Race 1 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
The three-year-old sprinters get us underway on Provincial-Midway C'ship qualifying day. Confident Denman gelding 3. De Poet can return a much stronger galloper after two spaced runs last year. Has won both metro lead-up trials.
Dangers: Emerging filly 7. Russian Rose is the immediate threat at third start with blinkers added, and right at home in soft ground. Just a small query coming back 300m in distance only 11 days between runs. Country-based 1. Bantarki gets first use of the inside ground.
How to play it: De Poet to win and quinella 3 and 7
Odds and Evens: Odds a special
Race 2 CLASS 1 HCP (1350m):
More tricky affair over further here, although it shapes ideally on the map for improving filly 5. Justina fourth-up in her first full prep. Carries 1kg less coming back to a thinner race, and winkers being added is a further plus.
Dangers: Big watch on 4. Yankee Hussel who has plenty of ability, and did her best work late resuming in a more than handy provincial BM 64. Surged home in soft ground to win second-up last prep on her way to tackling Listed grade. Gap to the rest headed by 1. Fun Sunday who draws to find a useful trail second-up with winkers back on, and comes through the same race as the top selection. Both 6. Takara Star behind a dominant maiden win and trained on the track; and at bigger odds 2. Headstock fourth-up off a country maiden win; both go into trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Justina to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2100m):
Keen on talented Astern three-year-old 3. Owari who blotted his progressive copybook fourth start at the provincials, although was held up and had no luck at a crucial stage. Was dominant at this track prior over a mile, and he can hit back immediately here over more ground.
Dangers: Tough three-year-old 2. Domingo continues to improve, rushing home to win a CL1 at Canberra on Black Opal day third-up. Likes to settle off-speed so up 2.5kg in weight in a smaller field may not suit. Well bred improver 7. Balinor and 8. Piccadilly Lass deep into the prep and drew the fence; can fight out the minor end of the prize.
How to play it: Owari to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 MIDWAY MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
Back to the mile trip for Midway-stabled gallopers, and there's very good value around locally-trained four-year-old 5. Riley Park who is ready to peak getting to this distance fifth-up. Missed by a whisker in a country maiden two runs ago before working home okay from midfield in a similar line-up to this 15 days ago. Over the odds.
Dangers: Lightly raced 8. Meet Me In Bondi will likely jump favourite after leading a long way second-up in metro company, but threatens to go around under the odds. Keep safe home tracker 6. Vegas Outlaw who chased well enough fourth-up, and couldn't be any fitter; while 10. Scarparo comes back significantly in distance; and heads the rest.
How to play it: Riley Park to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (1200m):
The babies get their turn now, with plenty on debut. One of them is highly-touted Russian Revolution filly 6. Belyaev from the Snowden stable at Randwick. Has looked good through the line in two trials, debuts with key gear additions, and bred to be strong at the business end, being out of a Foxwedge mare.
Dangers: One with race experience, Ryan and Alexiou trained filly 12. Snippety Star has been in the placings in two handy aged fields, and again draws to get a charmed run on speed. Big market watch too on Dundeel colt 3. Townsend on debut from the Waterhouse-Bott yard behind two steady trials. Watch for any money at odds with Bjorn Baker-trained Zoustar colt 2. Thunderlips who won the second of two recent trials and starts his career in blinkers.
How to play it: Belyaev to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 6 MAIDEN HCP (1350m):
Still with the maidens in one of the tougher battles on the program. Randwick-based three-year-old 8. Just An Upstart failed to attack the line resuming in a deeper maiden on the Kensington track, but second-up is his go back to the provincials and importantly over more ground.
Dangers: Keep very safe smart filly 13. Victory Salute who returns for a second prep behind two eye-catching trial wins, although is drawn wide. Expecting a big first-up run from 7. Shihab behind two improving trials for the Chris Waller stable. Watch the market on his stablemate 1. The Oneandonly who debuts as a gelding with gear additions behind two progressive trials; while a third Waller runner 4. Personal Best resumes for a second prep off two quiet trials.
How to play it: Just An Upstart to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 POLYTRACK PROVINCIAL-MIDWAY CHAMPIONSHIPS QUALIFIER (1350m):
Now for the feature Qualifier on the "Road to Randwick" run at Class 5 level and set weights. Naturally, a stack of chances, but no better value than tough four-year-old 7. Willinga Freefall who can strike second-up at good odds for the Kris Lees stable. Kept finding the line first-up in the Hawkesbury Qualifier three weeks back when being supported at double figure odds, and he again draws to go forward and park just behind the speed. Building a smart record from only five starts and unbeaten from two on soft tracks.
Dangers: You couldn't miss the first-up run of four-year-old 4. Conrad who charged home in a metro BM 78, and his second-up form is rock solid. Trained on the track, but in this big field looms to go around under the odds. Keep safe progressive stablemate of the top selection 3. Acquitted who similarly hit the line impressively first-up in an earlier Qualifier. There's good value too from the draw with another Lees runner in 6. Mobstar who is a month between runs since finishing off okay in a Qualifier. Include 5. Fielding second-up from a softer draw with winkers added; and lightly traced 8. Wrathful resuming in blinkers behind two trials; in all exotics.
How to play it: Willinga Freefall each way
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 BENCHMARK 68 HCP (1200m):
Open sprint contest to finish, and keen on lightly raced country five year old 2. Ceasefire second-up. Should have won getting home fresh at Gosford in similar company, but the extra trip 25 days between runs, and drawn to get to the outside late in the day, are the ingredients for victory.
Dangers: Must respect city filly 4. Ningaloo Star who won two straight before dropping out in the Listed Canberra Guineas; while honest six-year-old 1. Washington Towers fourth-up and with plenty of tactical speed; 6. Pad Thai from a better draw; and 8. Dame Cartland who impressed winning a Midway BM 64 at the provincials fourth-up; can all fight for the minor money.
How to play it: Ceasefire to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
BEST BETS:
R3 3. OWARI
R8 2. CEASEFIRE
BEST VALUE:
R4 5. RILEY PARK
