Ray Hickson
Race 1: MIDWAY HANDICAP (1500M)
5. Attractiveness has found an excellent race to back up her impressive Midway win from a couple of weeks ago. She always travelled nicely and sprinted like a handy one to put the race away. No issues with the extra 100m, she only rises half a kilo after the claim and draws to get the right run again. Hard to go past. 9. Motoscafo had no hope at Kensington last time as she didn’t settle back in the field off a wide run and was pushed wider on the home turn. She still made some late ground when balanced up. Her run in this grade prior was promising and on a drying track she’s a good each-way hope. 1. Cuban Cigar is building a good record at the provincial level and finished strongly to score first-up at Wyong. Plenty of pluses with the claim and run under the belt. 7. Jonson is another up and comer. Backed up a maiden win at Gosford with a Class 1 at Wyong where he surged late to score. Also gets some weight relief.
How to play it: Attractiveness to win.
Race 2: KIA ORA BLOODLINES TO HEADLINES HANDICAP (1300M)
3. Steel Will looks a promising colt and he had the easiest of first-up wins at Wyong a couple of weeks ago. He was competitive with some smart ones last time in, and in a race with not a lot of depth he’s entitled to loom large. 2. Thrill Hunter was a shade unlucky not to finish a lot closer when resuming at Randwick behind Scintillation three weeks back. She picked up good ground when she got away from the horse weakening in front and shapes as though the trip will suit. 1. Plagiarism was placed in the Golden Gift on debut and ran a couple of handy races after that around subsequent Group 1 winners. May get some control from the soft draw. 4. Letters Patent comes through the Scintillation race where he ran an even fifth as favourite. A place hope.
How to play it: Steel Will to win.
Race 3: TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1300M)
1. Tom Vegas has taken on some group races and run okay and was placed in a Highway at this track last season. He looked very sharp winning his only trial leading in, he’s drawn well and has the claim. No surprise to see him figure somewhere in the finish. 14. Valedor comes back from a mile where he was too strong at Scone to make it two wins from three starts. It may be a shade unders given the jockey booking and distance drop but respect the stable’s decision to be here. 17. Zousanity is a lightly raced mare making her Highway debut on the back of easy on pace wins at Tamworth and Gunnedah. Tougher but gets in light and draws to be prominent. 19. Lyon managed to beat Leovanni to win a maiden in June, he backed that up with another fast finishing win before just failing to catch King Jerry at Scone. He’s very well-bred and hitting his straps.
How to play it: Tom Vegas each-way.
Race 4: SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1900M)
11. Leovanni backs up after measuring right up to this company with a game second over the mile last week at Randwick. She rallied when put under pressure behind the leader and you had to like how she attacked the line. Won at 1800m prior in Highway grade after doing some work and can only see her running well. 7. Yamato Satona is a real wild card at his second run for the Stokes stable. He was a handy staying three-year-old in New Zealand last season and should find the trip more to his liking than at Sale first-up over the mile. Blinkers on. 6. Concordia Wind found plenty late to run down Deep Pleasure at Kensington under a big weight. She goes to this trip for the first time, draws to do no work and should be competitive. 2. Hovland proved a bit too good for them at Eagle Farm a few weeks ago and lands in an open race. Aside from one flop he’s been excellent this preparation.
How to play it: Leovanni to win.
Race 5: PETALUMA HANDICAP (1400M)
4. Transcend had a bit too much to do from back in the field when she resumed at Kensington but she showed she’s come back in good order working home into fourth. Different set up for her this time from an ideal gate where she can land closer and expecting her to be right in the finish. 5. Glissando has had a couple of strolls in the park to win at Kembla and Canterbury and if she’s allowed to control again from the wide gate she will be hard to run down. Comes back from the 1550m last time. Hard to knock while still on the up. 10. Mind Ya Bizz handled the step from provincial to Saturday grade last week when bloused by Avista. No harder this time and she’s one of the chances if she backs it up. 3. Aisle Two found the line well when resuming at Randwick behind Astronomix and can only be fitter for it. Away from her group 1 attempt she’s been consistent.
How To Play It: Transcend to win.
