Ray Hickson
Race 1 – 11:30AM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
3. Mailata probably lands in the right spot from his inside gate and third-up looks to have his best chance to win a race this prep. He had no luck first-up, over racing and sitting wide, then led them in a Provincial-Midway Qualifier at Wyong. Better stalker and if he gets the breaks at the right time is hard to beat. 4. Audrey’s Lane led all the way first-up, just found herself in a tricky spot last time so her effort to run into third had plenty of merit. She should be peaking now after those two runs and if she finds the right spot in running will make her presence felt. 8. Annie’s Rose ran right up to some good support to win the Midway at Rosehill three weeks ago coming from around midfield. Dry track stats aren’t overly flash but perhaps a little unfair given a stable change at the start of last year. 10. Danish Prince can be hit and miss but he fought on well in second behind Annie’s Rose and from gate one he’ll be prominent throughout.
How to play it: Mailata to win.
Race 2 – 12:05PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
12. Cruizingthestars puts her unbeaten record on the line at her Highway debut and it’d be a surprise if she’s not at least competitive. She’s won from in front and coming from well off the speed so has options from the middle gate. Good chance in a wide open Highway. 7. Christa is shaping as a big improver from barrier one and she is proven at this level with a couple of placings in the spring. Drew wide at Muswellbrook and was never in it but with that barrier switch she can be handy to the speed. Keep safe. 1. Micro Mikki comes back in class after a solid third in the Country Championships Final. His best chance is probably if they overdo it up front and he can swoop on them. 3. Occult has found winning form with a hat-trick split by a spell. Finished a bit too well first-up at the 1000m at Muswellbrook and if the 400m jump isn’t too much too soon he’s an each-way chance at least.
How to play it: Cruizingthestars each way.
Race 3 – 12:40PM CATANACH’S JEWELLERS HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
2. Signor Tortoni is in super form and is back to Benchmark level now after two runs in Group 3s at Rosehill. He was excellent in the Star Kingdom, where he only failed by half a length or so. Perfect run for him from a soft gate and only has to hold his form to be competitive again. 16. Scintilla is a huge market watch first-up from a year off the scene. She put three wins together early last year before a close up fourth at Flemington. Looks to be in good order in her trials. 15. Grand Prairie was outpointed in a close finish first-up before a fair second at Kensington almost a month ago. Capable on his day, drawn to do no work, so must include in the chances. 14. Our Queen beat Grand Prairie at Warwick Farm then jumped to this class and started favourite before boxing on OK into fourth behind Captain Furai.
How to play it: Signor Tortoni each way.
Race 4 – 1:15PM MOSTYNCOPPER JAMES H B CARR STAKES (1400 METRES)
1. Plaintiff may have been slightly advantaged by the pattern of the day when she won the PJ Bell from an outside gate first-up, but she still had to cover more ground than anything else and pick them up from near the tail. She can race much closer to the speed and with a bit of the speed drawn out she can land in a great spot. She’s the one to beat again. 3. Karinska could be dangerous coming back a peg or two after tackling the Light Fingers and Surround, running fifth in both. 7. Horseshoe Hill found herself on the inferior ground in the PJ Bell so can be a bit forgiving for her 11th place there. Likely lands closer up in distance and entitled to another chance. 4. Tomato Toastie started big odds in that race and overachieved running third behind Plaintiff. Has won over this track and distance.
How to play it: Plaintiff to win.
Race 5 – 1:50PM TOYOTA FORKLIFTS FRANK PACKER PLATE (2000 METRES)
4. Olympian had the flashing light on as he worked home on the inside in fourth in the Carbine Club over the mile two weeks ago. Held up for runs when he needed them and did run one of the fastest last 200m splits of the day to finish as close as he did. Bred to love the 2000m. 1. Matias comes through the same race as he finished just ahead in third place. Set weights swing into his favour and after two runs back he should be getting close to his top. 10. Barrengarry jumps quickly in class after his Midway win a month ago, but it was a monster performance where he tracked wide and still finished too well. 7. Pictor hit line nicely at the end of the mile in that race, which suggests the 2000m should be up his alley.
How to play it: Olympian to win.
