Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1500m):
A middle distance maiden to get us underway on a surface that should play firm and fast. Love the big value here about three-year-old gelding 12. Warialda Warrior on debut. Picked up late and was strong through the line in a recent 1100m trial, and has been fitted to run this out. Bred to get further being by dual Group 1 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior.
Dangers: Naturally four-year-old and early hot favourite 5. Supertrail is the one to beat first-up for more than six months for the new Brett Cavanough stable. Two mixed runs over a mile earlier in the year when based in Victoria, and has trialled well for this, although threatens to jump under the odds. A shade over the odds is 6. Under Achiever who can improve sharply second-up; while 10. Sunset Panorama is very fit deep into the prep and will be running home late. Include 13. Felicity's Fault third-up in trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Warialda Warrior each way and quinella 5 and 12
Race 2 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1280m):
Progressive five-year-old 1. Hallowed Son returns to the track where he took care of a handy maiden field two starts back. Was then close-up in CL1 company, and was scratched from a deeper BM 58 at Dubbo on Sunday to be saved for this.
Dangers: Tough 3. Barry's Lane has never raced better, scoring in two of his last three from just off the speed. Well in at the weights after the 3kg claim, and gain draws to stalk the speed. Must respect 5. Press Lightly who may jump favourite second-up after hitting the line from well back when fresh. Be very surprised if the winner comes outside those three, but include 2. Just Jacky dropping back from tougher provincial opposition in all exotics.
How to play it: Hallowed Son to win
Race 3 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1750m):
Always a shrewd battle of tactics over this journey, although this lacks depth. That augurs well for improving provincial five-year-old 1. Edge Of Reward who finds his thinnest race since bolting in a country CL1 three starts ago, and gear changes have been made. Boxed on okay in much tougher BM 68 provincial company 19 days ago, and the stable has shown its hand booking a 3kg claimer to off-set the weight.
Dangers: Watch the betting on 3. Mr Scorefield who is gunning for a third straight win stepping up from a weak CL1, and up to a career high 61kg. Underrated mare 5. Suva May doesn't win often, but she's had success at this track up to CL2 level, and is well over the odds in this field. Honest mare 4. Fusaichi Family reloads off a 22 day break via a steady trial.
How to play it: Edge Of Reward to win
Race 4 MAIDEN HCP (1280m):
Tricky sprint with many chances. Improving Capitalist mare 2. Monopoly Girl can go one better third-up, with winkers on for the first time. Chased home okay when fresh at the provincials before ridden quieter and hitting the line as a short-priced favourite. Given 25 days between runs, this looks more to her liking getting back on a spacious track.
Dangers: Big watch on 4. Bakerloo, resuming for a second prep behind a forward provincial trial. The market will also be a big indicator with Dundeel three-year-old 5. Renoir who debuts off a solid provincial trial. Expect sharp improvement from 9. Green Park who lost his way on debut when well backed, but still faces a task from the outside barrier. Topweight 1. Ozpharoah can also improve back on a bigger track; while 7. Dashing Power is capable of running into the minor money at his second start.
How to play it: Monopoly Girl to win
Race 5 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
Still with the maidens back to the five furlongs in a full field, with most of the early fancies drawn wide. Settled on provincial mare 9. She's A Bad Girl first-up. Showed speed in three provincial runs last prep, and this looks a more suitable fresh assignment behind a smart trial win. By prolific Deep Field, and placed in six from 10 starts so far.
Dangers: More Than Ready debutant 2. More Szyslak has progressed okay through three trials, and can run a race for a leading country yard. Improving mare 7. Miss Adamas has enough tactical speed to counter the wide gate third-up off a six week break, and has only been out of the placings three times in eight starts. Similarly, progressive 10. Asgoodasyougett has more than enough speed and ability to break through, but has to do it from the extreme outside gate; while Bull Point debutant 11. Dreymon heads the rest.
How to play it: She's A Bad Girl to win
Race 6 CLASS 1 HCP (1000m):
Same sprint trip again stacks up nicely for lightly raced mare 8. Sumati resuming from an ideal trailing draw. Hasn't raced since an impressive one-off maiden success in autumn, and has been prepared via a runaway trial win at this track. Hit the line when debuting here back in mid January, but parks closer this time.
Dangers: Keep safe 9. Tawfiq Star at good odds third-up and back a furlong in trip. Promising filly 4. Gold Lover was dominant from the front first-up at Scone after being very well backed, but up 2.5kg here from a wider draw. Gap to the rest headed by lightly raced filly 11. Bomarea who returns for only her third start behind a smart trial win; while 1. Sightseer improves fourth-up at bigger odds after being well outclassed in provincial company.
How to play it: Sumati to win
Race 7 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1000m):
The most open race on the program is saved for last, and there'll be no loafing over the sprint distance. Confident smart four-year-old 6. Divine Sinner can win again from off the speed behind a strong tempo. Cut loose from the back to beat a handy BM 58 field at Dubbo before again finishing too well to win a CL2 18 days ago. Steps up another level, but she loves this trp on dry ground, and nothing will be finishing better.
Dangers: Talented mare 2. I'm Not Slew continues to progress, and shoots for a third straight win on a nine day back-up. Led all the way to beat a weaker field here two runs ago before easily putting a CL3 field to the sword at Moree. Tougher again up in weight in a bigger field, but she has excellent cruising speed. At bigger odds keep safe 1. Lucifer's Reward second-up from a soft draw off a dominant fresh win. No doubting 13. Clovelly will need some early breaks from a very wide gate, but she beat a good CL1 provincial field two starts ago before working home okay in deeper CL3 metro company. Watch the betting on talented 14. Secret Spy who has not settled in two provincial runs since a second-up maiden win, but a bigger track and far more speed on at this level will suit. Include 3. Nipotino resuming with gear changes behind a trial win; and 12. Nonshalaant fourth-up; in wider exotic bets.
How to play it: Divine Sinner each way
BEST BETS:
R4 2. MONOPOLY GIRL
R6 8. SUMATI
BEST VALUE:
R5 9. SHE'S A BAD GIRL
