Ray Hickson
Race 1: MIDWAY HANDICAP (1200M)
5. Island Dec might be back in business now on the evidence of an impressive Canterbury win a couple of weeks back. She had a nice run just off the pace, peeled out and finished right over the top for what looked a soft win. Back to Midway grade, likes the softer ground and should get a similar sort of run. Has to be hard to beat. 6. Zounaka is the logical danger with form around Island Dec’s stablemate Smashing Time from a Midway three weeks ago. She chased hard in second place and only has to hold form to be competitive. 12. Against The Law doesn’t always have things go his way, but he’s racing well without winning. Not a bad run behind Ice Kool two starts back and is always an each-way chance. 14. Last Druit has had two wins from three runs this time in and both have come on soft or heavy ground. Run in between wasn’t bad either and is capable of running well.
How to play it: Island Dec to win.
Race 2: TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1200M)
14. Polymer hasn’t done anything wrong in three starts at Port Macquarie on wet tracks and has been strong in winning his past two at a similar trip. Progresses to Highway grade but is still lightly raced, enjoys the ground and should get a good tempo to sit back off and run home. Good each-way chance. 22. She Within is hard to beat if she gains a run. A Highway winner two starts ago then she wasn’t disgraced in another strong Highway behind Chains Of Love last time, running on again late. 8. Calypso Rocket is another lightly raced type and he earned a shot at the Country Championships last prep after two wins at Port. He trialled strongly recently at Taree, draws one and worth keeping safe. 6. Too Hot To Torque brings a couple of heavy 10 wins into this race, not sure the depth behind him but he was favourite in both and got the job done. Must respect the stable’s decision to bring him down.
How to play it: Polymer each way.
Race 3: THANK YOU ATC MEMBERS HANDICAP (1100M)
1. Omolong ran right up to his impressive trial with a last-to-first win against six rivals at Warwick Farm when heavily backed. Drops in weight after the claim, his dam was heavy-track placed, so the ground should be OK. 3. Satin Summer kicked off with an all-the-way Randwick win in January then drew the outside and didn’t have the best run in the Lonhro Plate. Trialling well again and should be prominent from a nice gate. 14. Kotor is a huge watch on debut after two nice trial wins at Rosehill in June. She’s a well-bred filly, an $850,000 yearling, and any support would be a strong pointer. 5. Gatineau is another interesting first starter, just a $5000 buy, and he was trucking along very well just behind the placings in his recent trial. Could surprise.
How to play it: Omolong to win.
Race 4: HITOTSU AT ARROWFIELD HANDICAP (1100M)
1. Big Red Tequila has a huge chance to break through third up after two excellent efforts behind the smart Ice Kool at Randwick. Hit the line strongly into second when resuming then forced to race wide but still found the line strongly last time. Field has fallen away, she’s drawn better and is hard to go past. Short price though. 2. Jellicious has been a little disappointing in three runs since a first-up placing. Perhaps coming back in distance will be in her favour and she’s entitled to another chance. 10. She Within has to go in the mix if she runs here, despite coming out of Highway form. Drops sharply in the weights and the smaller field would help her cause being a backmarker. 9. Gail Jeanette is building a nice record in the country and was a dominant winner on a heavy track at Dubbo a month ago. She could find herself in the placings.
How to play it: Big Red Tequila to win.
Race 5: FIND YOUR STAKES WINNER @ THE CHASE HANDICAP (1300M)
4. Hello Captain was a good thing beaten at Randwick a couple of weeks ago when an odds-on favourite. He just couldn’t get clear when he needed and the race was all over when he got out to flash home late. Comes down 2kg with the claim and this is no harder on paper, so he has to be the one to beat. 9. Gorgeous is becoming costly but the penny will drop with her sooner or later. Again close up last week when solid in the betting and perhaps getting out in distance now might be the key. Lightly raced filly 8. Attractiveness resumed from a break in fine style, smashing her rivals at Newcastle. Started favourite in a Midway before a break and she’ll measure up to this grade. 5. Sequista is on the back-up after running on from the second half behind Surf’s Up last week. Pattern and wide draw didn’t help her there, so she can improve. Any lift in the track condition would help her too.
How to play it: Hello Captain to win.
