Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - Small field to kick us off. BLIND DESIRE (6) got the well-deserved maiden victory out of the way over this track and trip last time out and will have derived a stack of confidence from that win. Drawn to sit on pace from gate one and looks the one they all have to run down. MISHANI ROCK (1) resumes here but the form he showed when last in work was good enough to feature in a race like this. Gets 2kg off and can run a race while fresh. CARRAVILLA (3) didn't measure up at Listed level before the spell but returned in good order with a close-up second at Ipswich. In the mix. MISHANI EGO (4) strips fitter second-up from the spell and may earn some minor money. BLANTONS RUN (2) best of the rest.
RACE 2 - Tricky race to assess with a lot of these babies facing the starter for the first time. Of the raced brigade LUVA FLUTTA (1) was well in the market in town on debut and certainly wasn't disgraced finishing third beaten just over a length. Will have learned a lot from that day at the races and can improve enough to take this out. SON OF A LIE (2) was a further five lengths back in that same race but had a few things go against him in the run. Has race experience over the rest of the field and a better showing would not surprise. MISHANI VELOCITY (7) looked handy winning a recent Gold Coast trial and any market confidence must be noted. SECURE BELL (8) won a recent trial here and must be respected.
RACE 3 - SHERAQUAY (13) has been plying her trade in town in all three starts to date including getting up to Listed level before the spell. Will strip fitter second-up from the break and should appreciate the drop back in company here. Rates the testing material. USE YOUR ILLUSION (3) wasn't too far off them at Eagle Farm on debut and will have come on with that run now under the belt. Gets the deadly Gollan/Maloney combination and looms as the main danger. METCALFE (1) was okay on debut before being tipped out for time to finish. Respect from the astute barn. FASHION FLASH (8) has placed in both career outings around this circuit and should appreciate the extra furlong here. Top-three conveyance. HERE'S TO POWER (12) rounds out the selections.
RACE 4 - The well-related SHAKO (1) (half to G2 winner Arcaded) is a former Godolphin galloper who got the chocolates over this track and trip in his first run for the new stable. Winning hoop Orman sticks in the irons and no reason why he can't go back-to-back. The penny has dropped for ARISPHERE (5) who has two wins and a close-up second from three runs this campaign with both victories coming over this course and distance. Has to be considered. GREAT BARRIER REEF (2) loves this sprint trip and gets plenty of weight off with the 3kg claim. Top-three commodity.
RACE 5 - CHIEF IN CHARGE (7) was well in the betting on debut and certainly wasn't disgraced finishing third in town. Where there's smoke there's fire and looks a serious contender. VESPER LYND (6) has hit the frame in both runs this time in work and looks to be working up to a maiden victory. Top-three candidate. BE FRIENDLY (2) placed over this course and distance on debut and gun hoop Maloney stays on board. Will give backers a sight.
RACE 6 - KARIACTION (12) resumes here but the form she showed in her first preparation was more than good enough to feature in a race like this. Looks the galloper with the most upside and a strong showing while fresh would not shock. WHAT A WEEKEND (8) was a touch plain at the latest effort but the form prior was full of merit. Will be rock-hard fit for this and can play a major role in the outcome. NIGHTSTICK (5) has hit the top-five in nine of his past ten starts and doesn't know how to put in a bad one. One for the exotics players. BETTER BE NORDY (1) is two from two around this circuit and gets some weight relief with the claim. In the mix. PINKUS (10) strips fitter third-up, draws low and gets in well at the weights. Ticks a few boxes.
RACE 7 - PORT MOURANT (3) doesn't win out of turn but has won around this circuit and is one from one over this distance range. Rates a serious contender on best form. FLIC EN FLAC (10) is drawn to get all the favours from the inside alley and should give backers a sight. SCHOONA THE BETTER (12) is usually thereabouts and may earn some minor money.
RACE 8 - CRYPTIC PRISM (17) hasn't done much wrong in his short career with a win and two placings from three starts and is drawn to get a soft run in transit from gate four. Will be near his peak now third-up from the spell and should be right there when the judge calls a halt. CONTILDA'S LOVE (2) shed the maiden tag over this track and trip when resuming and will take a lot of confidence from that victory. Can go on with the job now. JUNGLE FEVER (4) gets 3kg weight relief with the claim and may run a race while fresh. TORQUE ABOUT MAGIC (13) is usually thereabouts and looks one for the multiples.
