Race 1 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN HCP (1100m):
The male sprinters get us rolling, and after banging hard on the door three runs this prep, progressive metro four-year-old 2. November Rhythm can break through, and pay back punters who took the red hot price at Canberra 10 days ago. Again draws to track the speed all the way, and the regular jockey is back on.
Dangers: Not far away is the only two-year-old in the field 5. Californian who is an obvious market watch on debut for a leading city stable behind two improving trials, and starts in blinkers. Was preferred here to the Kensington meeting on Wednesday The market will be a good guide too aboard 1. Sumo Star who boxed on well in a country maiden first-up, and the extra 100m won't hurt. Gap to the rest headed by 3. Deep Fury back a little in distance third-up.
How to play it: November Rhythm to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN HCP (1100m):
The girls' edition looks more cut and dried via promising Shalaa filly 2. Eagle Nest who was a certainty beaten first-up at Wyong when held up for a long way early in the straight. Still rushed home to be beaten only a head, and that came off an outstanding finishing metro trial. Draws to get a soft run in behind, and as long as she gets a clear crack from the 350m, should be breaking through.
Dangers: Naturally home track filly 1. Outlawed has a race fitness edge after four runs in her first full prep, but a query coming back 300m in distance only 15 days between runs.
How to play it: Eagle Nest to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1500m):
Not much separates the first few in this headed by metro filly 10. Marelle who maps well off the fence to pounce second-up behind an eight week break. Worked home okay in a 3YO metro maiden where it wasn't easy to make significant ground, and being by Savabeel, she will relish a little more ground.
Dangers: Third-up from a soft draw, 4. Commando Jack is the immediate threat after compounding from the front in a metro mile race, but this suits better, and the winner from that race was a good thing beaten in a provincial CL1 next start. Big watch on 3. Boy Loves To Run who didn't finish it off third-up in Canberra under a big weight, although winkers coming off is a clever gear change. Include 11. Showsumgrit fourth-up from the inside draw in trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Marelle to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 MAIDEN HCP (1300m):
The maidens are at it again here over a furlong shorter, and it shapes ncielty for lightly raced home track four-year-old 1. Gulf Of Panama second-up. Didn't do much from the back resuming on the Kensington track, but up in distance with a gear change and back at home are all factors suggesting he's over the odds.
Dangers: Rival local 7. Sacred Girl can improve sharply after doing her best work late in a good quality maiden behind a smart one who then produced a dominant CL1 win at Gosford 12 days later. Keep safe 9. Villa Tino who is hard fit deep into the current prep; while 3. Better Not Bitter is clear best of the rest second-up.
How to play it: Gulf Of Panama to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 5 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1600m):
Small but competitive field here looms as a real battle of tactics over the mile. Hard to go around promising metro four-year-old 2. Barmera who is taking his biggest step after destroying a maiden field here by more than six lengths just nine days ago. Had previously been knocking on the door behind very useful metro and provincial winners, and edging out a little further in trp is ideal.
Dangers: Not much between the rest, although 7. Prize Drawn represents the best each-way value third-up and suited over a furlong further with winkers back on. Include 1. Savvy Legend up in weight off a fast-finishing provincial Midway BM 64 win; 5. Hasty Duchess who draws the fence and drops in class; and improving mare 6. Stellar Performer also back in grade; in all exotic plays.
How to play it: Barmera to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 BENCHMARK 68 HCP (1800m):
Climbing up a little more in distance and grade, keen to be aboard progressive Randwick four-year-old 4. Casual Connection who is right at his peak fifth-up despite drawing the outside barrier. Charged home from the back to beat a handy Midway BM 64 field three starts ago, before again finishing okay across deeper fields in his next two. Looks reasonably well treated 3.5kg over the limit, and blinkers going on is a key gear adjustment.
Dangers: Metro mare 1. Pharaoh's Reign looks well in at the weights second-up after the 3kg claim & coming back from Group 3 company at Flemington where she punctured badly from on-speed and failed to run out the trip. Had previously beaten a similar provincial field, and no doubting she can bounce back from a good trailing draw. Gap to the rest headed by 6. Tip Top Timing who has attacked the line from well back in his last two; while keeping fairly safe home tracker 2. Sovereign Express who is over the mark dropping back from tougher metro BM 78 company.
How to play it: Casual Connection to win and quinella 1 and 4
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 MIDWAY BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1100m):
The middle benchmark sprinters' turn now, and after breaking the shackles second-up on the Kenso track in a handy maiden field leading all the way, talented metro three-year-old 1. Sports Legend can go back-to-back. Wasn't overly comfortable on a shifty surface here prior, but now with winning experience, well capable of conquering this decent step up in class.
Dangers: Keep safe 5. Tomislava who also led from barrier to bix fourth-up in a provincial BM 64, and again drew to take advantage of early tactical speed. The fourth-up Midway BM 64 win here by tough filly 6. Dame Cartland was impressive after covering ground, although likely to settle even further back, drawing the outside gate. Watch for any money at big odds with 12. Notifies who only carries 1.5kg more dropping back from deeper metro class fifth-up; while both 3. Impact Star fresh; and at even bigger odds 7. Foolish second-up; are both capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Sports Legend to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1400m):
Similar graded affair to wrap the card, and like lightly raced metro four-year-old 7. Toesonthenose peaking second-up. Chased well resuming, normally progresses into his next run, and was a dominant maiden winner at this track over the same trip 11 months ago at only his third start. Destined for bigger targets.
Dangers: Keep safe 5. Catapult placed in two of his last three and drew to get a soft run; while 2. Two Up has finished close-up in his last three, and is also in the each-way mix. At bigger odds both 3. Budhwar third-up over more ground; and 10. Midori Fuji resuming off two quiet trials; can add value into exotic returns.
How to play it: Toesonthenose to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
BEST BETS:
R2 2. Eagle Nest
R8 7. Toesonthenose
BEST VALUE:
R4 1. Gulf Of Panama
