Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday's Gosford meeting. Selections based on a soft/heavy track with showers forecast. Monitor for bias/pattern.
Race 1 - 1:15PM TNT PLUMBING & DRAINAGE PROVINCIAL MAIDEN (1600 METRES)
5. Doraskaya has been luckless this campaign and should've won both of her starts this time in. The four-year-old got too far back and was checked/blocked at critical stages, but once clear, she savaged the line, running a strong final 200m split. The mare is ready to peak third-up, Tommy Berry rides for the first time, and she brings multiple winning ratings.
Dangers: 8. Glory Start is a knockout chance who was 35 days between runs last start at Mudgee and wasn't suited to the race shape but ran on well. She is at optimal fitness and will be suited out to 1600m. Expecting 1. The Impeckable to improve sharply, and the rise in trip looks ideal, with his debut run having merit at Taree. Add 3. Quinky Deel and 9. Just Boogie to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Doraskaya WIN ($2.25 TAB Fixed Odds).
Race 2 - 1:50PM DACH CONSTRUCTIONS SUPER MAIDEN PLATE (1200 METRES)
4. Restonica profiles well for this assignment and is set to improve sharply here. The Godolphin galloper was a savage drifter late in the trade first-up at Newcastle and had too much to do, but his effort was full of merit. He drifted back from a tricky draw, had to make a long-wide sustained run, clocking some of the meeting's fastest closing splits and hit the line hard to finish third. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day and has since produced a subsequent winner. The colt has strong form lines from last campaign around the likes of Kintyre and Group 1 winner Zardozi. In addition, expect him to roll forward and be hard to beat with his dominant figures relative to his rivals.
Dangers: 6. Gigi Fille was well-backed last start at Hawkesbury and tried hard in defeat. To her credit, she had to make her run through the inferior ground and ran solid closing splits. She is ready to peak third-up and will hit the line hard. 10. Ruby Surprise had excuses last start at Canterbury and was honest in defeat. He drops back to the provincial circuit and maps well. 9. Hot Jive should've won at this track/distance last start, albeit in a slow-time race. Add 2. Woodlander to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Restonica WIN ($2.15 TAB Fixed Odds).
Race 3 - 2:25PM TILE & STONE WAREHOUSE MAIDEN HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
5. Impulsivity resumes here without an official public barrier trial but brings strong form lines from last campaign around the likes of Group 2 placegetters Moravia and Nadal. First-up last prep she was outsprinted at Newcastle but closed off well to finish third. Her run had sectional merit second-up at Kensington after having the race shape against, and she ran fast closing splits relative to the day. The Snowden trained galloper has an awkward draw, but with the anticipated genuine tempo, she may get it run to suit and savage the line.
Dangers: Debutante 4. Are Ee Que has gone through the line full of energy in two recent trials and looks a nice type. She draws barrier one, allowing her to follow the rail and expecting her to be hard to run down. 1. Ishani, now in the hands of trainer Brett Cavanough, resumes from a long spell and has trialled well. She has multiple winning figures and maps well. Add 10. Cosmonova who is a knockout chance.
How to play it: Impulsivity WIN ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds).
Race 4 - 3:05PM CERTE CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1900 METRES)
10. Slipstreaming has been racing well/consistently all campaign and finds a winnable race here. The mare had the blinkers on for the first time last start at Kembla Grange and had genuine excuses. Further, she was checked/blocked, halting her momentum, and once clear, she found the line ok but should've finished much closer. She's on the quick backup, is at optimal fitness now and may get the track pattern to suit.
Dangers: 1. Best Of Maher is another runner who had factors against last start, but he improved significantly from a rating perspective. He is on an upward spiral, and the rise in trip should pose no issue. 2. Star Legacy is coming through high-rating races; his last win came at this track. He has to step to 1900m for the first time, but he is rock-hard fit and well placed under the race conditions. 9. Prince Of Arendell is ready to peak third-up and must go in all exotics.
How to play it: Slipstreaming WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds).
Race 5 - 3:40PM BTS ENERGY MIDWAY CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
4. Tears For Fears's first-up run had merit at Canterbury, and she looks to have returned improved this campaign. The mare had the race shape against but built through her gears well and hit the line hard, running one of the meeting's fastest final 200m splits. She has come in on a strong base figure, can settle closer from the inside draw, and her peak performances have come on rain-affected ground.
Dangers: 1. The Extreme Cat went to a new level first-up running slick time at Coffs Harbour 21 days ago. He has a strong starting price profile and can improve again up in distance. 3. Lord Bob will be fitter from his first-up run, and 2. Mr Extreme is proven on wet ground and can roll forward from the awkward draw.
How to play it: Tears For Fears WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).
Race 6 - 4:20PM AUBREY BROWN LAWYERS BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
10. Costa Smeralda, who is a nice type, resumes here without an official public trial. The three-year-old won with style on debut after sitting outside the leader and then showed a turn of foot to put her rivals away easily. Further, she was immediately spelled and always gave the impression she would come back improved. The filly will need some luck from the draw but is proven on the rain-affected ground and can rate to win.
Dangers: 5. Walkintalkin drops sharply in grade and is rock hard fit. Expect him to roll forward, and he is suited with the claim. 9. Missouk is another runner returning without a trial, but she won well first-up last campaign. Both of her career peaks have come fresh, and she maps to have all favours with Tommy Berry riding. Add 4. Time For Victory and 1. Custo to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Costa Smeralda WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).
Race 7 - 4:55PM BISHOP COLLINS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS BM 64 HCP (1600 METRES)
1. My Truth is ready to improve third-up and receives a more suitable race setup. The gelding has been honest in both runs this prep and drops in grade here. He gets out to 1600m on rain-affected ground, where he has produced his peak figures and has multiple winning ratings for this event. In addition, he gets in well at the weights after the claim for Jett Stanley and expect him to run boldly. Each-way.
Dangers: 4. Whatadilemma had all favours when breaking through for his maiden win last start, but the race's the last section had merit relative to the day. He is drawn awkwardly, but key indicators suggest he can make the step. 6. Crystal Waters is now at optimal fitness and expecting sharp improvement from 9. Vandelay Style out to 1600m. Market watch on 8. Utopian Wine, who is 29 days between runs.
How to play it: My Truth E/W ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds).
Best Bet Race 2 # 4 - Restonica
Next Best Race 5 # 4 - Tears For Fears
Best Value Race 3 # 5 - Impulsivity
