Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Track Soft 7 and rail True
Race 1 SUPER MAIDEN HCP (1100m)
On a surface that should sneak back into soft range and in a race where little separates the main contenders, the only two-year-old in the field, 7. Dark Gleam, by former top sprinter Brazen Beau, can strike on debut as a gelding. He has been given two progressive trials and is bred to handle this sort of ground.
Racing returns to Gosford on Friday with a nine-race card.
Dangers: Big market watch on Godolphin’s 1. Presides, by the late great Lonhro, who debuts as a gelding from the inside gate behind two steady trials. Improving filly 5. Floodgates is knocking on the door ahead of her fourth start, while 8. Du Cap missed by a head in heavy ground last start coming off a five week freshen-up. The second of the Godolphin runners, 9. Lily Bobtail, resumes for a second start off two trials.
How to play it: Dark Gleam to win.
Race 2 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
Tricky juvenile affair here, with most on debut, and one of them, 5. True Amor, looks set to announce himself. He progressed into a dominant second trial recently, sitting off the speed and cruising through from the 250m to win with plenty in reserve, and looks far above average for the John O’Shea yard. He’s bred to thrive, being by prolific wet-track sire I Am Invincible and out of a Fastnet Rock mare.
Dangers: Got plenty of time for Tassort filly 7. Cashaway Gold, who resumes for her second start off a five-month spell and has trialled well enough. Must include well-touted Snitzel filly 8. Declichy Boulevard, who returns for her first run in NSW for the new Chris Waller stable behind two strong trials. Gap to the rest, headed by provincial filly 11. Smashing Rosie and Godolphin debutant 12. Tarragon, a Blue Point filly who can add plenty of value into trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: True Amor to win.
Race 3 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
Take Two for the youngsters over the same trip and promising colt 6. Zealously only needs to get across from the wide draw to be the one to beat, resuming for only his second start. Fought on for a long way when debuting on the Kensington track and is fitted with a smart trial win.
Dangers: Big watch on 12. Obscure, who reloads after flopping at this track on debut when backed from $4.80 into $3.80. Came through the worst part of the track that day and has since trialled and is bred to relish the ground, being by Exceed And Excel out of a Street Cry mare. Over the odds as well is 1. Better Breakout, on debut as a gelding wearing blinkers for a renowned fresh stable. He also arrives behind two progressive trials. Include both Justify colt 3. Justice Warrior and Deep Field colt 5. Superhero, who is on debut, in wider exotics.
How to play it: Zealously to win.
Race 4 PROVINCIAL 3YO MAIDEN HCP (1200m)
Plenty of chances in this three-year-old stoush as well, headed by resuming 12. Classic Poetry, who represents the best value in the race, having her first outing for a new Newcastle yard. Didn’t do much in three runs at Geelong last winter before being tipped out, but has been given plenty of time in a stable that loves to get them ready fresh. Fitted with two forward provincial trials and, importantly, races for the first time without blinkers.
Dangers: Plenty of them, starting with 1. Hydrometer, who draws the fence and looks primed at his third start. Despite a much wider barrier, don’t dismiss debutant 3. Lucky Star, who was strong through the line in a recent Hawkesbury trial win and is bred to handle the going. Both improving 4. Rum Diary, peaking third-up, and 5. Veloce Rosa, at bigger odds, can run into the minor money.
How to play it: Classic Poetry each way.
Race 5 MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
Got plenty of time for resuming colt 13. Evenflow, who returns via two eye-catching trials. Was progressive enough in two city runs last prep before being turned out and has reportedly been working well in the lead-up to this. Gets a charmed run from the inside barrier, either leading or sitting right behind, and is right at home on rain-affected ground.
Dangers: Drawn alongside, capable filly 10. Eraantyva will likely go off a short-priced favourite and gets a soft run just off the speed. Only missed by a half length on debut at Canterbury when rock solid in the market and was scratched from the Kensington meeting on Wednesday to be saved for this. It would be a surprise if one of those two didn’t win, but keep safe at good odds 11. Summer Soiree, who has an edge in fitness fourth-up.
How to play it: Evenflow to win.
Race 6 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2100m)
The staying types get their chance here and, in a race with depth and several chances, the best value lies with improving and lightly raced import 3. Hiawatha, having his third start for the Annabel Neasham stable. He was pulled up when resuming off a lengthy break at Kembla and forced to regain a stewards’ clearance before sticking on strong in a similar race here when beaten only a neck. He hits peak fitness now with an in-form and more experienced jockey going on. He is bred to get further and handle the ground, being by the great Camelot out of a Danehill Dancer mare.
Dangers: Naturally progressive and sparingly raced 2. Earth Dance is a threat getting to this journey third-up, so too is tough and improving 11. Royal Standard, who has placed in his last two and is searching for this distance now. Last-start provincial maiden winners 6. Montgomery and 7. Seasons Of Mist are both well into their preps and drawn low, while 12. Waverley can improve third-up.
How to play it: Hiawatha to win.
Race 7 MIDWAY BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1600m)
Always plenty of chances in a Midway affair over the mile, but that means a big price for 3. Whetu, who can upset more fancied rivals second-up. He did his best work late resuming at big odds in similar company at Kembla and the key is getting back on his much-preferred rain-affected ground. He’s drawn to get cover back in the field and while ideally he wants further, nothing will be hitting the line harder.
Dangers: Tough 4. Edge Of Reward is very fit and continues building a solid record. Shoots for a second provincial win in three starts and looms as the measuring stick in suitable going. 1. Arale draws the inside with a 3kg claim and will appreciate the drop back from BM 78 metro company. Include 2. Pandano, back in grade, and 7. Deep Fury, fifth-up, in wider exotics.
How to play it: Whetu each way.
Race 8 FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1100m)
One of the toughest races on the program. Settled on resuming metro filly 8. In Flight, who has her fair share of ability and is comfortable in the going. Never finished further back than second in her first proper prep last time, beating a handy maiden field here second-up. Has been fitted with two trials and she can be expected to settle back off the speed and, importantly, off the fence before producing a superior closing burst from the 300m.
Dangers: Over the odds is 1. Smiling Prophet, coming off a tough third-up win in heavy ground at Wyong and drawn to get cover off the speed. Big watch too on 6. Cosy Corner, who resumes off two forward trials and also draws to get an economical run with cover. Improving 2. Impulsivity was very good two starts back at Newcastle when running home hard to claim a similar race before doing his best work late in tougher class at Canterbury. 3. Divine Vicky, resuming behind two eye-catching soft track trials and is unbeaten fresh, is well capable of finishing in the money. Same could be said for 4. Flightcrew, who is a bigger odds and aims for a third-straight win this prep stepping up from Class 1 level.
How to play it: In Flight to win.
Race 9 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1600m)
The boys’ edition closes the card and it shapes best for smart and lightly raced 3. Norton Road, who can stay unbeaten at his third run returning off a spell. Announced himself with two front-running provincial wins earlier in the year and tuned up for this with a rock-solid heavy-track trial. The one to beat.
Dangers: Keep safe 4. Undivided, who also resumes off two progressive trials with key gear changes and draws to get a cosy trail. Despite drawing wide, 6. Eye Of The Fire has enough tactical speed and acceleration to get over fourth-up, while 10. Unstopabull is on the next line. Clear gap to the rest.
How to play it: Norton Road to win.
BEST BETS: R5 (13) Evenflow, R8 (8) In Flight
BEST VALUE: R7 (3) Whetu
