Race 1 2YO HCP (1200m):
We open day 1 of the cup carnival with the youngsters, and confident Randwick-based filly 7. Snow In May can strike on debut. By multiple group 1 winner The Autumn Sun, and has been strong through the line in two metro trials. Is out of a mare by a good-producing French sire.
Dangers: Improving 1. Satin Stiletto stuck on well second-up in the Wellington Boot when hard in the market, and this is a drop in quality; but wide draw and a sharp rise in weight are potential big levellers. Another one emerging, 2. Take The Rap finished best to win narrowly on debut here and drew to get a cosy run with cover right behind the speed. Included in trifecta and first four bets, well-bred 10. Yes Isla Yes who debuts from the inside draw behind a fairy city trial.
How to play it: Snow In May to win
Race 2 SUPER MAIDEN HCP (1000m):
Drawn to get a soft run behind the speed second-up, progressive and lightly raced provincial filly 2. Bambi Belle is well placed to win second-up. Has the tactical speed to utilise the inside draw, and will relish the drop back to country level after an even effort at Wyong resuming after a 21-week spell.
Dangers: Watch the betting on returning 1. Hulm who hasn't raced for more than a year when he failed on debut as a short-priced favourite at the provincials. Bolted in a recent low class trial by nearly 10 lengths for the new country stable. Right in the contest too is provincial-based debutant 6. One Smart Cookie who hasn't been seen since a strong one-off trial last spring, but reportedly working well and has ability. At bigger odds, keep safe home track mare 5. Kurokaren second-up of a solid return at Albury with blinkers going on; while 7. Monte Tiana resuming off a quiet trial; adds further value into exotic bets.
How to play it: Bambi Belle to win
Race 3 MAIDEN HCP (1400m):
Good value in this around locally-trained four-year-old 1. Dancer One who is tracking to break through at his fourth start hitting peak fitness. Has been edged out from on speed in his last two up to 1500m, and gets his chance in this to be ridden a touch quieter.
Dangers: Naturally three-year-old and early favourite 2. Adolphus will be hard to hold out first-up, drawn to get good cover a few lengths off the speed. Went under as favourite in two runs last spring, but will find this a bit easier, and a leading Sydney jockey has been booked to ride. Must respect 6. Scarli Japali who hit the line well on debut here, and also drawn to get a charmed run around midfield. Be surprised if the winner comes outside those three, but watch for any money aboard 16. Kerma Art, a stablemate of the top selection resuming with gear changes behind a solid trial, although needs one more scratching to get a run. Lightly raced 3. Bounty By Knight heads the rest second-up.
How to play it: Dancer One to win and box exacta 1,2,6
Race 4 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
Tough and open mile battle here, with a stack of chances. Settled on talented yet still raw Albury three-year-old 6. Check Side who can rebound from a couple of ordinary runs, back down in grade and over more ground. Came off a spectacular last-to-first Super Maiden win three starts ago with an indifferent run as a short-priced favourite when things didn't go to plan mid race. Then stepped up to the deeper Wagga Guineas Prelude and ran on okay late, suggesting he's bursting now for the mile. Will be tucked away back in the field from a low draw, and just needs a clear crack at them over the final 400m.
Dangers: Keep safe improving 9. Oneforian who has been close-up in two runs back this prep under big weights. Well over the odds is home tracker 8. Marks Icon who has been given a near seven week break after flashing home from the back to miss by a nose here at only his second start. Similarly, locally-trained mare 14. Mayfair Hotel is big value with winkers back on after roaring home into a place in that same maiden as the on top selection in the previous race, and form metro jockey takes over. Included in wider exotics, fit home tracker 1. Amen Brother deep into his prep; and honest 7. Goofinator who gets a soft run coming back in distance.
How to play it: Check Side to win
Race 5 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (2000m):
Tactical game of cat-and-mouse in a Heat of the Stayer series, and it shapes best for progressive Canberra four-year-old 6. Bringbackthebears who is drawn wide, but hard fit and primed for the extra trip. Rounded them up from well back against similar opposition here over the mile two starts back before hitting the line well again at home three weeks back. Will naturally relish the long straight here.
