1. Zouatica (Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones, Canberra): You have to be forgiving of his failure in the Championships at Moruya. He's a natural front-runner and was softened right up in a race run at a solid tempo. While he pulled out of the battle by midrace there was nothing left for the finish and he was safely held. He was two months between runs, having won the Moruya Cup before that, so is fitter and shouldn't strike a race run as brutally this time. He's the benchmark for this race.
2. Bon Frankie (Aaron Clarke, Braidwood): Very honest type who ran a super race at Moruya to finish third behind Bandi's Boy where it did appear as though he was going to hold on to a top two finish. Draws the inside and that suits him ideally as he can sit not too far off the speed which shouldn't be as hectic. Hard to fault the way he's going and must be considered a good chance.
3. Rouge Lune (Natalie Jarvis, Moruya): Enjoyed a nice run just behind the speed at Moruya but the first three got away from him in the run to the line. Led all the way to win at Canberra before that so an easier tempo might see him on top of the speed this time around. Another who rarely runs a bad race so he has a case to be somewhere in the finish but will need the breaks to win.
4. Missile Leader (Keith Dryden, Canberra): Always well back at Moruya and while he made a little ground there were others finishing better. That was a rare poor effort from him as he'd been Highway placed three runs back and a Canberra winner by a margin over a mile. Entitled to another chance on his best form.
5. In De Summertime (Keith Dryden, Canberra): Lost all form since running a great second to Tazaral in a Benchmark 78 at Randwick back in July. Failed to beat one home in both runs this time around and couldn't really find an excuse for her there with the strong tempo considered a factor in the stewards report. Just don't think she's come up so have to rule her out as a winning chance especially from the outside.
6. Salute Again (Wayne Carroll, Wagga Wagga): Won a Highway back in June and his Championships attempt came second-up at Albury where he battled away well without threatening to run fourth. Had a soft run behind the speed and was able to get into the clear in plenty of time. Has trialled since and blinkers go on so he could find a length or two. Each-way.
7. Associate (Danielle Seib, Goulburn): Found himself last on the turn at Moruya so he did quite a good job to rush home and finish fifth after giving away an impossible start. Wide gate doesn't help his cause unless he rolls forward, which was something he did with great effect over a mile here two starts back when winning nicely. Talented on his day and it wouldn't shock if he gave some cheek.
8. Gundy Guy (Todd Smart, Canberra): The up and comer of the field who has been nothing short of impressive in three wins from as many starts this time around. Didn't run in the qualifying race as he was an emergency and wasn't required. Never going to lose at Canberra in a Class 2 last time out and drops 3.5kg into this. Has the right gate to be stalking the speed here and it's a matter of whether he's up to this level at this stage of his career or if it's all too soon. It doesn't appear to be too soon on what he's showing and should be hard to beat.
9. Sir Ming (Danielle Seib, Goulburn): Ran an even race at Moruya from just off the speed after drawing barrier one but didn't finish it off as well as some others. In his favour is the home track advantage here where he's run well in both attempts, albeit in easier races. Has to push forward from the wide gate and he may get across without too much trouble, whether he tests Zouatica for the lead remains to be seen.
10. Bon Zipper (Michael Lynch, Cowra): Was an emergency for the Mudgee Championships race and went around in a BM58 on that program where he ran an even third. Since then he posted a win at Orange in the same grade so comes into this in good form. Whether that form is strong enough is the big question as he meets a few handy ones in this.
11. Invertational (Matthew Kelley, Canberra): Only had two starts since running in this race last year where she started $21 and finished midfield. Scratched from Moruya on vets but showed readiness for a second shot with a placing in a trial at this track recently. Question mark on whether she's going as well as she can given the interrupted preparation and the barrier means she gives away a start. Take her on trust.
12. Dorami (Norm Gardner, Canberra): Went around at $51 at Moruya and finished midfield in what was a sound enough run off a wide gate. Didn't make any impact in the run home though. Form prior was very consistent with a string of placings including a Highway at Randwick back in December. Drawn to get her chance but will need a peak performance.
13. Stormy Witness (Danny Williams, Goulburn): Huge odds at Moruya and she did make a little bit of ground from well back to finish eighth behind her stablemate. She's been very hit and miss through her career so far, though she did contest a couple of Group 1s as a three-year-old, and her last win was a Highway six runs back. Wouldn't shock if she landed somewhere in the placings but hard to be confident.
14. Discreet Miss (Michelle Ritchie, Nowra): An emergency at Moruya who didn't gain a start. She's had the two runs back from a couple of months off and finished just behind the placings in Benchmark 66 races at Nowra and Goulburn. Has a Highway placing behind Tribeca Star back in the late spring so she's definitely got some ability but unproven at the trip and this is harder.
SPEED MAP: Zouatica is a natural front-runner who should get across quite easily to find the lead and may bring Sir Ming across with him. Gundy Guy draws to be right on their hammer. Not a whole lot of secondary speed with the likes of Dorami, Rouge Lune and Bon Frankie among those in midfield spots or a bit closer. Not expecting a strong tempo but more a genuine enough gallop to give everything their chance.
SELECTIONS:
8 GUNDY GUY
1 Zouatica
2 Bon Frankie
6 Salute Again
