Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - TRESPASSING (2) resumed here as a $3 favourite and was beaten a half-length. Had placed there prior an Open 3 and with the extra fitness he will take plenty of beating. OREGON HIKER (8) resumed off a solid effort here and owns an easy Lark Hill trial win. Draws for the run of the race and will be naturally improved. A chance. FAR TWOGOOD (13) debuts and has trialled nicely at Belmont. CJP is a positive jockey booking and the rail should advantage. Keep safe. MR MEGSEY (4) resumes and has trialled well but has been 441 days off the scene and that's the niggle. JUST ADORABELLE (9) has upside and has trialled well. Has an awkward barrier but deserves consideration.
RACE 2 - REGAL STATUE (4) resumes and showed plenty her brief maiden preparation. Brings a sharp Lark Hill trial win and Pike sticks from that. Draws wide but with average luck will take beating. PLAYING QUEST (8) was slow off and wide at Belmont on debut and immediately spelled. Has trialled twice and Chris Parnham rode the latest and stays aboard. Draws low and will be naturally improved. PANDORA GIRL (1) resumes and is right up to this is presented forward. Has a handy gate and the betting moves will tell plenty. BONNY ROCK (10) was well-bet here first-up and nothing worked out. Had raced at Group level the two before. Will give them a start but fitter deserves consideration.
RACE 3 - RED TORI (8) raced favourite here on debut not beaten far. Came back in stronger over this distance and was beaten a whisker. Draws to advantage and fitter can go one better. FIVE DOWN (2) led and nudged out the above in the same contest. Carries more weight but can lead again and the in-form Chris Parnham stays in the saddle. IMA WILD GIRL (5) improved again beaten 1L here over 1500m. Has a 2kg claim today and is in the mix on the 8-day back-up. RISEANFALL (6) runs along and is going well. Has the rail but has to see out the longer sprint.
RACE 4 - SHEZGOTTHALOT (8) resumes and has switched to the top barn. Owns a Lark Hill trial win and Pike is a key jockey booking. Is likely to come back further improved and goes on top. CITY ANGEL (1) resumes and was unlucky not to have won this preparation. Goes fresh and is likely to skip across and control the race. Is back in grade and retains the handy 2kg claim. FIREY PANZ (7) is knocking on the door. The near-miss at Northam two-back reads well. CRYSTALIST (3) resumes and is lightly raced. Own a Belmont trial win and is likely to come back further improved. Has to be considered.
RACE 5 - CHER (10) is a promising filly drawn for the run of the race. Missed a whisker on debut in a Maiden before winning as a short-priced favourite here in stronger. On an 8-day return and she won't have to be much improved to take the next step. HARMIKA (1) resumes for a leading barn and is right up to this. Performs fresh and has trialled well at Lark Hill. Has the handy 3kg claim and should go close. SENTIMENTAL BELLE (8) resumes and is also in a sharp metro yard. Comes off the expected Maiden win and has trialled. Pike sticks and she can be right in the finish. FINCHY (4) will be better for the two runs this preparation. May need a bit longer now but has the figures and must be kept onside.
RACE 6 - LA DETTE (7) is in good hands and resumed here as a $3 favourite and picked up nicely after settling too far back. Brought strong form to that and is likely to sit handier today. Placed the only second-up outing and fitter should prove hard to beat. OUR NEMESIS (4) missed a nose here first-up much improved and then was bet into prohibitive odds easily winning the Northam Maiden. Has to push forward from a wide gate but looks capable of taking the next step if that works out. SHEER MAGNUM (9) and is likely to be further improved. Has the 2kg claim and will be better for the two trials. Runs along and will give a sight. SUPERIORIZE (6) resumes and spaced the Scarpside Maidens two-back. Has been off the scene for 539 days but has been well-trialled and Pike's booking is a decent push for his chances. Has the low barrier and the blinkers applied for the first time. Has to be kept safe.
RACE 7 - UNDER INFLUENCE (7) resumed beaten 1.3L and then stayed at Northam and just missed this grade finishing powerfully from the back. Draws handy today and Pike stays with him. He has more in reserve and fitter can be winning. Stablemate BUDGERIGAR (4) is also third-up and also has more to give. Was a short-priced favourite here his latest in better grade and fitter is a chance to bounce back. BAALBEK (6) improved again leading and winning a Kalgoorlie CL2 by 4L. Should have the early speed to manage the wide barrier and has a handy 2kg claim. He can give a sight. BUSTERS FREE (2) was an easy CL1 winner at Belmont and has been close-up here the two since. Has the rail and inside gate and just has to run out the longer sprint to feature.
RACE 8 - HIGHEST AWARD (8) missed a whisker here before coming back and delivering a comfortable CL3 win over 1400m. That was expected and the extra 200m should suit. Draws low and the lightly-raced mare can go on with it. MEGAMI (1) spiked her figures winning the CL5 at Northam over a mile. That stacks up but she has to manage a wide barrier today. Chris Parnham sticks and that's a positive. AWESOME CHATTER (3) just found the above too good in that contest but was also much better and gets in well with the 3kg claim. ROCH LEGACY (5) out of the same contest will be fitter again. Has the blinkers applied again and can't be ruled out. MR MT WALKER (9) gets Pike today and is better than the numerical form suggests.
