Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - ASTRO WORLD (7) made an encouraging debut last time out, finishing one length from the winner in second over 1400m at this track. Has ability and looks sure to measure up. MOMENT IN THE SUN (2) was doing his best work late last start to get up for third over 1200m at Belmont Park. Another bold showing is expected. CHEST OUT SWAGGER (1) turned in a bold run first up when he tried to lead throughout but faded and finished sixth, beaten 2.5 lengths at Pinjarra. One of the main contenders. LENNOX LASS (8) raced in town last time and missed the frame, finishing tenth over 1200m at Belmont Park. Backmarker who gets home hard. Must be respected.
RACE 2 - VENUS KING (12) steps up to the mile and has shown enough in his two starts to suggest this is a winnable assignment. Strips fitter and has weight relief. He has the inside gate and can use it. LATE FLYER (1) has been going close over middle distances and drops back to the 1675m following a 49-day freshen. He will likely give them a start but can hit the line hard. WHISTLING WARRIOR (9) has pieces of form that would give her a chance. Had excuses here last time and is on a 7-day return. She may sit closer today. MAID AN OFFER (2) is a former Victorian who'd win comfortably at best. He led and showed more last time and will likely skip across the field again. No surprise if he was to improve into the finish.
RACE 3 - COSMIC ECLIPSE (10) went well as favourite on debut and the money came again here first up and she was narrowly beaten. Maps for a soft run and will keep improving. It's hard to risk the potent Pike-Williams linkage. HYPERREAL (2) comes out of the same contest and finished ahead of the above. He has more to offer and is capable of going one better. PEARL KING (13) debuts and brings two sharp trials from Lark Hill, with Pike aboard the latest. Chris Parnham rides and will be keen to use the rails barrier. SUPER SNIPPY (1) was only beaten 1.2L in the Cosmic Eclipse race making good improvement. He strips fitter but an outside gate makes it harder today.
RACE 4 - Tricky. L'IL CAPRI (15) trialled well and did a big job on debut when beaten 2L after settling back from a wide gate. She has the rail today and can race handier. Pike stays aboard the Williams-trained galloper and she'll be hard to beat with the extra fitness. Stablemate FLASH OF DALLAS (9) is first-up and has to be kept onside. She just missed two back in the Group 3 Oaks over a staying trip. You'd think she would find this too short but she's trialled 2x and CJP stays aboard. The betting will be key. UNIVERSAL HOTNESS (6) is third-up and close to a win. He maps well and finally draws a low barrier. RUNAWAY WINSTON (7) spelled off a much-improved effort and has trialled extra well x2 at Belmont to assist his return. Has an outside barrier but he can make the finish with average luck.
RACE 5 - BEACH PAD (1) has been tried at Stakes and Group level and has been narrowly beaten both his starts in this preparation. He was heavily backed at Belmont last time and he has more to give. May be looking for longer now but he's hard to go past on what he's showing. MIRO (3) dropped back to this distance at Belmont and went a lot better. He is still off his peaks and he can sit handier today from the inside gate. CJP stays aboard the Durrant-trained galloper. OMERTA GRACE (4) made sharp improvement second-up winning the Maiden over 1600m. The gun hoop stays aboard and the gelding won't have to be much improved to make the finish. COULDHAVEBEEN (2) was a big Maiden winner on a heavy track and is as good on top of the ground. Maps for the run of the race and Chris Parnham rides.
RACE 6 - MIA GUSTO (7) resumed with a 2.2L defeat on the Belmont heavy before placing there on the slow. She's proven third-up and ran his best figure on a good surface. She has weight relief and she's in an in-form barn. ESTIMATOR (1) runs along and is in peak form. 3x winning rider Brad Parnham is reunited and will be hard to peg back over the shorter sprint. MAGNUM CLASS (4) raced on speed narrowly beaten over 1000m at Pinjarra. He has to run out a strong 1200m but maps well and Chris Parnham is a key jockey booking. AUDREY GRACE (6) has a handy gate and tumbles in weight following the tidy CL1 win at Belmont. She's in the mix along with MILITARY POWER (3), who has the same distance proviso as Magnum Class.
RACE 7 - MORE LIKELY (1) peaks and can bounce back into the winner's circle. The win here was good and deserved and he was cruelled by a wide barrier at Northam last time stepping out to 1600m. CJP sticks aboard and will give him every chance. GREAT FORTUNE (5) switched barns and was beaten 1L at Belmont first-up over 1300m. He has a sticky gate but is proven second-up and Pike is a key jockey switch. He has more to give and fitter should go close. SIMPLY THINKIN' (2) resumes and is another winning chance for the in-form Durrant yard. Owns a sharp trial (CJP rode) and will be naturally improved. She draws an outside gate and that is a niggle. GALANCY (8) is third-up and goes in at a price.