Race-by-race preview and tips for Goulburn on Monday
By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail True.
Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (1500m)
A testing middle distance maiden to get us underway, and this shapes well for improving and lightly raced metro mare 4. Our Maryanne who can peak staying over the distance at her third start. Went to the front 18 days ago in deeper provincial company, and was easily run down, but much better suited here back at country level and carrying half kilo less. Suspect she will be ridden from just behind here, and stable has made significant gear changes.
Racing heads to Goulburn on Monday.Credit: Getty
Dangers: Naturally improving four-year-old 1. Rise To It is a big watch after returning with a fair effort here in his first run for nearly six months. Keep very safe 3. Sacred Girl who draws to get a soft run off the speed first-up behind two trials, with blinkers added. So You Think colt 6. Glad You Think So reloads off an eight-week break, and has been tuned up with a 1045m trial, while 5. Anini fourth-up from a soft draw in her first full prep, heads the rest.
How to play it: Our Maryanne to win
Race 2 CLASS 2 HCP (1000m)
Not much between a few of these headed by metro four-year-old 3. Mission Ridge who can bounce back after dropping right out at the provincials last start. Led all the way to land his maiden the start before at Hawkesbury, and blinkers going on here is a key.
Dangers: Honest 6. Nonshalaant held his ground OK when resuming here in a stronger class, although prefers it wetter. Improving 2. Heart Of Vancouver didn’t get the best of rides second-up, although stuck on for a long way. Draws inside with gear changes, and should be reaching short course peak fitness now, while 5. Light Press up in class fourth-up-up is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Mission Ridge to win
Race 3 MAIDEN HCP (1000m)
Plenty of chances again over the same sprint journey in a moderate field. Like emerging metro filly 9. Impartial progressing into her second start. Boxed on well from the front when debuting at the provincials over 1200m, and on the limit weight against thinner opposition with winkers being added, is ready to break through over the shorter trip.
Dangers: Expecting a big fresh run from 6. Tawfiq Star who resumes as a gelding off a 24-week break behind two progressive trials, and draws to get a soft run. Improving stablemate 7. Sky Artist will be more competitive here after dropping out in a much tougher metro field first-up. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Impartial to win
Race 4 MAIDEN PLATE (1300m)
Tricky maiden in a big field. Progressive home track mare 10. Dolce Bella is well-placed second-up over 100m further. Did her best work late from the back when resuming in a handy country maiden, but draws to sit closer here with cover, and produce a powerful final 300m.
Dangers: Home tracker 6. Oneofthetwelve disappointed first-up here when backed from $4.20 into $3.80, but that was only his second start, and improves over more ground. The blinkers coming off should ensure 7. Quizy is ridden a little quieter from a wide barrier over a furlong shorter. Couldn’t be fitter fifth-up, and will be running home. Both locals 13. Via Rose who draws the fence second-up, and 14. Griffinstown Girl also second-up, can run into the minor money at good odds.
How to play it: Dolce Bella to win
Race 5 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1600m)
One of the tougher and more open races on the program. Expecting Tavistock six-year-old 4. Jaffastock to improve sharply dropping in grade second-up. Stayed back near the tail when resuming off a lengthy break for his first outing for the new local stable in a race that wasn’t run to suit, but he was still the best tried runner in the market. Much better placed up to the mile at home on the bigger track with that run under his belt.
Dangers: Progressive metro mare 6. Savanacci is a big threat resuming for her first run since spring, with crucial gear changes. Has been fitted with two quieter trials over distances, and draws to get plenty of cover just off the speed. Big watch on local mare 7. Chaotic Beauty who roared home from the back to win a similar graded race here three weeks ago. Must include honest mare 12. Spritely Emily who is hard fit, and hasn’t finished further back than fourth in her last five runs, while 11. Ninja Star third-up goes in trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Jaffastock to win
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1200m)
Metro mare 11. Majeedis can run a huge race first-up at big odds, despite drawing wide. Normally takes a little while to hit her straps, but she’s found the line well in two solid city open class trials up to 1200m, and looks more forward than usual. Best form is on dry ground.
Dangers: Plenty of respect for 1. Mentalism who draws to get a soft run deep into his prep, and only missed by a neck here three weeks ago in a very busy finish. Keep safe too 6. The Carpet Bagger who drops down from a deeper provincial race third-up, and drawn inside. Include in exotics, 7. White Liar off a last-start synthetic track win, 8. Deploy And Destroy behind a first-up win in very weak company, and home tracker 10. Eight Of A Kind who improves sharply third-up back on firmer ground with gear changes.
How to play it: Majeedis each way
Race 7 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1400m)
Tough closer with plenty of chances. Tough and consistent five-year-old 6. Accrue is well-placed over his best distance on an 11-day back-up. Was in the money across four straight runs in weaker class before being freshened and sticking on for a long way against deeper provincial opposition. Reliable weight carrier who draws to get an economical run on-speed.
Dangers: Progressive 7. Rouge Lune looks the most talented runner, dropping back from a gallant second-up effort in smarter Highway company 23 days between runs, but has to overcome a wide draw. Improving 4. Almahero drops back from metro opposition and in distance third-up, and draws to get a stack of cover just off the speed. At much bigger odds, 10. Mr Aloysius second-up with winkers coming off, and 13. Danzadel third-up, are both capable of running into a place.
How to play it: Accrue to win
BEST BETS: R3 9. IMPARTIAL, R4 10. DOLCE BELLA
BEST VALUE: R2 3. MISSION RIDGE
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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