Track Good 4 and rail out 7m:
Race 1 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2145m):
We start over the long trip on a track that will be very firm. Consistent mare 4. Steamed Hams is on a nine day back-up after working home impressively in a deeper BM 58 at Moruya. That came off a four week turnaround, and with an obvious fitness improvement and getting out to the longer trip, she's ready to win again and make it two from her last four.
Dangers: Last start CL1 winner 1. Just Boogie is very fit and gets first use of the inside with the rail out a fair way. Keep safe improving 2. Genjiro who finished off well here in similar grade 11 days ago; while 5. Heromania is also a chance deep into the prep.
How to play it: Steamed Hams to win
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1200m):
Lightly raced home track filly 5. Stromness is bred to get further, and well placed here to break through at just her second start. Liked the way she kept chasing on debut at Wagga when backed from $3.10 into $2.80, and from a low draw with a weight claim, she's the one to beat.
Dangers: Expecting further third-up improvement from 1. Hot Toddy over a furlong further after flashing late last time. Watch the betting on Astern filly 4. Motorboat who is trained on the track, and debuts behind two quiet trials. Both 9. Bedouin Bear with a light weight; and 11. Texas Open third-up and down sharply in weight; go in trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Stromness to win
Race 3 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m):
Progressive metro filly 9. Siovy Dane has good tactical speed over this short journey, and can go back-to-back. Took control of her maiden second-up in heavy ground, ploughing well clear over the final furlong, and is right up this higher level from a handy draw, and dropping 2.5kg in weight.
Dangers: Emerging 3. Picksix did everything right on debut at Canberra, settling at the back before zooming over the top late. Has plenty of scope, and finds another spacious track with a suitably long run home. Honest mare 7. Anini finally broke her maiden deep into her prep at this course when tracking the speed over the same trip. Draws to get another cheap run, but the query is she seems to save her best for rain-affected ground. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Kiss The Colours first-up with no public trials; and 6. Forty Four Cubits third-up with gear changes.
How to play it: Siovy Dane to win
Race 4 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
Staying at the distance in a far more open affair. Progressive Randwick filly 9. Quality Miss is poised to strike third-up in her first full prep. Was only even to the line here when resuming after doing some work from the wide barrier, but was stronger through the line in a handy heavy track maiden at Muswellbrook, and again mapped to get an economical run just off the speed.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by 1. Big Shooter who resumes from a low draw behind a forward trial, with key gear changes. Must keep safe 10. Reine Of Nine who has let punters down as a short-priced fancy in both runs back this prep, but has the ability and importantly gets blinkers on for the first time. Watch the market around Russian Revolution filly 8. Lulo Rose who debuts for the Matthew Smith yard off three steady trials.
How to play it: Quality Miss to win
Race 5 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
A stack of chances here over the mile in by far the most open race on the program. Settled on one at big odds here in progressive four-year-old 3. Jack Of Aces who is hard fit stepping up from a dominant maiden win over the same journey. Was $3.10 into $2.70 when tracking the speed & going home best at Gosford, and while there's naturally more depth here jumping from a tough gate, the early $11.00 was well over the mark.
Dangers: Any number could be queuing up, starting with consistent 4. Promising Prospect who draws the fence, and steps up sharply in trip after hitting the line here over 1200m. Must include improving 8. Don Stefano third-up with weight relief for an in-form country stable. An each way case can also be made for 9. Super Defense who led all the way to claim a country maiden at his second start, and draws to sit right on the speed again. Include 1. Elemental resuming; 6. This Is The Moment back to country level third-up; and 13. Miss Uchitel second-up; in wider exotic plays.
How to play it: Jack Of Aces each way
Race 6 MAIDEN PLATE (1400m):
Plenty of chances again coming back a furlong in distance, starting with well-touted metro filly 12. Willabelle lining up for only her second start a month between runs. Nothing went to plan on debut at Canberra as a heavily backed favourite, but she has ability and can bounce back here, parking just off the speed from a low draw.
Dangers: Progressive filly 9. Art Volant is a serious threat deep into the prep. Worked home okay in three provincial runs before being ridden a lot quieter at Scone and doing her best work late. Improving 4. Godzilla will find this more to his liking second-up. Track the market on imported ex-UK mare 8. Awtaar having her first run since late June for the Annabel Neasham yard, and has trialled well over 1200m.
How to play it: Willabelle to win
Race 7 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1300m):
Another tricky and open affair, although three-year-old metro raider 8. Missile Seeker finds the right race second-up. Charged home from well back to only miss by a long head in heavy ground first-up at Nowra, and that reads well for this from another cover draw, up a furlong in distance and back on top of the ground
Dangers: Big watch on 3. Invasive third-up after leading from barrier to box in a weaker CL2 17 days ago. Promising local mare 6. Eight Of A Kind rewarded punters with a smart fresh win here, but second-up form not as good, and taking on a mucher deeper line-up. Improving 5. Just Go Bang can run into the money second-up; as can 10. Discreet Miss who has been sparingly raced this prep, but generally saves her best for dry ground.
How to play it: Missile Seeker to win
Race 8 CLASS 1 HCP (1200m):
Value galore in the closer as well headed by lightly raced and progressive filly 5. Straight Fire having only her third start. Did her best work late from the back on debut in soft ground before rocketing home to claim her maiden at Wagga. Looks capable of winning better races than this, and can park a bit closer in the run from a softer draw.
Dangers: Exciting home track filly 4. Miss Scoop will likely jump clear favourite after a dominant debut win at Nowra in front of our top selection a month ago. Has continued to work well, but wouldn't be diving into too short a price in a race that has very handy depth for this class. Keep safe resuming 6. Tokyo Ice having bolted in her maiden at this track as a hot favourite last December. Both 2. Chasing A Quid deep into his prep from a low draw; and 3. Letme Entertainyou third-up; can run into the minor money.
How to play it: Straight Fire to win
BEST BETS:
R2 5. STROMNESS
R3 9. SIOVY DAN
BEST VALUE:
R8 5. STRAIGHT FIRE
