Ray Hickson
Race 1 – 11:05AM SCONE RSL MIDWAY BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1700 METRES)
6. Viewpoint deserves another chance after he was beaten as favourite in the Midway at Hawkesbury. Did some work to get up handy and wound up in the inferior ground. Looked dynamic in two previous wins and can bounce back. 2. Oakfield Saturn comes back from the Provincial-Midway Championships series where she was narrowly beaten in a qualifier before not running up to her best in the final. Midway winner at a mile before those two runs. Worth considering. 1. Aix En Provence was a shade unlucky in a Midway two runs back, disappointed a little up in class at Hawkesbury. Not badly placed with the claim and his best is good enough. 7. Strawberry Impact didn’t perform to expectation at Hawkesbury, but that’s a rare occurrence and sneaking out in distance again suits him. Each-way claims.
How to play it: Viewpoint to win.
Race 2 – 11:40AM TAB HIGHWAY CLASS 3 HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
11. Red Rags To Bulls is a local that gets back but can produce big finishes on her day. She was a hidden run in a Highway at Randwick, storming from the back to midfield on the line, then warmed up late at 1350m around Wyong. Back to Highway grade and sure to be running on. 12. Xcessive Force was stuck three wide on the pace at Kensington off a freshen up from a luckless Country Championships campaign. She held her ground well late and from a much kinder draw she can be a player getting down in the weights. 2. Autumn King ran well in the South Pacific at Randwick before tackling the Queensland Guineas on a heavy track where he was sound enough in fifth. Up in weight but right back in class and must be respected. 4. Olympian had some handy group form before carrying 62.5kg in a Highway at Hawkesbury where he had some excuses. On his Carbine Club run he’d take some beating.
How to play it: Red Rags To Bulls each-way.
Race 3 – 12:15PM YARRAMAN PARK WOODLANDS STAKES (1100 METRES)
3. Moscatel has the wide gate to contend with but it is a very fair starting point and she looks to have the speed to offset it quickly. Debuted with a big all the way Kensington win by over four lengths and if she gets across okay should take beating. 4. Tigroni might be aided by Moscatel drawing outside her and she’s a big watch first-up since contesting the Magic Millions. Form is strong. 1. La Gitana is a market watch first-up since placing twice in Melbourne at stakes level in the summer. Fitter for a couple of jump outs and draws to do little work in the run. Could measure up. 14. Ole Steele is a curious debutante who showed significant improvement from her first trial win to her second. Local, drawn well and looks to have speed to make use of it.
How to play it: Moscatel to win.
Race 4 – 12:50PM KIA ORA 3&4YO BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
11. Nitro is a highly promising three-year-old with some handy form particularly through his close second to Plaintiff before a break. Finished over the top late to win his latest trial, a draw off the fence suits and he should appreciate the long run home. If he’s above average as he looks he’ll go close. 10. Just Response is facing a hat-trick after all the way wins at Gosford and Newcastle this time in as a very short priced favourite. He has to take the step up but hard to fault him. 4. Comedy is silly odds after a more than acceptable first-up effort in a race very on pace dominated at Randwick on Anzac Day. Found the line well there, comes back in grade and has the chance to find form. 19. Bella Corazon can be her own worst enemy with slow starts but no denying her form through Cinsault at her last couple. 12. Pimlico is an up and comer in top form.
How to play it: Nitro to win.
Race 5 – 1:25PM MAGIC MILLIONS BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1700 METRES)
4. Man Of Worth looks a nice horse in the making and he was dominant when resuming at Canterbury a few weeks ago, sitting handy over 1250m and stretching right away late. He has to handle the jump in trip but he was twice a very strong winner at a mile last time in and with the claim isn’t badly weighted. 8. Sounds Unusual hasn’t quite worked out putting his head in front on the line, largely due to a mid-race flat spot that tends to put him on the back foot. Produced a nice return at Kensington when supported and if he can back it up this trip is ideal second-up. 20. Poisen Point was far from disgraced behind Nobler on Anzac Day after being that little bit too close in the run. Only beaten a length and this is no harder. Each-way hope. 16. Amreekiyah is an interesting runner jumping from 1400m off a six-week break. She’s honest and won an 1100m trial recently.
How To Play It: Man Of Worth to win.
