Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - A tricky contest for the 2yos. MANUSCRIPT (3) debuts and is hard to go past based on the two Randwick trial wins. The colt will run along and should take passing. SOHO ARTIST (8) debuts owning a Hawkesbury trial win. Should appreciate the inside gate and can give a sight. GLOBAL MISS (5) debuts and won a recent Warwick Farm trial comfortably. Has a low barrier and also profiles well. BEYOND MY KEN (1) is another debutant who's looked good at the trials. Has to be considered. FAST BLUE (2) has been freshened off solid efforts at the provincials. Has the race experience and that counts.
RACE 2 - DUNALOCE (7) won the Newcastle Maiden and then just missed there over 1880m in this grade. Uses the inside gate and will be tough to beat. EVER WAS (2) was beaten 9.4L behind Wymark at Newcastle but covered the others and had been threatening prior. Easier and expect him to go well. SILENT RUSSIAN (4) was good at Wyong following the switch from a Sydney yard and then found Dancing With Hooves much too good at Tamworth starting as a $3 favourite. Races forward and should run out the extra metres. Gets another chance. LADYKING (12) and JUST IMMORTAL (11) are both Sydney-trained improvers who must be kept onside.
RACE 3 - The local FULD'S DOUBT (12) was spelled off the nose defeat here as a short-priced favourite and resumes owning a 6.2L Muswellbrook trial win. She will be naturally improved and is the one to beat. MASTER MIYAGI (2) brings a string of narrow defeats including twice here. Comes back to the shorter sprint following a brief freshen and is the threat. POPPY BOXER (13) debuts and owns a Beaumont trial win. Maps for the run of the race and she's likely to go well. TERRITORY DAY (3) debuts and has looked good at the trials. McGuren sticks from one of them but the outside gate will prove a test. FOXWELL (1) resumes with the blinkers first-time applied and showed enough at the back of his first preparation to consider.
RACE 4 - GENTILESCHI (7) missed a whisker on debut and then was thrown into the deep end in the Listed Reginald Allen at Randwick beaten 5L. She has trialled well for her return and will be naturally improved. She'll be tough to beat. NEW PHAROAH (1) was tried at Listed level before the spell and resumed with a nice placed effort at Newcastle. Brings the best figures but the awkward barrier needs managing. NAAHRO (5) resumes and wasn't far away last preparation. Was heavily bet the two most recent and has had two trial warmers. Has scope for more improvement and is likely to go well. Stablemate TRAJECTILE (11) resumes owning two soft trials and has shown enough to suggest she'll be around the mark.
RACE 5 - MORE SZYSLAK (5) resumed with a much improved placing here and then was better again at Tamworth breaking Maidens. Impressed in that and fitter he's capable of taking the next step. WARIALDA WARRIOR (11) won the CL1 easily here over a middle distance and then was outgraded in the G1 Victoria Derby at Flemington. He has plenty of ability and has trialled well over 1000m. Kicks off at 1400m suggesting he can give a sight. HOT BANDIT (12) maps well and hasn't been far away at Newcastle and Dubbo in his last two. A chance. SIXSPEED (3) is third-up seeking the hat-trick off comfortable country wins. Has a handy 4kg claim and has the early speed to clear the wide barrier. In the mix with average luck.
RACE 6 - HELLCIBELL (5) is a decent chance to record a race-to-race double for the Cavanough yard. Went close at Newcastle first-up seeking the hat-trick and will be even better second-up. She races on speed and the shorter sprint won't be a bother. SHINE YOUR LIGHT (7) is right up to this but has disappointed her last two. Races well here and three back was only beaten 1.2L in a Highway at Randwick. Draws for a soft on-pace run and is worth another chance. RAMONES (1) has threatened twice since the switch from a Sydney yard. There was only a nose in it this grade at Tamworth 12 days ago and still has plenty up his sleeve. Uses the low barrier and has a handy 2kg claim. SKY ARTIST (8) was an easy CL winner at Goulburn and then things didn't work out in a 64 at Newcastle. In a top Sydney barn and it wouldn't surprise if she turned things around.
RACE 7 - REMEMBER JACK (12) went back to back and was spelled off a luckless run in a Randwick. Resumed at the same track/grade beaten 3.6L after meeting trouble at the start. Fitter and he's one 2/2 second up. Draws somewhat better and will be hard to beat. CASINO LORD (3) resumes for the Morgan yard and was last seen placing at Eagle Farm in stronger company. Was tried at Group level the two before and has warmed up with a trial here. Has a handy barrier and a 3kg claim and should be ready to go. MOETTA (1) resumes and is a speedy galloper who impressed in the country last preparation in Open grade. Flies fresh and has a handy 4kg claim. Will give a sight. ZANZIBAR GEM (13) resumed with a solid effort at Newcastle and has more to give off that. Has the rail and also deserves consideration.
RACE 8 - BELVEDERE BOYS (8) has won two of his last three this preparation all in city races well-bet. Orman delivered on him at Doomben first-up and is here to ride. Peaks now and is the one to beat. SHARP SHOCK (11) went close in a Highway behind the above and wasn't too far away following in the G3 Newcastle Stakes. Came from the back and posted a strong relative figure. Has a cruel barrier and that's the dampener. JACENZA (1) was back in the winner's stall after demolishing the 66 graders at Tamworth. He led in and will skip over today from an awkward gate. He will give a sight. Not much between the stablemates MELODY AGAIN (14) and ONE BEAT NO BEAT (15) and both are capable of getting some minor spoils.
