Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - WARICA (2) took advantage of a sharp drop in grade to win at the track and distance last start. He maps for a similar run tracking a decent speed and looks a big chance of going back-to-back. GEEGEE JET BY (1) won for the first time in a long time when victorious. QUICKEN UP (4) went too slow as the pilot here last Wednesday. Byrne Burke goes back aboard and won on the horse two starts ago. GEE GEE ALS PRINCE (3) has been plain in his two runs back but would be right up to this at his best.
RACE 2 - ROW ROW POWER (6) runs here over 1200m instead of 1100m on his home track on Tuesday. The way he raced on debut suggests the extra distance is a positive. FIGHTING FOR GOLD (8) has been scratched a few times since her October trials but looks poised to debut here with the benefit of a good draw. Her trials point towards a forward showing. CORONATION KEELY (13) won a Longford trial in moderate time but did it easily. Sarah Cotton has her team going well. KABOOM KABOOM (14) was looked after in the home straight first-up and should've finished a bit closer. She gets the winkers on but has tended to give a start away. PONSFORD (5) has shown a bit at the trials and should land in a forward position with Siggy in the saddle.
RACE 3 - GEE GEES RUN OUT (13) has had a month since she kicked on strongly for second at the track and distance, clearly best of the on pacers in that race. She draws far more favourably than other key chances. LOVIN' BEV (11) is one of those, guaranteed to start from the widest barrier. She'll give a sight if she can spear across, and while no match for the quinella last time, she spaced fourth. JOHNNIE PINCH (7) ran up to a big market drift when he resumed, settling well back in the field. Blinkers go on, which may allude to a change of tactics. MINDFUL (12) is another who had the choice between Hobart and Launceston. She didn't have a heap of luck last time and draws for an economical run. FOREIGN LEGION (2) went far better than the market expected last time despite enduring a wide run.
RACE 4 - KNOT DANCING (5) was ridden ugly last time but showed his staying prowess with a tough victory against a lot of the same opposition. Barrier 1 doesn't look ideal for a horse that likes to wind up, and he rises 2kg. PENNINE (8) was the market mover in that race and didn't have a lot of clear air until the winner had pinched a break. He'll have followers again, particularly with that 2100m race behind him. MONTE FLEUR (7) and STORM GIVER (9) are the two main hopes making the jump from 1600m races last start. Both are racing well enough to be in the mix, but the first attempt at 2100m always presents an unknown. KING KURT (4) has raced without luck for most of his Tassie career, including last start, where he went from being buried on the rail to widest on the turn.
RACE 5 - CREATIVE LICENCE (1) returns from a break having not missed the quinella in four local starts for Imogen Miller. He maps for the run of the race, tracking a genuine speed and should have his chance from there. RUBBLEONTHEDOUBLE (2) is another last-start winner coming off a break. He received a super ride that day for Hayley McCarthy and was the best part of two months between runs when he won there. EXTREME GEM (3) led on her terms last time and was grabbed late by a couple that had a class edge. There does look to be some pressure on speed here from the likes of BARMAID GIRL (4) and VENTUS (7). Both draw wide and will need excellent rides to replicate their feats of last start.
RACE 6 - A few angles here, and most come out of slowly run races. MALEVOLENT (5) was plain here as favourite two starts ago but bounced back with an unlucky third last time out. He'll need some runs to present from a low draw that didn't open last Wednesday. Similarly, GEEGEE LUCKY JESS (2) didn't have a heap of luck when second to the progressive Royal and Tough over 1200m. She does have two 1400m wins to her credit. GEE GEE SILENTNITE (6) had the race put on for him in front last time and duly saluted. O'REILLY MCLUKE (3) should join him on the speed, and a more genuine tempo seems likely in a bigger field. GEEGEELUCKYSTAR (1) gets to 1400m off two 1100m runs, and as the highest-rated horse in the race, the 4kg claim for Jackson Radley looks particularly useful.
RACE 7 - RISING LIGHT (2) received a pass mark for his return over an unsuitable 1200m, further emphasised by the slow tempo of that race. This race should be run much quicker, and he maps for a good trailing transit. The old warrior SIR SIMON (3) shows no real sign of slowing down. The inside draw puts some pressure on Pires to get him out of the gates, given his desire to lead in his races. AZARA (7) and KING ISLAND (8) are down in weight for the rise in grade and get their chance to see where they fit in open company. ROMARY (4) has an outstanding Launceston record, but that's somewhat offset by a first-up record of just one win from six starts. Where she slots in from the wide draw is a query with four potential leaders in the race.
RACE 8 - STONE COLD STUNNER (2) looks to find an ideal race to deliver a winning hat-trick. A dominant winner at the mile last start, she looks the progressive horse in a field lacking depth and quality. CHICANE (1) was backed into a very short quote and disappointed 12 days ago. Kelvin Sanderson was intent on getting off the fence there from barrier 1, so the wide draw may suit, given he retains the ride. KAY OH ELL (4) is often well-found in the market but rarely runs up to the support. DOONICAN (5) will strip fitter from his 1400m run here last start where he wasn't beaten far.