Race 6 – 2:00PM SCONE EQUINE HOSPITAL BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
7. Call Me Gorgeous should have made it three from three this time in when an unlucky third at Randwick a few weeks ago. Still a big effort to come from where he was given he was ridden for luck and had some weaving to do. Should appreciate a fast run 1100m and be hard to hold out. 4. Wanaruah has drawn the outside but is a massive danger if he doesn’t find the trip too sharp second-up. Drifter when resuming but kept coming at Hawkesbury when bumping into Golden Straand. Fitter, definite chance. 18. Shropshire Lad is a local that is always capable of being in the finish of a race like this. Won well at Rosehill before coming through the same race as Call Me Gorgeous where he was stranded three wide in midfield. Each-way chance. 5. Durova has an excellent record and has been kept fresh for this since winning under 60kg at Muswellbrook some six weeks ago. She can be competitive.
How To Play It: Call Me Gorgeous to win.
Race 7 – 2:35PM COOLMORE DENISE’S JOY STAKES (1100 METRES)
4. Miss Freelove has a great each-way chance in a race that should be run to suit her style. She was a slight drifter in betting first-up but made good late ground behind Golden Straand at Warwick Farm and comes back to fillies grade. She will need the breaks at the right time but she’ll also improve on what she showed fresh. 3. Agarwood gets the blinkers on and is five weeks between runs having finished seventh in the PJ Bell at Randwick. Good effort in the Darby Munro before that. If the shades help her out she can take beating. 2. Akaysha hasn’t always had the best of luck as we saw first-up but she scored an overdue win on a heavy track at Eagle Farm three weeks ago. With the confidence up, and she’s not necessarily disadvantaged by the draw. A major threat. 1. Nepo Baby just has the 61kg to contend with but she gave a good account last week when runner-up to Beadman at the Gold Coast.
How To Play It: Miss Freelove each-way.
Race 8 – 3:10PM EMIRATES PARK ORTENSIA STAKES (1100 METRES)
10. Fire Star is very effective when fresh and the 1100m is close to his pet trip. Loomed up to win before a spell at 1200m at Rosehill and didn’t quite finish it off. Nice trial win over Hillier leading into this, that form is handy, and stays down in the weights. Should run well. 12. Monte Supreme has that outside barrier but it may not be as big an issue by this stage of the day. She skirted the outside fence when running into third in the Hawkesbury Rush two weeks ago and if they are charging down the middle a similar effort sees her in the finish. 2. The Instructor will be hard to beat if he’s allowed to get comfortable fresh over the 1100m. He won the Luskin Star at this meeting last year and was just touched out by King’s Secret when resuming last preparation. Trialling well and more than good enough to win. 14. Imperial Force might be a good roughie, he went missing a bit last preparation but his trials have been okay this time and if he can find his best it puts him in the conversation.
How To Play It: Fire Star each-way.
Race 9 – 3:50PM ARROWFIELD DARK JEWEL CLASSIC (1400 METRES)
9. Surfin’ Bird was said to be short of a run when she resumed in the Hawkesbury Crown and that’s ominous given she would have won that race in one more bound. Was just outsprinted by the winner but fought back and will no doubt relish an extra 100m. Love where she’s drawn, can stalk the speed (of which there looks plenty) and expect she’ll be strong again. 1. Tuileries has freshened up well looking at her trial win a couple of weeks ago. Beat Churchill’s Choice in the Newcastle Stakes two starts back and if she gets some early breaks offsetting the barrier she’ll be a force even with the 59.5kg. 4. Melody Again won this race last year as an outsider and if you ignore her last start in the Queen Of The Turf that fourth in the Coolmore Classic reads well. She is a backmarker but one with the sort of finish that makes her dangerous. 5. Harlem Queen can sprint well fresh and she was a winner at 1500m last preparation at stakes level. Will improve on whatever she does.
How To Play It: Surfin’ Bird to win.
Race 10 – 4:30PM DARLEY LUSKIN STAR STAKES (1300 METRES)
2. Linebacker would be the best performed horse racing all day and he’s pitched in with 59kg coming out of a few big group 1 races through the autumn. He romped away with a Silver Eagle when on the fresh side and he did run quite well in the Doncaster. There should be some good speed for him to land just off the pace and this is a big chance for him to break through. 9. Formal Display has drawn right inside the likely leader so his gate isn’t as bad as it looks. He’s on a winning streak with an easy win in the Tamworth Cup the latest of them. Just back 100m and up in class but hard to knock how he’s going. 3. Zou Sensation has excellent form around him through the likes of Jigsaw, Warnie and Private Eye through the summer and is a Listed winner at 1400m two starts ago. Warmed up with a trial win down the road at Muswellbrook. 1. Estadio Mestalla resumed with a handy sixth in the Hawkesbury Rush and that extra 200m is in his favour. He rarely puts in a bad one and is a proven weight carrier. Each-way as always. 7. Know Thyself is a big watch first-up on his home track and if 8. Whinchat does everything right he can give a sight.
How To Play It: Linebacker to win.
Supplied by Racing NSW.