Race 6 – 2:25PM MYPLATES JRA PLATE (2000 METRES)
5. Travolta has been going well this time in without winning and in a race that has the potential for anything to happen he’s the starting point. His runs in the Parramatta Cup and Canberra Cup around this distance range are good references, he’s been OK over further in his past two but just got way too far back. Like to see him land midfield and if he can he’s a good chance. 2. Just Fine should find this a little less frenetic than the Australian Cup last time and on his run behind Vauban and Soul Of Spain before that he has a good case. 15. Bear On The Loose is honest but frustrating to follow as he’s usually in the placings but not quite getting the job done at present. Freshened up since the Albury Cup and he can run well. 9. Portland looks to be bursting to win a race, just not sure where he finds himself from the outside gate here. Likely right back, which may not help his cause. He’s been running on well all prep and if they can make ground he’ll be doing just that.
How to play it: Travolta to win.
Race 7 – 3PM MOËT & CHANDON CHAMPAGNE STAKES (1600METRES)
4. Southend is the fresh blood bringing two strong wins into this Group 1 contest. Tracked into the race well and had a bit up his sleeve at the end of 1400m in the Baillieu and maps to get a spot in the first half if desired. Obviously he has to take the step up now, but he’s hard to fault and can’t see why he won’t run a big race. 10. Miss Chanel found herself in foreign territory back last in the Sires’ two weeks ago, but did a great job to run home into second down the outside. 1. Campione D’Italia had everything work out perfectly for him in the Sires’, getting the run through underneath most of the field then finishing it off. He should run out a strong mile and will have his chance to that from another nice gate. 2. Fireball ran third in the Sires’ off a wide barrier and gets a switch around this time which should be in his favour. Runner-up did run past him in that race comfortably but he’s hard to leave out.
How to play it: Southend each way.
Race 8 – 3:40PM TAB HALL MARK STAKES (1200 METRES)
7. King’s Secret has been a bit forgotten considering he’s coming off a complete forgive run second-up on the back of a super fresh performance. Started favourite in the Star Kingdom and couldn’t imagine him sitting much wider in the run but he still loomed before it took its toll on him late. Still only beaten three lengths. Perfect set up for him to land behind a couple of designated on
speed runners and he could bounce back hard. 4. Mazu has won this race for the past two years and he comes back from Group 1 company where he’s not been disgraced. Led them in the TJ Smith and was beaten two lengths in sixth. 3. Jokers Grin won the Quokka around this time last year and makes his debut for Chris Waller after some pleasing trials. Where he finds himself from that outside barrier is a query, his WA pattern was to get back a touch so can’t see that changing. Watch the market. 1. Private Eye doesn’t need any introduction, he’s all class and usually runs pretty well fresh. Wonder if he rolls forward or gets a conservative ride with a view to his Brisbane campaign?
How to play it: King’s Secret each way.
Race 9 – 4:20PM SCHWEPPES ALL AGED STAKES (1400 METRES)
Don’t love the barrier but have to stick with 2. Jimmysstar, which had no luck after being sandwiched at the start of the TJ and lost any winning chance. Still did a huge job to run into fifth. It comes down to how the track is playing whether he can storm down the middle and defend his title in this race. 1. Giga Kick is on target to run well again, he won this race in 2023 and arguably should also have finished a bit closer in the TJ when a game second behind Joliestar. He’s going to run another big race. 8. Angel Capital probably looks to have the right set up to get his group 1 win but that’s been said before. He’s had a nice build-up with Group 1 placings at his last two, draws well and James McDonald takes the ride. Has a strong case. 14. Beiwacht looks the likely leader from his inside gate and if he happens to stride an on speed day he’ll be well-supported. He was reeled in pretty easily in the George Ryder but was brave in the Canterbury Stakes. A repeat of his Golden Rose win would make him hard to catch.
How to play it: Jimmysstar to win.
Race 10 – 4:55PM HKJC WORLD POOL HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
19. Formal Display has a nasty barrier but it doesn’t look so bad given there’s a couple of noted speed horses then not a whole lot else, so he might just land in a good spot just behind the speed. It looks good in theory anyway. He’s been excellent in his two wins back from a spell in BM78 grade and gets in with just 52kg with the jockey lowering his weight for the day. A touch of luck early or an off fence pattern late in the day and he’s right in the game. 20. Hyperbolic was only beaten half a length in a Provincial-Midway Qualifier at Kembla Grange a month ago and she’s probably a bit over the odds. Group 3 placed at a mile before a break, she rarely runs a bad one and also gets in with a nice light weight. 7. Whinchat might hold the key to this race, he can be funny out of the gates at times but when he’s on he gives a huge sight up on speed. 6. Lord Penman scrambled home to win at this trip three runs back then took on a couple of Doncaster lead ups running fairly well and placing in the latest. No doubt he’ll run well and is an each-way chance in an open race.
How to play it: Formal Display to win.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays at racingnsw.com.au
