Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - CAN'T RECALL ONE (1) impressed when he settled back before coming home strongly to score on debut over 1300m at this track two weeks ago. Open to natural improvement and the extra trip suits. Could take closer order from a lower draw. Can go on with it. DANCE FOR ME RANDY (2) placed fresh then showed good pace over 1000m at Townsville last time and went on to score by 2 lengths. Taking on a better line-up this time but he has upside. MISHANI REACTOR (6) is knocking on the door, the latest effort a solid third at this track over 1300m. Has ground to make up on Can't Recall One through that run but can be competitive. MR CROWNING MOMENT (3) may improve up in trip at start number two.
RACE 2 - DEFERENTIAL (5) kicked off the campaign with a win then wound up strongly last time out to finish a long neck adrift in second at this track and trip. In good shape and draws well so has winning claims. LUMENS LENNY (6) led throughout for a winning debut over this trip then got a long way back in a 3YO quality last time over 1110m at Doomben. Tackling a more suitable race this time so can bounce back. GRAND METEOR (13) is going well having yet to miss a place. Won his maiden two back at Doomben then stuck on over a longer journey here last time. The distance drop may suit. TO WISH (8) is racing well including a win at this track and trip two back. Contender.
RACE 3 - NAVAL TRADER (5) put the writing on the wall second up when he chased well at this track and trip to be beaten only a neck into third. Races well third-up with a win and a placing from two attempts so should be hitting his peak now and has yet to miss a place in five tries at the distance, winning twice. Can strike today. TARPS (6) pushed forward to lead from a wide draw last start and kept going to win by 0.8 lengths over 1200m at Doomben. Bailey Wheeler who has scored on him three times retains the mount. Has the pace to take advantage of the inside draw. IVERSON (7) drifted back from his wide draw but hit the line hard to score a resuming win by 0.6 lengths at Doomben over 1350m. Could go on with it. DAMO DAYZ (9) is two from two here so the return to this course could be the key to him finding form.
RACE 4 - OAKFIELD WALLABY (3) has been consistent with a string of top-four finishes since back-to-back wins. Came home strongly last start to finish second, beaten 1.1 lengths over 2206m at this track. Could be hard to hold out over the longer journey. CHAYSE 'N' ARTIE (2) put the writing on the wall last start when he dropped in trip but worked home well over 1800m at Gold Coast, beaten only 0.7 lengths. The longer distance should suit better so has winning claims in a suitable race. Hard to knock the form of DISPUTED RIVER (5) following a hat trick of wins and he strikes at 50 per cent at this journey so must respect.
RACE 5 - BRENTWOOD (5) is racing well with placings at both starts since a fresh win, the latest a 0.8 length second at Doomben. Drops in the weights for this and is race fit. Big chance. TRIBECA STAR (4) has progressed nicely in his last couple of runs. Finished second at this track two starts back then scored by half a length as favourite last time out over 1410m in a Country Championships qualifier at Grafton. Chance to make it two on the trot. RAINBOW CONNECTION (1) lifted strongly to salute by 1.3 lengths three runs back at Ipswich before filling a minor placing at his last two starts. Races well here and Orman goes on. HE'S HEAVEN (6) took his strike rate at this distance range to 50 per cent with a fresh win at Doomben. Could go on with it.
RACE 6 - SHARP DAZZLER (2) has relished getting to this track with three wins on end, running on to salute by 2.2 lengths over 1400m last time. Only needs to hold that form to go close again. TRANSATLANTIC (4) will strip fitter second-up after he settled well back but worked home to be beaten 3 lengths over 1400m when resuming. His form last campaign was good so expect better. SIDE SHOW (3) has yet to miss a place in NSW this time in, scoring two back at Hawkesbury before a second over 1400m at Kembla Grange, beaten one length. Can measure up. NEW JOY (7) registered a good win two runs ago then turned in another nice run last time out when second over 1835m at this track, beaten 0.7 lengths. Can play a role along with last-start winner SHAMEDY (1) who has been consistent in the north.
RACE 7 - BELLA TIVACI (9) had put together a string of top-two finishes including a second over a similar journey here two back before dropping back to the mile when beaten less than 2L last time. Has two wins and two placings from five tries at this distance range so makes each way appeal. SUBUKI (12) heads north off a string of wins and placings in NSW. Draws nicely and races well at this distance. Contender. TRIPLE MONEY (3) has been racing well at Sunshine Coast, scoring over a mile two back and placing over this journey last time. Include along with TWICE ON SUNDAY (5) who has a win and a placing in two tries at this journey.
RACE 8 - PRESS LINK (2) is a promising gelding who returned from a break last start and made it two wins from as many starts, scoring by 2.3 lengths over 1110m at Doomben. Has plenty of upside and can go through his grades. TELLEZ (5) heads north with decent form in Sydney having finished close to the placegetters in both runs since a win at Warwick Farm. Orman goes aboard so looks an each way player. VINDICTA (8) couldn't get into the action in a quality last start but has kicked off his career with a string of top-two finishes so may be worth another chance. SPIN DOCTOR (1) owns a good fresh record and will be ready to go off two trials, winning the latest.
RACE 9 - NORTHERN EXPRESS (7) has returned in fine form having made it back-to-back wins since a spell when successful last start over this trip at Doomben, getting home by half a length. Freshened since but kept up to the mark with a trial win. Can do it again. ARENTEE (3) was back from a let-up when he kept chasing to be beaten 2.6 lengths into fifth at Doomben three weeks ago. Can progress off that. MISHANI SNIPER (2) is close to a win having placed in his last three starts, last time finishing 1.8 lengths from the winner in second over 1000m at this track. In the mix again. RANCH HAND (4) and STARVIRGO (10) both made good returns in the same race at Doomben and are open to improvement.
RACE 10 - HYDE (1) made an encouraging return when he kept chasing for third over 1350m at Doomben. Flies second-up with two wins and a placing from three attempts and is well placed over the longer journey, winning two of three tries. Improver with strong claims. THESECONDATPORTSEA (16) chased hard to score by a nose at this track and distance last time out to make it two-for-two this prep. Hard to knock winning form so must respect. KOKONOTSU (10) was beaten only 1.5 lengths when resuming. Strikes at 50 per cent here and won his lone attempt at the journey so improvement is likely. SENESCHAL (14) is going well, winning here two back and working home in a last-start second over this trip. Contender. Expecting more from BLAZEN BOOTS (13) up in trip second up.
