the 1100m, cracking race on paper.
Keen to see the cover come off the talented (1) Fairway To Heaven, back-to-back ultra-impressive trials and draws a lovely inside gate here first-up.
(2) Farfetched did a good job fresh over the 1000m, she strips fitter and looks better placed over 1100m now second up.
(9) Rave About It has done enough at the trials to go in the mix, home track advantage and gets a gun run from gate 4.
(10 Sphere rounds out the numbers after finding the line well on debut.
Selections:
(1) Fairway To Heaven
(2) Farfetched
(9) Rave About It
(10) Sphere
Suggested Bet: Fairway To Heaven WIN
Race 3:
Keen to side with the Chris Waller-trained (7) Let’s Go Barbie, she comes through a hot Kensington race last start when doing her best work late. 1150–1400m now reads well.
(1) Indigo Star peaks third-up rising to 1400m now, solid enough record at the trip and is ready to win.
(5) Feazabeel has looked okay in two recent trials, second prep now and will be on a yard watch.
(8) Saytara is another who peaks now fitness-wise, stays at 1400m teaming up with an in-form Tim Clark.
Selections:
(7) Let’s Go Barbie
(1) Indigo Star
(5) Feazabeel
(8) Saytara
Suggested Bet: Let’s Go Barbie WIN
Race 4:
Average speed expected up front here over the 1600m.
(4) Lancelot Du Lac was dominant on debut before over-racing badly second-up, he’s been back to the trials looking sharp. Draws well and looks to land on speed from barrier 2.
(2) Climb The Ladder has been heavily backed in early markets, I like the booking of Nash and the positive barrier.
(1) Commanding Artist peaks fourth-up coming off a strong last-start performance at Canterbury, sticky gate but should roll forward.
(9) Cantarito rounds out the numbers from a smart inside draw.
Selections:
(4) Lancelot Du Lac
(2) Climb The Ladder
(1) Commanding Artist
(9) Cantarito
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 5:
Plenty of speed expected up front over the 1400m.
On paper, it looks to be (2) Mamushka’s race to lose, smart win two back before a game effort last start on the Gold Coast, back to an easier grade here and gets a lovely set-up.
Happy to forgive the last-start effort of (1)Tequila Baby when striking a wet deck, elite dry track profile and can bounce back here strongly.
(5) Shanoni goes in the mix and rounds out the numbers.
Selections:
(2) Mamushka
(1) Tequila Baby
(5) Shanoni
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 6:
No real speed expected up front over the 2400m for the feature event of the day.
(1) Future History is racing in career-best form and looks the likely leader from barrier 3. The cherry on top is the booking of Hyeronimus.
I expect (4) Newfoundland to improve sharply second-up with a solid 1200m tick-over trial. 2/3 at the 2400m trip reads well.
(5) Elliptical is next best.
Selections:
(1) Future History
(4) Newfoundland
(5) Elliptical
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 7:
Keen to see the covers come off the new addition to the Joseph Pride camp (4) Anthracite, impressive 3/4 record and has trialled up like a good horse. The only knock is the gate.
(2) Duvana peaks third-up and has been well backed in early markets, gets in light with the claim and looks well placed.
(3) Missile Seeker should get a suck run from the inside draw, enough speed up front to see his turn of foot come to the fore.
Selections:
(4) Anthracite
(2) Duvana
(3) Missile Seeker
Suggested Bet: Anthracite WIN
Race 8:
Happy to round out the day with the progressive filly (11) Nazwah, she’s been let up 26 weeks and brought back with two strong trials. She has smart tactical speed and should land on speed from the draw.
(4) Straand Beauty is the danger, another who’ll roll forward from the gate and land on speed. He has a key race fitness edge and is suited sticking to 1000m.
(2) Shalaa Gold has looked back to his best in two recent trials and draws perfectly here in barrier 1.
(3) Generous Harry rounds out the numbers but needs to step up.
Selections:
(11) Nazwah
(4) Straand Beauty
(2) Shalaa Gold
(3) Generous Harry
Suggested Bet: No Bet