Dangers: Honest 2. Verbek has to overcome a wide draw, but hasn't been far away in much deeper provincial races, and Tommy Berry takes over in the saddle. Progressive 3. Just Go Bang continues to build a handy record, driving home from well back to claim a CL3 at Canberra third-up, and the third-placed horse from that race then thrashed a hot favourite in a similar graded race at Goulburn on Monday. Border-hopping mare 9. Fifi Blue hasn't been out of a place in her last five, and draws to find a handy trail, but tackling some smarter ones in this field. At bigger odds keep safe 1. Cyborg who has run into the placings in deeper company last three after an upset BM 65 win at Canberra. Locally trained 7. Duchy Of Cornwall is the best of the rest reloading off a six week freshen-up.
How to play it: Bringbackthebears each way
Race 6 CLASS 2 HCP (1400m):
It doesn't get any easier in this class, with several chances. Sparingly raised four-year-old 4. Hobbsy hasn't started since last September, nor has he officially trialled, but that's typical of the Scott Collings stable who likes to fit them fresh through trackwork. Drawn out, but reportedly working well, comes to hand quickly at any price, and loves this sort of distance.
Dangers: Emerging three-year-old 1. Sturn Words has good ability and is still on the rise, capable of going back-to-back after charging home from midfield to claim a weaker BM 58 second-up. Another last start winner 3. Big Opinion is shooting for three on the bounce this prep, the latest tracking the speed before taking a blanket finish in similar company at Albury, but does carry 3kg more here in a bigger field. Yet another last start victor, 5. Imasuperstar put away a CL1 field comfortably from off speed 13 days ago, but trickier draw here in a race with far more depth; while honest mare 9. Sass 'N' Cheek is very fit, and finished right behind the former in that Canberra CL1.
How to play it: Hobbsy each way
Race 7 WAGGA TOWN PLATE (1200m):
The feature race of the day run at Quality level naturally serves up a heap of chances in a very wide sprint, but no better value than high class six-year-old 3. Gravina resuming with key gear changes. No public trials, but will come to hand and tackled much smarter opposition last prep, including a flashing second in Listed company at Caulfield, and prior to that a midfield finish in The Hunter at Newcastle.
Dangers: Big watch on talented 1. Rocketing By second-up a month between runs, and coming back from tougher Group 3 company via a soft trial. High class local 11. Asgarda returns to her backyard from a good draw after a fighting win in the Country C'ship Final at Randwick. Well treated on the limit weight, and nicely placed back a furlong in distance 26 days between runs. Despite a wide barrier, Victorian raider 16. The Prodigal Son is capable of running into the finish 11 days after a dominant Prelude win here; while watching for big-finishing 15. Tap 'N' Run charging home late after beating all but the former in that Prelude run at BM 85 level.
How to play it: Gravina to win
Race 8 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1600m):
Back up to the mile for the older gallopers to close the card, and progressive home track mare 10. Capital Express looks well placed at the value to claim back-to-back wins fifth-up. Powered home from last to finish just behind the placegetters in similar company over the border before finishing hard to easily win a weaker graded race at this track 11 days ago when backed from $3.30 into $2.60. More than ready for the step back up in class, and drops 2kg for this.
Dangers: Plenty of them starting with tough as teak home tracker 14. County Kilkenny who kept coming for a gallant third-up win at Albury in weaker grade after coming under pressure a long way from home. Wodonga-based mare 7. Duped By Spin drops back from an even effort in BM 70 company over the border, but still looks under the odds up in weight from a tricky draw. Keep safe at big odds 2. Invertational despite a wide gate getting out to the mile fourth-up; while both 8. Fox Appeal deep into his prep and drew the fence; and 13. Gold Tracker back a furlong in distance fifth-up; can run into the minor money.
How to play it: Capital Express to win
BEST BETS:
R2 2. BAMBI BELLE
R7 3. GRAVINA
BEST VALUE:
R4 6. CHECK SIDE
