Race 1 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2100m):
Progressive and lightly raced home track mare 3. Lovely Thoughts can make it three on the trot here. Swept home to easily win a country Class 1 before freshening up and returning with a one-act demolition at Tuncurry by nearly 10 lengths as the hottest of favourites. Thrives on rain-affected ground, and from a soft draw looks to have this at her mercy.
Dangers: Expect further improvement from hard fit 4. Shadow Shot who claimed a CL1 win over a similar trip three starts back. Another locally-trained mare 1. Kikikapow drops back in grade after hitting the line hard over further on the course proper; while 5. Crux Rebellion who draws the fence deep into the prep; and lightly raced metro improver 6. Super Defense with gear changes; are both capable of running into the money.
How to play it: Lovely Thoughts to win
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1350m):
Emerging filly 2. Soul Taker can improve enough at her second start over more ground to claim a weak race after chasing home a couple of very handy ones on debut at Muswellbrook.
Dangers: Like the way lightly raced filly 4. Full Commitment hit the line late at her second start in the same race as the top selection. Improving filly 7. Charge By The Hour second-up off a long break; and 8. Donna Emilia third-up off an equally long spell; can fight for the minor money.
How to play it: Soul Taker to win
Race 3 CLASS 1 HCP (1200m):
This shapes nicely for improving metro three-year-old 1. Bold Julius third-up. Failed to run home in a much deeper metro race when resuming before attacking the line late in a handy CL1 at Kembla. Less depth this time, and has always shown a liking for soft ground.
Dangers: Big watch on 7. Maybe Smart who powered home to easily win a maiden deep into her prep, and this isn't much harder. Improving 2. Tersane gets some weight relief second-up. Sparingly raced city filly 4. Manhattan Baby also looks fairly placed second-up off a freshen-up; while 5. Ensign Parker heads the rest from a softer draw.
How to play it: Bold Julius to win
Race 4 FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1200m):
Home track four-year-old 1.Black Tiara will need an even share of luck from the wide barrier third-up, but there's a sense of timing here. Held her ground okay resuming in a deeper provincial Midway maiden before again working the line from just off the speed in a race of more depth. Strikes peak fitness now back against her own sex, and the extra furlong comes at the right time.
Dangers: Local filly 9. Pisa Cake by Group 1 winner Prized Icon starts her career in blinkers, and looks ready to go after winning the second of two trials for the leading provincial stable. Progressive metro raider 10. Queen Calanthe hit the line impressively second-up at Muswellbrook, but has to overcome the outside gate. Big watch on lightly raced local mare 3. Rockbarton Racer resuming behind two quiet trials. Honest mare 2. Miss Adamas is very fit having found one better in her last two starts. Boasts a 50 percent place record from 14 starts, and was scratched from Scone on Friday to be saved for this. Watch the betting closely on resuming metro filly 8. Midnight Affair behind two progressive trials; while Russian Revolution filly 5. Bubbles And Caviar debuts off three quieter trials.
How to play it: Black Tiara to win
Race 5 COLTS, GELDING & ENTIRES MAIDEN PLATE (1200m):
Now for the boys' edition, and another one from the local Kris Lees yard, 1. Corvalist is primed to strike first-up. Didn't miss a place in four runs across handy country fields last prep, and tuned up for this with two solid provincial trials.
Dangers: The market will be a strong indicator around 5. Eye Of The Fire by Epaulette who debuts as a gelding off two steady city trials for the Annabel Neasham stable. Lightly raced 4. Alesund has tactical speed and despite drawing wide, is better placed here than a failed effort at Kembla on debut. At good value, 9. Point Out is a knock-out chance third-up with blinkers going on. Included in exotics 2. Exolent Choice fourth-up; improving 6. Gogmagog at his fourth start; and 7. Gustav who finished hard on debut, but draws off the track.
How to play it: Corvalist to win
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m):
Any number of chances in this moderate affair, headed by provincial mare 8. Hard To Dismiss who can make light of a poor winning strike rate, and pounce here from a low draw. Has found the line well from off speed in her last three runs up to BM 66 grade, and drawn to get plenty of cover just off the speed, she just needs clear air from the 400m to run over them. Has a near 50 percent place rate from 34 starts.
Dangers: Improving 3. Das Kapital will find this more to his liking after an average run in the Canberra Guineas Preview, and did comfortably claim a Super Maiden at the provincials in late January. Keep safe locally-trained 1. Three Times A Lady who is drawn wide, but comes off a tough fourth-up CL1 win. Big watch on improving 5. Chestime who hit the line hard in a country CL2 coming off a seven week break.
How to play it: Hard To Dismiss to win
Race 7 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1150m):
Sparingly raced seven-year-old 3.Pure Fuego resumes having not won for a long time, but he has a big finishing motor, and normally fires early in the prep. Was competitive against tougher opposition last prep, and off a quiet trial, is drawn to get cover back in the field and come with a dazzling finish.
Dangers: Smart four-year-old 1. Remember Jack is unlikely to start after charging home for a luckless second placing in a much better race at Scone on Friday, although that was only his second start in eight months, and he could back up quickly. Honest 2. Hit The Rim is overdue to claim a fourth career win fourth-up, and led for a long way in a handy CL3 last start. Big watch on 7. Don'Tcha Think who hit the line hard when resuming in weaker grade, and already has a soft track win to his credit. Capable 5. Illzoomya with some weight relief; and improving 8. Keikoku second-up; can add value into trifecta and first four returns.
How to play it: Pure Fuego to win
BEST BETS:
R1 3. LOVELY THOUGHTS
R3 1. BOLD JULIUS
BEST VALUE:
R7 3. PURE FUEG
