Track Soft 5 and rail out 3.5m from 1200m to 350m & true the remainder.
Race 1 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (2100m):
A competitive staying test to open, but it looks the right race for five-year-old 1. Six Foot Song fourth-up from the inside draw. Powered home from near last to beat a better provincial field two starts back before finding it hard working from the back on the tighter turning Wyong circuit through heavy ground. Can park closer here from this barrier, and back at country level and on a firmer surface, he emerges as the one to beat.
Dangers: Another provincial-based visitor 6. Tigon Princess is right in the mix stepping up off a dominant maiden win at Wyong. At bigger odds, keep safe improving 7. Love Rules second-up; while home tracker 2. Torowoto is better suited here up in distance after failing badly in a deeper BM 66 at Scone. Both 4. Nature Boy who draws to get a soft run; and last start winner in much weaker grade 9. Mammoth Mountain; go in wider exotic plays.
How to play it: Six Foot Song to win
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
Scone runners are likely to dominate here headed by lightly raced filly 11. Sebilla who is tracking to peak third-up in her first full prep over 300m further. Came through a strong first-up form-line, with the winner from that day again scoring at Dubbo on Wednesday before being ridden quieter at home and charging late into a place. The extra trip comes at the right time, and with some rain about, the surface should be ideal.
Dangers: 12. Sirius Flyer can also peak at her third start over a furlong further. Held her ground okay on debut at home before finishing well as a short-priced favourite at Moree. Stablemate 10. Relentless Ruby has an edge in experience and hits peak fitness fourth-up with winkers again replacing blinkers; but would still need to improve. Gap to the rest headed by 3. Obviously Alert; and at big odds 5. Turpin's Torment.
How to play it: Sebilla to win
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
Lightly raced home tracker 2. Blazed Prince can resume with a bang off a dominant trial win. Wasn't right in two runs to start his career earlier in the year, but reportedly been working well for this, and draws to get a trail off the fence behind a solid tempo.
Dangers: More fancied stablemate 5. Rembroy has placed in four from seven, and resumes over his pet short course. 4. Obviously Good is also trained on the track, and seemingly well named having cruised home to win both lead-up trials. While doubt the winner comes outside those three, keep safe resuming 11. Super Sioux who draws wide, but won the second of two progressive trials; while 12. Takeover Lad debuts for another local yard with a 3kg claim, and has trialled well enough.
How to play it: Blazed Prince to win
Race 4 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m):
While the market has completely discarded the run in lesser Picnic Trophy grade, longshot 11. Dragoneight was a mile over the odds early at more than $51.00 third-up off a long break. Naturally taking on a much deeper and better field here, but he was only a length behind the winner at Mudgee in that race only six days ago, carrying a hefty 63.5kg. Staying at the trip and dropping a massive 8.5kg for this, with a far more experienced and stronger rider taking over, he can give a sight from the low draws at monster odds.
Dangers: Naturally, emerging 13. King Larry is a big watch at his second start, 12 days after leading from barrier to box at Taree when heavily backed from $3.60 into $2.30, and draws ideally again. 1. Hiraishin has won his last two at Moree, but still shapes under the odds in a field with more depth and quality. Expect sharp improvement second-up from 4. Pliskova who was plain first-up at CL2 level, but the winner has ability and scored again at Dubbo on Wednesday. Watch the betting on locally-trained 5. Haiku Star who draws the fence, and reloads 11 days after a smart win in this grade, although bar plates on for the first time is a query.
How to play it: Dragoneight each way
Race 5 MAIDEN HCP (1200m):
Improving filly 6. Showtime Sassy gets her chance to break through deep into the prep, and down in weight. Has only been run down late in her last two, both handy form races, after showing good tactical speed. Importantly was scratched from a recent race to be saved for this.
Dangers: Naturally early short-priced favourite and lightly raced 3. Sanzeno is a big watch first-up for a form stable behind a dominant trial win, and racing without blinkers for the first time. 8. Chilling is well over the odds second-up down sharply in weight on a firmer surface. Both 2. Nevermista who draws better for his second start; at big odds 7. Beechuno in a race of less depth with blinkers on; and 9. It's Showtime improving third-up; are all worthy each-way players.
How to play it: Showtime Sassy to win
Race 6 MAIDEN HCP (1200m):
Home tracker 3. No More Romance is primed to break through at his third start a month between runs. Hit the line late on debut at Quirindi before being flat late here in similar company. Has since been taken back to the trials, and he can regain that sharpness back on the fresher side.
Dangers: 1. Wicked Testimony is the most exciting and progressive horse in the race, and the removal of blinkers is a sign he's fully switched on third-up after being very stiff at Dubbo when charging home from the back to miss by a half length. That said, he'll be forced a long way back here from a tough draw on a tighter track and must be a shade under the odds. 4. Gotta Fly also has to overcome a tough gate, but likes to settle back and run home hard, and strikes peak fitness fourth-up. Gap to the rest clearly headed by resuming two-year-old 11. Hvardance who has ability and trialled well, but doubt the inside draw does him any favours in a big field; while 5. Crafty Krumpet continues to improve, and can add plenty of value into exotic returns.
How to play it: No More Romance to win
Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1200m):
Progressive home tracker 11. Dylan's Lad is well placed here second-up coming back from a solid effort in provincial Cl1 company. Consistent three-year-old who generally takes up a forward position, and looked right up to the mark bolting in a recent soft track trial at Scone.
Dangers: Plenty in the big field headed by improving 1. Starry Jack coming off a smart second-up CL1 win at Armidale. Keep safe resuming 8. Stock The Rose who draws to get a soft run. 4. Dune And Dusted is some value third-up at big odds from a handy trailing draw; while 9. Bjorn Ironside and 14. Purple Esprit are both capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Dylan's Lad to win
Race 8 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1400m):
Challenging and wide race, but tough filly 10. Invader's Girl emerges as the best value, peaking fourth-up on a significant weight drop after the jockey's claim. Has been solid in the market all three runs this prep, charging home to miss narrowly fresh before close up here in similar company; then again doing her best work late from off speed in a deeper race at Scone. Extra 100m is a plus, and again drawn to settle back off a strong tempo, get to the middle and produce a superior final 300m burst.
Dangers: 4. Magic Shot was dominant when resuming leading from barrier to box, but still under the odds drawn off the track here in a race with more depth. Keep safe at good odds, 5. Senseiche who drew to get a soft run fourth-up for a strong trainer/jockey combination. 13. Starpoppy will also need some luck from a wide barrier with blinkers back on, but she's a natural back-marker anyway, and coming back a furlong in trip, she can flash home late. Watch the betting on lightly raced 3. Blue As first-up behind two trials; while home tracker 9. Miss Nicolini improves sharply second-up.
How to play it: Invader's Girl to win
Race 9 CLASS 1 HCP (1000m):
Promising filly 8. Cool Storm returns for her first run in six months since a dominant debut win at Coffs when exploding clear by more than four lengths as a heavily backed favorite. Looked in great shape winning a CL3 trial at Doomben 17 days ago, and work since has reportedly been very smart. Bred to handle soft ground, and potentially one of the more exciting short-coursers in country NSW.
Dangers: 3. Evasive Nature is over the odds second-up with key gear changes, and getting back on a firmer track. Another Coffs visitor 6. King Larry is drawn wide, but finds a suitable follow-up race with a vital 3kg claim after an all-the-way debut win at Taree in heavy going. Keep safe 11. Lonhro's Queen third-up with blinkers coming off; while both 5. Water Lad who is hard fit; and two-year-old stablemate of the top selection 10. Petticoat; go in all trifecta and first four bets.
How to play it: Cool Storm to win
