Race 1 CLASS 1 HCP (1600m):
Had to go past progressive metro three-year-old 1. Magadan in the opener coming off a strong second-up maiden win in the city. Asked to carry 60.5kg here from a trickier draw, but headed for bigger targets than the rest.
Dangers: Keep safe 3. Zakiyya who defied a betting drift to finish best and claim his maiden at the provincials third-up; while improving country filly 4. Stormy Witness rates next best.
How to lay it: Magadan to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 2 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (1200m):
Intriguing juvenile race here, and the money will naturally have a big say. Capitalist colt 3. Kaizad looks ready to go on debut wearing blinkers. Cruised home running good time in the second of two trials for the in-the-zone Waterhouse and Bott stable.
Dangers: Debutant Trapeze Artist colt 2. Griff stuck on okay behind a smart one in the second of two trials; while 7. Helldancer can improve off that debut run in heavy ground when bogged down late in the worst part of the track; and 4. Restonica is on the next line.
How to play it: Kaizad to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 3YO & UP MAIDEN PLATE (1200m):
Talented Capitalist three-year-old 2. Cappelletti was a good thing beat first-up when blundering early in the race and losing valuable ground before storming home late. Carries the same weight here from the inside draw with important gear changes, and only needs a clear crack at them from the turn.
Dangers: Provincial four-year-old 1. Hedge Fund boxed on okay from the front second-up, but more effective from off the speed as he showed when resuming, although this is a tricky speed map from the draw; while debutant 5. Moongara can run into the minor money.
How to play it: Cappelletti to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 4YO & UP MAIDEN HCP (1100m):
Another smallish field of older sprinters shapes nicely for Extreme Choice mare 5. Extremely Frilly who debuts behind two controlled metro trials. Should get a nice trail with cover, and is bred to relish soft ground.
Dangers: Expect a much better run at second start from improving 2. Free Enterprise who was a noticeable market drifter here 16 days ago before settling a mile off the speed. Another lightly raced improver is 3. Amadi who worked home fairly in a handy country maiden; while 6. She's Jessie steps up from country level, but gets in light after the 3kg claim.
How to play it: Extremely Frilly to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 MIDWAY MAIDEN PLATE (2100m):
Out to the longer journey, and very keen on improving metro three-year-old 5. Subarctic peaking at his fourth start out to this trip. Worked home into a place in a Midway CL1 19 days ago, and this is a weak affair depth-wise.
Dangers: Tough 3. Bonus Tempus has placed in two of his last three, and should get a lovely run right behind the speed from a soft draw. Include in exotics 2. Rapid Impact who is hard fit; and 6. Bonaventure fourth-up in her second prep.
How to play it: Subarctic to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 6 MAIDEN HCP (1600m):
Hellbent three-year-old 1. Air Bentley is much better suited in this company on firmer ground after dropping out a long way 22 days ago having dislodged a tooth and then forced to pass a vet's inspection at the barriers. Was scratched from Warwick Farm on Wednesday to be saved for this in what will be a weakened race.
Dangers: Big market watch on Bjorn Baker-trained Sacred Falls three-year-old 2. Four O'Clock Knock who has drawn well on debut as a gelding behind two improving trials. Include in wider exotics 6. Our Frankie and 8. Itsagooddeel.
How to play it: Air Bentley to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 PROVINCIAL CLASS 1 HCP (1200m):
Keen on So You Think filly 3. So You Battle resuming for her second prep behind two trials. In good hands fresh, and swept home for a dominant debut win at the provincials over 100m further last spring.
Dangers: Home track five-year-old 1. Restrictions landed a strong betting move when he led all the way here to claim his maiden 12 months after his last run in Hong Kong. Again drawn to roll forward. Another lightly raced first-up winner, 4. Shadows Of Love steps up a touch in trip carrying half kilo less for a stable having a strong run. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: So You Battle to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 PROVINCIAL MIDWAY CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER (1200m):
We finish with the feature run at Class 5 level, and naturally there are a stack of chances. Love the value around local mare 4. Audette who returns for her first run since spring behind two powerful trial wins. Excels on soft ground, and stable is underrated.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by 10. Kayobi who also resumes off two progressive trials, and took big strides last spring winning three straight up to BM 64 provincial grade. Keep safe talented 11. Loch Eagle who returns as a gelding off two trials, and was a metro BM 78 winner last prep; Include in exotics both 8. Cruel Summer and 16. Samoot, also first-up behind two trials.
How to play it: Audette each way
Odds and Evens: Evens
BEST BETS:
R1 1. MAGADAN
R3 2. CAPPELLETTI
BEST VALUE:
R5 5. SUBARCTIC