Race 6: PROVEN THOROUGHBREDS HANDICAP (1100M)
11. Off The Press looks over the odds in a race that has many questions. He ran well through his first campaign for the new stable, winning at Kensington in December among them, and he looks to have trialled pretty well out of town. Draw gives him options and he’s a good each-way chance. 4. Kimberley Secrets has the wide gate to deal with but she does go forward and she looked all over a winner first-up before being ambushed by Annie’s Rose along the inside late. She’s not run a bad race in some time and with a little luck, will give a big sight. 3. Polyglot can be hit and miss but can forgive him for his midfield finish in the same race three weeks ago. Won here second-up and is the type you don’t want to leave out in a race like this. 13. Street Artist is a little hard to line up. He was a beaten favourite at Flemington last time off a promising effort from well back at Caulfield. Blinkers off, imagine they go back and he could run on into the finish.
How To Play It: Off The Press each-way.
Race 7: ASAHI SUPER DRY HANDICAP (1200M)
5. Hawker Hall picks himself as the one they have to get past to win this. It largely comes down to how comfortable he’s able to lead and looking down the field he should find it comfortably enough. Held on when resuming at Randwick and can only be fitter. He was dynamic in beating Roselyn’s Star over 1200m at Gold Coast earlier the year. The trip holds no fears. 10. Eagle Express could be a dangerous stalker from that inside gate first-up. Won over the track and distance in January and she’s had a couple of jump outs in Victoria in preparation. Must respect her. 8. Istolea Merc was the one charging at Hawker Hall late a few weeks ago and meets him 1.5kg better at the weights. Against that he’s drawn out so tactic changes are worth looking for. 6. Torque To Be Sure warmed up at the finish of the same race when fifth and he should be better for that with the extra 100m in his favour.
How To Play It: Hawker Hall to win.
Race 8: TAB ROSEBUD (1100M)
10. Castillo King ran up to his trials when he scored a dominant debut win at Warwick Farm a month ago and while this is no easy assignment he looks to have some quality. Ticked over with a trial between runs and while drawn a shade awkwardly, there should be some genuine enough speed. Showed in his only start how well he can hit the line. 7. Chilly Girl hasn’t raced since an all the way win in the Widden Stakes in January as she missed a Slipper campaign through injury. She’s trialled smartly including the latest splitting Apocalyptic and Headwall. Drawn to land on the speed and is a big chance. 6. Blue Door did some work to get up on the speed at her only start in the Kindergarten and held off a smart one in The Next Episode to win that race in April. On trial against older horses was sound and she has to be respected. 3. Central Europe might find the 1100m a touch sharp but if they do get along, he’ll be suited. He ran well in both starts in the autumn and has been kept to two sharper trials this time in so not going to underestimate.
How To Play It: Castillo King to win.
Race 9: RACING AND SPORTS HANDICAP (1400M)
1. Attica resumes as a gelding and on the evidence of his trials leading into this he’s a horse that means business. He ran well when resuming in behind Ninja in the Hobartville and placed in the Randwick Guineas but didn’t quite fire in a couple of big group 1s. This is a nice starting point, imagine he looks to go forward to a degree and is sure to be competitive. 3. Fully Lit is a big watch first-up at a suitable trip especially given there’s not a lot of pace here. He’s coming off a long break since last spring but if he performs anywhere near his best, he’s a good chance. 11. Althoff was a real eye-catcher when he resumed two weeks ago over 1300m and you can tack on a bit given he had to make his run down the middle. Does tend to have a negative racing style which can play against him but with luck, hard to beat. 12. Rolling Magic gets right down in the weights after scoring an impressive Midway win first-up a month ago. Has the racing pattern which should see him enjoy a nice run and he could measure up.
How To Play It: Attica to win.
Race 10: ROSEHILL BOWLING CLUB HANDICAP (1400M)
10. Tarzing was a victim of an unfortunate set up and pattern last time as he drew out when you needed to be in and found himself too far off the pace to be a threat. Still ran okay but this is a different race and there should be good early speed to allow him to land a bit closer from the better gate. He’s well worth another chance. 9. Steel Strike took advantage of the draw and his racing style when winning that race in question and he did it quite well. Again finds that stalking role, rises 2.5kg for the win and is hard to ignore. 8. Silvanito carries the same form line and he held his good recent form to run a close third in that race. May need to concede a bit more ground this time but he’s racing well and is in the mix. 16. Starman is a little enigmatic but he’s consistent enough when right and will be fitter for one run back in the same event. Another with a big barrier switch and no surprise if he lands in the placings.
How To Play It: Tarzing to win.
Supplied by Racing NSW
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