Race 6: KIA ORA BLOODLINES TO HEADLINES HANDICAP (1100M)
3. Shropshire Lad continues to race well at odds of late and he worked his way through the field to score three weeks ago. No luck on a wet track before that and was placed in this grade at Scone behind a subsequent stakes winner. He is a backmarker generally, so will need the breaks, but this is very winnable. 7. Colombia Blue doesn’t have the greatest of draws but is capable of being ridden forward if desired. Trialled nicely behind Accredited leading into this and, if he gets the right run, he’s a strong chance. 5. Polyglot worked to the line nicely late at the end of 1000m behind Ice Kool two weeks ago and this is the sort of race he could win without surprising at all. His record of two wins from 16 starts is becoming a worry, but he likes a wet track and is partial to Rosehill. 9. Formal is an on pacer that has run well behind some handy ones in three runs back. Placed to Glorious Moments first-up, down in the weights here and could give a sight.
How to play it: Shropshire Lady each way.
Race 7: TAB HANDICAP (2000M)
5. Mo Chroi couldn’t have done much more in winning at his Australian debut at Canterbury. He put himself just off the pace, took an inside run and scooted through to score comfortably. That was his first run for a year and at 1550m. He’ll go forward up in distance and is the one with all the upside. 12. Nasebah went one-paced when the pressure went on at Randwick two weeks ago before picking herself up and making some fast late ground at 1800m. She was unlucky on a soft 6 prior, so a wet track should be OK and she’s a definite chance. 4. Anythink Goes is racing consistently without winning and he is more than comfortable on a wet track. Hit the line well at the end of 1800m last week. While he’s yet to win at Rosehill, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t place again at odds. 1. Lincoln Rocks wasn’t disgraced in what was an improved run third-up behind Tazima over the 1800m. Back in class and claims, draws OK and he could be the surprise packet.
How to play it: Mo Chroi to win.
Race 8: RANVET HANDICAP (1200M)
12. Smashing Time is up in class but he’s right down in the weights after the claim and is racing in career-best form. He’s been strong in both Midway wins from the front and strikes a race where he should be able to find the fence first. An improving track would be in his favour and he will give them something to catch. 5. Eye Of The Fire will likely be a stalker and he can be very dangerous. Back a notch from being run down by Sunshineinmypocket at Randwick first up, he handles all ground and has that forward racing style that will see him loom as a threat. 7. Midnight Opal loves a wet track and he held his ground OK last time behind Big Papa, which has run well again since. He has the right-set up to be competitive again. 6. Gatsby’s resumes having won second-up last preparation then he held his form for a couple of runs after that. Generally doesn’t mind a soft track and he can run well.
How to play it: Smashing Time to win.
Race 9: SCHWEPPES WINTER STAKES (1400M)
Jumping on the bandwagon of 4. Midnight Dynamite, who just looks to have an identical set-up to what took him to an easy win in the Civic a couple of weeks ago. He does rise 3kg for his trouble, but he’s not likely done climbing the grades and a softer track doesn’t faze him either. Clearly the one to beat. 1. General Saluteis bound to improve after his last start, where working hard from a wide gate to chase the lead ultimately took its toll. Huge barrier turnaround for him and is well worth another chance. 15. Glorious Moments is the wild card as he jumps from a BM78 win two weeks ago into Listed grade. It was a tough win and he surged when he needed to late. Drops 7.5kg and draws a lot better than he has of late. Respect. 3. Accredited ran third in this race last year and his first-up run in the Bob Charley AO wasn’t bad given the wide run and the pattern of the day. Consistent type and no reason why he can’t make himself known.
How to play it: Midnight Dynamite to win.
Race 10: PETALUMA HANDICAP (1400M)
4. Puntin resumes from a preparation where he just didn’t fire and was put out after just two runs. However, go back to this time last year and he was very competitive with the likes of Oh Diamond Lil and Fully Lit. He resumes in a race that should allow him to cross onto the speed and have his chance to perform. His latest trial was promising and he handles all ground. Keep very safe. 13. Invader Zim is enjoying a good preparation with a win three runs back on a heavy track and he’s been close up behind Mr Chaplin and Glorious Moments in his past two. Conditions suit him and he’s right in this. 5. Supermassive is coming through the grades well and he also brings that Glorious Moments form into this with a gallant third last time. Draws kindly and must respect him. 9. Tarzing is on the back up after getting the job done over the same track and distance last week. Whether he now wants a bit more than 1400m is the query, but he’ll get every chance again.
How to play it: Puntin each way.
Supplied by Racing NSW
