Summary of Best Bets
- Best Bet: Race 3 (3) Moscatel
- Next Best: Race 4 (11) Nitro
- Best Value: Race 8 (9) Bev’s Nine
- Best Roughie: Race 6 (5) Durova
Race 1
(6) Viewpoint showed great determination when winning first-up at Hawkesbury over 1400m, putting them away in dominant fashion. She followed that up with a slightly flat effort second-up at Hawkesbury, but she will take plenty of benefit from that run and can bounce back strongly here.
(1) Aix En Provence is now fourth-up and looks ready to peak. He didn’t appear to appreciate the sharp rise from 1400m to 1800m last start, and fitter now, the drop back to 1700m looks a much more suitable assignment.
(10) Change My Address returned to form with a much improved effort last start and can continue on with that here.
(2) Oakfield Saturn had no luck after being caught wide throughout last start and was never really given a chance. With a kinder run in transit, he can improve sharply.
Selections:
(6) Viewpoint
(1) Aix En Provence
(10) Change My Address
(2) Oakfield Saturn
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 2
(2) Autumn King was very strong late to the line two runs back at Randwick, recording the eighth-fastest last 200m of the meeting. He was unable to back that up at Eagle Farm over the 1600m in much stronger company, but he strips fitter now and looks well placed dropping back to this grade.
(1) Moon Sweeper looks ready to peak fourth-up after charging to the line strongly last start and should be right in the finish.
(12) Xcessive Force and (3) Occult round out the numbers.
Selections:
(2) Autumn King
(1) Moon Sweeper
(12) Xcessive Force
(3) Occult
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 3
We witnessed a dominant performance from (3) Moscatel first-up, and she looks like she is going to race right up to her $1.6 million price tag. She showed plenty of speed when jumping straight to the front on debut and proved far too strong late. Expect similar tactics here, and with the wide draw, she will have plenty of room to be in the clear. She looks the one to beat.
(1) La Gitana resumes off an 11-week break for her second campaign after showing promising signs in her first prep, placing twice in Stakes company. This looks a suitable race for her return.
It is also hard to knock the winning form of (2) Hellenic Belle, who has to be included among the chances.
(4) Tigroni showed promise during her first prep, trialled well leading into this.
Selections:
(3) Moscatel
(1) La Gitana
(2) Hellenic Belle
(4) Tigroni
Suggested Bet: Moscatel WIN
Race 4
(11) Nitro narrowly went down to Plaintiff last start, which is already proving to be a strong form reference. He has had 23 weeks since that effort and should have matured nicely during the break, likely returning bigger and stronger this preparation. His latest trial leading into this was impressive. Looks a horse with plenty of upside.
(6) Lightning Glory has to be respected based on what he has shown in his short career to date. He rises in grade here, but deserves his chance against this company.
(10) Just Response and (9) Maybe Moet both arrive in good form and profile as progressive types who are genuine contenders again here.
Selections:
(11) Nitro
(6) Lightning Glory
(10) Just Response
(9) Maybe Moet
Suggested Bet: Nitro WIN
Race 5
This shapes as one of the hardest races on the card to assess.
(4) Man Of Worth goes on top after continuing to race well every time we see him. He makes the sharp jump from 1250m to 1700m, but that should not be a concern given he has already proven himself over the mile and looks set to relish the rise in trip. A quiet trial since his last run should have him ready to go.
(16) Amreekiyah clearly possesses immense talent and, despite having seven weeks between runs, can win this if fit enough.
(13) Cormac T won this race last year 2nd up, he is 3rd up this year and can be a contender again.
(9) Tavros looks a likely improver 3rd up.
Selections:
(4) Man Of Worth
(16) Amreekiyah
(13) Cormac T
(9) Tavros
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 6
We are getting a nice price for (5) Durova here, and she looks deserving of a crack at this level based on the way she has been racing. Seven wins from 13 starts is a strong record anywhere, and her only attempt over this trip resulted in a win. She looks more than capable of taking this out.
(7) Call Me Gorgeous has to be included among the chances as well, continuing to race consistently and the drop back in trip does not look a concern.
(12) Hay Street was no match for a very speedy winner last start and simply could not reel them in late. He will be fitter for that effort and should settle a little closer in the run here, which can see him in the contest for longer.
(4) Wanaruah resumed in good order last start, although there is still a slight query as to whether she may be looking for further now.
Selections:
(5) Durova
(7) Call Me Gorgeous
(12) Hay Street
(4) Wanaruah
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 7
(2) Akaysha did not have a great deal of luck first-up over this trip before dropping back to the 1000m second-up and winning comfortably, hitting the line with plenty left in the tank. She rises back to 1100m here and, despite drawing wide, should get the opportunity to build into her work late with clear running.
(3) Agarwood found traffic at a crucial stage last start and was never fully tested. She has trialled nicely since that effort and can bounce back strongly here.
(9) Mercy Me just continues to win and deserves plenty of respect again here.
(4) Miss Freelove looks a likely improver second-up.
Selections:
(2) Akaysha
(3) Agarwood
(9) Mercy Me
(4) Miss Freelove
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 8
(9) Bev’s Nine has to be respected here after showing enormous potential in his short career to date. He had a month between runs leading into his last start and returned in very strong fashion. He finds a similar field here, strips fitter for that effort and should be in this for a long way.
(2) The Instructor has been trialling super and has a outstanding fresh record, undefeated at the track. Has to be respected.
It is hard to knock the form of (15) Golden Straand, who just continues to win. He has carried weight in both runs this preparation, so the drop in weight here is a positive, and his best form is certainly good enough to measure up again.
(11) Our Kobison strips fitter third-up after tiring late last start and looks better placed here while drawing to be given every chance in running.
Selections:
(9) Bev’s Nine
(2) The Instructor
(15) Golden Straand
(11) Our Kobison
Suggested Bet: Bev’s Nine WIN / The Instructor EW
Race 9
(9) Surfin’ Bird gave it his all first-up and was only beaten by a fitter horse on the day. He strips fitter second-up and looks the one to beat in this field. Expect a typical Waterhouse and Bott performance, with him rolling forward early and settling up on speed. He is ideally drawn in barrier 2 and should get every chance.
(12) Arriving Home has been putting together a very consistent preparation and appears to be improving with each run this campaign. Hard fit now and looks a genuine contender again.
(1) Tuileries has to go into the numbers after a strong trial leading into this, appearing to appreciate the freshen-up and generally racing well over this trip.
(5) Harlem Queen put in a rare poor performance last start. Can bounce back.
Selections:
(9) Surfin’ Bird
(12) Arriving Home
(1) Tuileries
(5) Harlem Queen
Suggested Bet: Surfin’ Bird WIN
Race 10
(2) Linebacker has been freshened since his competitive effort in the Doncaster. His form this preparation has been solid against strong opposition, and he finds a slightly easier assignment here. He also boasts a strong record over this trip and looks capable of bouncing back into the winner’s stall.
(13) Captain Furai is another racing in very consistent fashion, bringing back-to-back wins into this and continuing to perform each time he rises in grade.
(8) Whinchat has trialled strongly leading into his return and looks ready to resume, while his first-up record also reads very well.
(14) Sun God rounds out the numbers.
Selections:
(2) Linebacker
(13) Captain Furai
(8) Whinchat
(14) Sun God
Suggested Bet: No Bet
