Summary of Best Bets:
Best value: Race 3 No.9 Stormland
Best bet: Race 8 No.1 Autumn Boy
Next best: Race 10 No.9 Tonkin
Race by race overview
Race 1:
Small Midway to kick off the meeting.
Happy to follow the money trail with (3) Iceman, smart return first-up when savaging the line late and gets the key booking off red-hot Nash Rawiller.
(6) Starphistocated peaks third-up back to 1500m and will need luck from the draw but goes in the mix.
(10) Yabby Pump has been a strange drifter in early markets, lacks upside but is fit.
(9) Embrace The Wind rounds out the numbers, full of upside coming off back-to-back wins and finds Lloyd.
Selections:
(3) Iceman
(6) Starphistocated
(10) Yabby Pump
(9) Embrace The Wind
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 2:
Solid enough speed expected up front over 1300m.
(11) Rose Aye goes in from a sticky draw but brings the best recent figures to this event — look for horses to swoop out wide here.
Wanted to find (14) Andale Andale but the inside draw scares me, smart, progressive galloper who will make the grade.
(4) Micro Mikki has been $16 into $9 in early markets, smart draw and should land up on speed, off rails which is key.
The consistent (6) Solitario gets McDonald aboard from a tricky map and is in the mix as well.
Selections:
(11) Rose Aye
(14) Andale Andale
(4) Micro Mikki
(6) Solitario
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 3:
Cracking betting race with good speed expected over the 1100m chute.
Keen to side with the progressive (9) Stormland, he felt the pinch late last start when rising to 1200m, back to 1100m and maps a treat in behind the hot speed.
Both (4) Arriving Home and (5) Hezdarnhottoo resume over 1100m off long layoffs and have trialled exceptionally well.
(1) Bev’s Nine has to go wet to dry after a smart first-up win and has been kept up to the mark with a sharp trial.
(7) Polyglot was too bad to be true first-up and can bounce back second-up.
Selections:
(9) Stormland
(4) Arriving Home
(5) Hezdarnhottoo
(1) Bev’s Nine
(7) Polyglot
Suggested Bet: Win (9) Stormland
Race 4:
Another competitive race with solid speed expected.
(14) Monte Veebee was flat second-up after dropping back in trip, now rises in distance and looks well placed.
(4) Emirate resumes as a gelding and has trialled like a rocket, awful gate but James offsets that.
(13) Transcend has trialled well leading in and should handle firmer ground.
(12) La Roja has put in back-to-back smart efforts and should enjoy the tempo from a good draw.
Selections:
(14) Monte Veebee
(4) Emirate
(13) Transcend
(12) La Roja
Suggested Bet: Win (14) Monte Veebee
Race 5:
Tricky race.
Excited to see (2) Lord Penman second preparation under Waller, trialled quietly and should sprint well fresh. He will land off rails and get to the right part of the track with James aboard.
(3) Magnatear should get a soft time in front and brings key fitness off a strong Gold Coast run.
(6) Thunderlips will land outside the leader and is deep into the prep at peak fitness.
(10) Kind Words is next best coming off back-to-back wins.
Selections:
(2) Lord Penman
(3) Magnatear
(6) Thunderlips
(10) Kind Words
Suggested Bet: Win (2) Lord Penman
Race 6:
The G2 Silver Slipper for the 2YOs. Wide open affair.
Lean toward (4) Confederation who over-raced badly on debut but was heavily backed and can improve sharply with Waller polish second-up.
(2) Hidrix beat him home first-up and maps similarly here.
(9) Shiki lands off speed from gate 7 coming off an okay effort in the Magic Millions and is in the mix.
(3) Stretan Ruler strips fitter and looks a likely improver.
Selections:
(4) Confederation
(2) Hidrix
(9) Shiki
(3) Stretan Ruler
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 7:
Massive field with some pre-race variables.
Happy to stick with (6) Travolta second-up after finishing strongly fresh over 1550m.
(14) Piggyback was enormous first-up, 1900m suits and maps better from gate 5.
Lean on the market with (15) Sam Hawkens first-up for O’Shea & Charlton off two solid trials and likely to lead.
(1) Just Fine is the knockout hope, loved the trials and we know the talent is there.
Selections:
(6) Travolta
(14) Piggyback
(15) Sam Hawkens
(1) Just Fine
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 8:
Race of the day.
(1) Autumn Boy is the class horse, looked sharp in his recent trial and maps to land off rails tagging Napoleonic.
(5) Napoleonic is the big danger after a smart return behind Tempted and now rises to 1400m.
(7) Ninja will need luck from the inside but has residual fitness and 1400m suits.
(4) Shangri La Boy has had three strong trials and will lead, the horse to gun down.
Selections:
(1) Autumn Boy
(5) Napoleonic
(7) Ninja
(4) Shangri La Boy
Suggested Bet: Win (1) Autumn Boy
Race 9:
Solid tempo expected over 1300m.
On paper it looks (1) Lazzura’s race to lose, dominant first-up last prep and maps perfectly.
(11) Mareth is the big watch, untapped and maps well from gate 6.
(8) Cinsault has the fitness edge but slight query from the inside draw.
(5) Dark Glitter has been well backed second-up and 1300m suits.
Selections:
(1) Lazzura
(11) Mareth
(8) Cinsault
(5) Dark Glitter
Suggested Bet: Small Each Way (11) Mareth
Race 10:
Good speed expected over 1300m.
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained (9) Tonkin looks the bet of the day, bomb-fresh mare who has trialled impressively and the chute start suits from the inside draw.
(7) Hawker Hall is the danger after going to a new level last start but needs luck.
(2) Kerguelen also draws out and needs fortune but trialled smartly.
(11) Cosmonova has trialled well but may need the run.
Selections:
(9) Tonkin
(7) Hawker Hall
(2) Kerguelen
(11) Cosmonova
Suggested Bet: Win (9) Tonkin
