Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - The baby colts and geldings kick us off. TORQUE TO BE SURE (2) just ran into one better here when facing the starter for the first time and is sure to have derived a stack of benefit from that race day experience. Gets the services of Rawiller in the irons and should be going very close with natural improvement. COOL ARCHIE (1) has gotten better with each run and looks to be nearing a maiden victory. Should be ready to peak now third-up from the spell and looms as the main danger. QUIETLY ARROGANT (6) just missed the placings at Randwick on debut and will find this assignment a touch easier. Rates a top-three conveyance. MIDNIGHT SPIRIT (4) saluted at the Sunny Coast on debut when well in the betting and where there's smoke there's fire. Include in the multiples. VAREJAO (7) has shown ability at the trials and any market support must be noted.
RACE 2 - ZOUCLAIRE (2) looked handy finishing runner-up at Caulfield when at the races for the first time and will have come on with that run now under the belt. Sticks to the 1100m here and gets Shinn on top from a middle draw. Rates the testing material. LA BELLA BOOM (1) hasn't done much wrong with a placing at Doomben on debut before getting the job done there at the latest effort. Will take a bunch of confidence from that victory and can make it back-to-back. RAINBOW GLOW (4) shed the maiden tag at Canberra when facing the starter for the first time and hails from a stable that is absolutely airborne at the moment. Keep very safe. DON'TDOUBTHELADY (3) is drawn to get all the favours from the inside alley and can make her presence felt. The well-related ROYAL CHIC (6) (half to G1 winner Royal Merchant) rounds out the selections in a cracking contest.
RACE 3 - The $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate. HELL TO PAY (8) is unlucky to still be a maiden placing in all four outings to date and should be ready to peak now third-up from the spell. Gets Williams in the stirrups from a favourable draw and will be right there when the whips are cracking. STAY SILENT (12) wasn't too far off them when resuming at Caulfield and strips fitter for that hit-out. Placed at Listed level when last in work and his best form puts him right in this contest. CARNEGIE HILL (6) has been thereabouts in all three runs this preparation and will be rock-hard fit for this. Top-three credentials. ICONIFY (9) is improving with racing and must be respected from the Maher barn. In the mix. WINCHMAN (4) ran second here on debut and the extra furlong should suit. Only needs some luck from the sticky draw to be playing a role in the outcome.
RACE 4 - ARRIVING HOME (12) has gone bang bang to start the career and it's hard to knock fillies in form. The stable is flying at present striking at 34% for the past 50 runners and is the galloper in this field with the most upside. Looks very hard to toss. Stablemate INFATUATION (6) saves her best form for this distance range with a win and a placing from just two attempts and will be at peak fitness for this. Rates a serious contender. WOOLOOWIN (2) has only missed a drum once in six career outings and that was a close-up fifth at Randwick last time out. Can play a major role in the finish. The well-related UNTIL VALHALLA (7) (half to G1 winner Sofia Rosa) has a handy second-up record and looks one for the exotics players. DIDDLE DUMPLING (13) best of the rest.
RACE 5 - MORAVIA (9) just missed the placings in Listed company at the latest effort and should find this assignment a touch easier. Gets Shinn on top from the low draw and will give backers a sight. GETAFIX (14) absolutely savaged the line when resuming over this trip and will strip fitter for that hit-out. Is yet to put in a poor one and is sure to be right there at the business end. TUFF TU MUS (6) has strung three wins together on the bounce and is racing with a lot of confidence now. Expected to be very competitive once again. The well-named REDFORD (4) is two from two over this journey and is yet to miss the top-four in six career outings to date. Has to be included. TALTARNI FIELDS (5) missed a drum for the first time in nine starts last time out but can bounce right back to form here.
RACE 6 - ADDRIEL (10) is a consistent commodity who has only missed the top-five once in 13 career starts including a dominant Eagle Farm victory at the latest effort. Winning hoop Wheeler stays in the saddle and looks the one they all have to run down. STANDING ORDER (9) resumes here but the form he showed when last in work was more than good enough to be competitive in a race like this. Tuned up for this with two recent trials and a strong showing while fresh would not surprise. Former Victorian AMIGO (16) is having his first run for the new stable but showed ability down south and any market support must be respected. HATCHET (1) has only missed a drum once in six first-up attempts and should get a gun run in transit from the inside alley. In the mix. SHALAILED (13) rounds out the selections from the in-form Baker yard.
RACE 7 - The $500,000 The Wave. QLD Oaks placegetter MISS JOELENE (10) was lucky to keep her feet last time out at Eagle Farm but still had the audacity to hit the line and finish third. Will be cherry-ripe now and gets the services of Berry to navigate from the sticky draw. Looks ready to post another victory. LOCH EAGLE (1) returned to the winners' stall last start and will have taken some confidence from that win. Should be hitting the line with gusto. GOLD BULLION (4) is one from one over this distance range and strips fitter third-up from the break. Top-three aspirations. TANNHAUSER (5) has been plying his trade in tougher company and will find this assignment a touch easier. In the mix on best form. RAPT (11) doesn't know how to put in a poor one and is a must for the multiples.
RACE 8 - The $1 million The Syndicate. The ultra-consistent GOLDEN BOOM (2) bounced back into the winners' stall last start at Eagle Farm in Listed company and is yet to miss the top-five in 16 career outings. Loves this sprint trip with two wins and a placing from four attempts and should be right there when the judge calls a halt. DERRY GROVE (5) is first-up here but has a strong fresh record with three wins and a placing from just four starts. A strong showing while fresh would not surprise. PRINCE OF BOOM (1) has returned to a semblance of form placing in both starts this preparation and has a bit of class on these. Well placed here and should be right in the finish. BEZIQUE (11) was impressive saluting at Eagle Farm first-up and can go right on with the job now. GARZA BLANCA (3) draws the inside marble and is next in line from the Maher stable.
RACE 9 - The $3 million Sunlight. Golden Slipper winner LADY OF CAMELOT (6) hails from a handy family (half to G3 winners Queen Of The Ball and Platinum Jubilee) and certainly wasn't disgraced placing in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud before the spell. Revved up for this with a recent trial victory and gets Shinn on board from the inside alley. Ticks plenty of boxes. ARABIAN SUMMER (7) has won four of seven overall including one from one over this course and distance. Coffey stays on top and can bring up the hat-trick of victories. PRIVATE HARRY (4) hasn't put a hoof wrong winning all three starts to date and is drawn favourably in gate four. Has to come into calculations. VESTAS (11) brings Victorian form to the table and any market confidence must be respected. GERRINGONG (12) has commenced her career in fine fashion with back-to-back wins and Clark sticks in the irons. In the mix again.
RACE 10 - Open race to close out the card. COSMIC FIRE (3) goes well for Mallyon who has two wins and a second from just four steers with the only failure coming in Group 2 company last campaign. Should be ready to peak now third-up from the spell and looks the one they all have to run down. HEZDARNHOTTOO (1) has won two of three over this distance range and it's hard to ignore the Baker stable at present. Can run a big race while fresh. MISHANI LILY (7) is three from three over this trip and will have come on with that first-up run now under the belt. May bounce right back to form here. PETTICOAT (10) is yet to miss the top-five in seven career starts and doesn't know how to put in a poor one. Must be included from the inside alley. VANESSI (11) best of the rest from the Waller camp.