| Race 1 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2000m): |
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Got plenty of time for emerging metro three-year-old stayer 4. Xtrarevz who rallied hard from midfield at Canberra to break through fourth-up in his first full prep. That came off a couple of strong closing maiden runs, and he is kept at the distance.
Dangers: Improving four-year-old import 2. Western Front is the logical threat second-up over more ground with gear changes after working home nicely from well back in a provincial CL1, and that was his first run for nearly 11 months. Keep safe 5. Calm Down who finished hard to win a handy provincial CL1 over a middle distance two starts back. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Xtrarevz to win and box trifecta 2,4,5
Odds and Evens: Evens
| Race 2 CLASS 1 HCP (1000m): |
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Back to the sprint trip, and loved the way four-year-old stallion 2. Nasdaq Dubai put them to the sword here first-up in only his second career start after having two years off. Sat just behind the speed before sweeping past and ran good time. Promising from a strong metro yard, and bred to relish soft ground.
Dangers: Returning as a gelding with the blinkers off and behind two tidy trials, 1. Insurrection will provide stern opposition from a low draw. Placed in three straight up to metro BM 68 level last prep. Be surprised if anything else won, although watch the betting on 5. Rotorua who missed by a whisker in a provincial BM 64 when fresher, and now backs up in 13 days from the inside draw.
How to play it: Nasdaq Dubai to win
Odds and Evens: Split
| Race 3 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN PLATE (1200m): |
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The market will no doubt paint a big picture, but Godolphin three-year-old 11. Rakomelo is the one to beat, resuming off two trials. Was competitive enough in much slicker carnival company as a two-year-old, and despite having his first outing for 23 weeks from a tricky draw, looks ready to rip fresh.
Dangers: Expect sharp third start improvement from 6. Huracanevo who draws the fence, and will find this more to his liking; while 7. I Stole It resuming off two trials; 8. Iknowastar second-up; and at bigger odds recently gelded 9. Ludo on debut; all go into trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Rakomelo to win
Odds and Evens: Split
| Race 4 FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1200m): |
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Now the girls' edition in what looms as an intriguing affair. Keen to be aboard progressive Randwick filly 6. Avebury second-up, and 24 days since doing her best work late in a deeper maiden on the Gold Coast. That was her first run since three consecutive placings last winter, and with a far superior Sydney jockey back on top, she can settle back off the speed and cut loose from the 400m.
Dangers: Naturally, supremely bred filly 7. Call Di - by unbeaten UK superstar Frankel and out of multiple Group 1-winning mare Samantha Miss - is a huge watch first-up for 15 weeks. At her second start before spelling, charged home into a place at Listed level over the spring carnival, and has kept ticking over nicely with two easy Rosehill trials. Watch the market on debutant Pierro filly 10. Kokoshnik who won the second of two recent trials; while 3. Poetic Drama and 12. Sequestered at her second start; are both capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Avebury to win
Odds and Evens: Split
| Race 5 MIDWAY CLASS 1 HCP (1500m): |
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Smart and progressive three-year-old 3. Eyeque can go back-to-back, and rubber-stamp a return to metro assignments. Heavily backed and ridden quieter second-up here before sweeping past for a dominant breakthrough win. Bred to relish any wet ground, and can go on to win much better races than this.
Dangers: Tough three-year-old 1. Glint Of Silver continues to sneak up in the weights, but his form is rock solid. Stuck on well in a tougher Randwick BM 72 two runs back before again chasing home okay in a similar race here 10 days ago when hard in the market. Capable 2. Casual Connection may need the run first-up since spring, but he trialled okay, loves rain-affected ground, and should be getting home hard. Home tracker 5. Slickman heads the rest fourth-up.
How to play it: Eyeque to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
| Race 6 MAIDEN HCP (1400m): |
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One of the more tougher races on the card, especially if there's a pattern away from the fence. Either way, progressive home track filly 14. Whisky Wisdom can peak at her third start over a furlong further. Like the way she's attacked the line from well back in two provincial runs so far, and can thrive getting on a bigger track with a longer run home.
Dangers: Honest 3. Island Legend is also ready to peak over a bit more ground after two runs back. Chased home the top selection from the previous race here last time, so look for that formline boost. Included in exotic bets, Lonhro filly 5. Petersham who drew wide on debut behind two trials; 7. Champ Profond second-up; and 12. Rhiannon who is hard fit fifth-up.
How to play it: Whisky Wisdom to win
Odds and Evens: Split
| Race 7 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1300m): |
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A fairly even and open battle to finish. Like improving Lonhro filly 5. Jewellery who steps up in distance at the right time, and drops back in class. Has hit the line okay in two runs up to BM 78 metro level since a dominant city maiden win from well off the speed, and while this is her first outing on rain-affected ground, she's bred to handle it.
Dangers: Keep very safe 2. Jumeirah Beach who reloads off an eight week break after winning two straight in the country; while 7. Capital Asset can improve on soft ground second-up. Unbeaten country three-year-old 11. Scopics rises in class.
How to play it: Jewellery to win
Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS:
R4 6. AVEBURY
R6 14. WHISKY WISDOM
BEST VALUE:
R7 5. JEWELLERY
