Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
We start the showcase Gold Cup meeting with the maiden sprinters on a track drying out all the time. Talented & still learning local three-year-old 6. Check Side can strike third-up. Was very good late when resuming after a checkered run in transit before being ridden quieter in similar company at Wagga & charging home to be beaten just over 3 lengths. Ideally would want further, but he's been given a 24 day freshen-up between runs, and in a smaller field, only has to be a few lengths off them at the 350m before unleashing a superior finish.
Dangers: Naturally, early short-priced favourite 1. Final Crack is a big threat from the inside draw after hitting the line hard first-up at Wagga; while 3. Rich Dispute up in class second-up heads the rest.
How to play it: Check Side to win
Race 2 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (2400m):
Promising 2. Vaguer looks to have a mortgage here after making a mess of weaker Class 1 opposition at Canberra 12 days ago, winning by seven lengths with still plenty in hand. While aided by a clear on-speed bias that day, it was only his second run off a 32-week break, and previously had run the smart Reet Petite to a length. Carries the same weight here after the claim, and looks destined to win far deeper races than this
Dangers: Tough 4. Foxtrot Bravo keeps putting in deep into the prep, and comes off a dominant provincial win over this trip when finishing hard from midfield. Keep safe 1. Easy Road who draws to get a cover back in the field, and powered home from well back to beat a handy BM 64 field three weeks back. Gap to the rest headed by 8. Heromania stepping up from winning in a weaker company.
How to play it: Vaguer to win
Race 3 CLASS 2 HCP (1000m):
Smart local mare 4. Rumours Abound resumes off a lengthy spell with a gear change. Put two dominant wins together either side of a six month break last year before dropping out after leading in a tougher Class 2 Highway at Randwick in late winter run on a Soft 7. Suffered setbacks and was immediately turned out again, but signalled she could do anything this prep with a dominant trial win at Wagga 17 days ago. The more the track dries out, the better placed she is.
Dangers: Tough filly 3. Outback Angel is the immediate threat after a strong first-up win in a weaker field as a hot favourite, and should run the quinella from this draw. Big market watch on 1. Luna Rocks having his first run off a six month break for the new home track stable, and trialled well last month; while 5. Tickleberry third-up is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Rumours Abound to win
Race 4 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1175m):
Plenty of chances in this sprint, but no better value than improving 1. Ledecky's Dream getting out in distance third-up off a six week freshening. Stalked the speed before going home best in a Class 3 at Wagga; then failed to finish off against similar opposition to this when parked just off the speed. Was $2.60 into $2.40 that day, and the quick turnaround suggests she's come on well enough from that outing.
Dangers: Another Victorian raider, 4. Shooting For Stars is very fit, and over the odds deep into her prep after claiming a BM 66 here two starts back. Lightly raced filly 8. Lyrical Beauty has to overcome a wide barrier second-up, but she ran home okay in a tougher CL3 Highway sprint, and will appreciate more ground here. Include in exotics, 3. Rich Result resuming with a gear change; 9. O'Reg from a softer draw; and 11. Prophet's Daughter who draws the fence third-up.
How to play it: Ledecky's Dream each way
Race 5 CLASS 3 HCP (1500m):
Good depth in this middle distance affair, but the class is with 1. Associate second-up off a five week turnaround. Charged home from the back in a Class 3 Highway earlier in the year before rubber-stamping that formline with an easy win in much weaker country BM 58 grade as a hot favourite. Was then freshened into a Country C'ship Qualifier where he again made up plenty of late ground behind the smart Bandi's Boy who has a real chance of winning the big one at Randwick. Drawn to get a soft run with cover back off the speed, and will relish the long run home on a spacious circuit.
Dangers: Big watch on locally-trained 7. Snap Book who did his best work late from the back when resuming in the Country C'ship qualifier here, and draws to get a more economical run this time. Another home tracker 6. Indian Soldier comes back from a deeper metro race at The Valley, and did win at this track four starts back; while both 9. Occhiata down in weight from a soft draw; and 3. Just Like Liam are both capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Associate to win
Race 6 ALBURY GUINEAS BENCHMARK 74 HCP (1400m):
The first of the features for the three-year-olds shapes well for progressive 5. Deadly Press second-up since three runs in deeper black type metropolitan company last spring. Settled at the back resuming in a smaller Saturday BM 64 field at the Valley when making fair late ground, but much fitter & better suited here back against his own age, and dropping 3.5kg in weight. Can settle around midfield here off the fence, and be given his head at the 400m.
Dangers: Emerging metro colt 2. Piercing Arrow was heavily backed at Warwick Farm first-up before being swamped in front, and dropping right out. Reloads again with a change of rider and a handy weight drop, and the stable earmarked this race over several other potential targets. Keep safe local 3. Canny Hell who boxed on okay from the front in the Canberra Guineas 12 days ago; while two last-start winners 4. Aichi Icon and 8. Direct Fire; head the rest.
How to play it: Deadly Press to win and quinella 2 and 5
Race 7 ALBURY GOLD CUP (2000m):
The Listed feature gives runners a chance to qualify for the Big Dance later in the year, and confident 3. Fawkner Park can find his best third-up getting out over this trip. Resumed with a strong-finishing effort from well back in a deep BM 100 Hcp at Rosehill before may have found the surface too firm at Flemington when only grinding home in the Australian Cup Prelude over 1800m. Down in grade here carrying only a half kilo more, and he boasts a superior career record once getting to this distance and beyond. Drawn to find a trail around midfield, and the "sting" being out of the surface is the big key to him running over them.
Dangers: Down on the limit weight, tough 6. Miracle Spin is the main threat after running home hard in a strong BM 88 at Randwick, and the form from that race has already held up. Watch the betting on the top selection's stablemate 1. Redstone Well on a 12-day back-up after looming briefly in the Canberra Cup; while provincial mare 7. Blackcomb drops back from Group 3 company, and can figure in the placings. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Fawkner Park to win
Race 8 FLAT KNACKER HCP (900m):
The open class flyers round out the meeting, and naturally there are plenty of chances. Lightly raced 9. Love Shuck resumes in a suitable dash. Won fresh in a country CL2 last prep before holding his own in consecutive Saturday Class 3 Highways. All three wins from only six starts have come when fresh, and he looked up the mark winning a recent trial.
Dangers: Locally-trained 1. Sparring is a tough sprinter who is unbeaten at the track, and comes back from a deeper night race at The Valley where he was beaten under two lengths. Big watch on smart Victorian colt 7. Celui, who has also been mixing it with strong sprint opposition over the border, and claimed a BM 70 at The Valley three starts ago. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Love Shuck to win
