Once again, New South Wales feature Saturday racing has delivered the goods to punters and racing fans with another bumper ten-race program kicking off at 11:15am. The feature race of the program comes quite earlier than usual in race seven with the John O’Shea-trained Kirwan’s Lane currently the favourite at $4.60.
The track is currently rated as a Soft 6 but could see an upgrade with fine but windy weather conditions forecasted throughout the day. The running rail is out 8m from the 1400m-Winning Post and out 5m the remainder of the course. Plenty of races to go through so let’s get stuck in and find a few winners.
Race 1 Two-year-old Handicap (1200m) @ 11:15am
Picarones
Has some of the strongest, if not the strongest, form leading into this yet finds itself at double figures! Produced three top runs last preparation when winning on debut at Caulfield over 1200m before finishing behind eventual Blue Diamond Stakes winner Artorius at Sandown and Arcaded the following start at Caulfield in Group 2 company. She has had two strong trials leading in, winning her most recent one and should appreciate the strong speed in the race. Should follow King Of Sparta into the race and will go awfully close here.
King Of Sparta is the big danger. He probably should have gone on to win by more last start, but he still looked very impressive in winning and should be further improved second-up.
Military Expert gets a one-kilogram weight swing on King Of Sparta from last start and fought back well after being headed at the 200m mark to finish a narrow second. Can turn the tables.Coastwatch had an impressive trial leading into this. He gets onto a Soft track, where his maiden win came on, and James McDonald jumps on. Sir Crackle can bounce back here and has claims.
Selections: 3-2-6-4
Suggested Bet: Back Picarones each-way ($11 win, $3.40 place).
Race 2 Class 3 Highway Handicap (1500m) @ 11:50am
Zoo Station
Impressive run last start when coming from a long way back to finish sixth 3.3 lengths off From The Bush at Randwick. Start prior, he was a terrific winner at this track on a Soft 6 surface, which he gets again here. Should be rock-hard fit third-up, where he is one win from one start, and comes up with a far better barrier draw here in barrier four. Expecting him to bounce back.
Tags was good once again last start and beat Zoo Station home. Wide barrier is a concern but comes back onto a Soft track, where he is a perfect two wins from two starts on.
Dream Runner also comes out of the same race as the previous two and has a perfect three wins from three starts on Soft ground while Bold And Wild brings in stronger form running behind Bring The Ransom last start. Nuremburg Castle also has strong claims third-up here.
Selections: 11-2-3-16
Suggested Bet: Extremely tough race. No Bet.
Race 3 Three-year-old Benchmark-72 Handicap (1500m) @ 12:25pm
Yesmeena
Ridiculously over the odds here. Been quite impressed with her previous two starts behind Scenic Warrior on a Heavy track last start, where she came up the inside fence and looked a certainty to be in the placings before running into the back of the tiring leader. Start prior, was a handy run behind No Laughing Matter on a Heavy track also. Looks like she will strongly appreciate the step up in distance and coming back onto a Soft track, where he maiden win came on. Gets in very light at the weights and there looks to be a strong enough tempo to give her the chance to run over the top of them here.
Bazooka is well placed here after two handy runs last two starts behind Tycoonist and Zorocat. The drying track is a slight concern, but he comfortably has the best form out of these.
Go Troppo should get a gun run from barrier one and is in fantastic form as of late while Black Bolt and Yiyi both ran well last start.
Selections: 11-3-4-5
Suggested Bet: Backing Yesmeena at big odds each-way ($35 win, $8 place).
Race 4 Open July Sprint (1100m) @ 1:00pm
Barbaric
Think this three-year-old Colt by I Am Invincible is way over the odds here. Has always shown to have some ability when winning the Group 3 Black Opal as a two-year-old. He has been given some time since he was a two-year-old with just the one run as a three-year-old when he finished last in the Wyong Magic Millions. He has had three strong trials leading into this first-up run and he comes in very light at the weights with just 52kg on his back. Gets conditions to suit and draws well here. Should be right in the finish.
All Time Legend is an exciting prospect making his return to the track here. He goes very well fresh and has a terrific record on Soft tracks. He draws well but is short enough in the market.
Trumbull is well placed in this but comes up with a wide barrier and must carry 61kg. He is the class runner of the field but tough ask first-up. Chat will carry just 50kg and should be flashing home late.
Selections: 7-5-6-1
Suggested Bet: Backing Barbaric to win ($14).
Race 5 Benchmark-78 Handicap (2400m) @ 1:35pm
Harpo Marx
He is awfully hard to take on after what he was able to produce last start where he came from last to round up the field and win with ease by 1.8 lengths on the Heavy 8 track. Should appreciate coming onto the Soft track here, where he has a better record, and does not face much of a tougher field than he faced last start. He gets in better at the weights with Tom Sherry’s two-kilogram claim and he should appreciate the step up in distance to the 2400m. He is rock-hard fit and should be making it back-to-back wins in this.
No Compromise is the danger to the short favourite and has been in terrific form since coming across from New Zealand, having yet to miss a placing. He should appreciate coming onto the Soft track here and will be charging home with the fav.
Montabot should be fitter third-up here but hard to see him improve enough to turn the tables on Harpo Marx from last start while Arabolini will give a sight up on-pace with just 49.5kg on his back.
Selections: 1-2-13-6
Suggested Bet: He is short enough but backing Harpo Marx to win ($2) and having small win, larger place bet on Arabolini ($27 win, $5.50 place).
Race 6 Fillies & Mares Benchmark-78 Handicap (1200m) @ 2:10pm
Hasstobegood
She is an interesting runner resuming with new trainer Joseph Pride, formerly with Grahame Begg. She has had three trials leading in with her most recent behind a handy one in Either Oar being the most impressive. Draws wide but could be running home late.
Misteed was terrific last start and unlucky not to win. Draws well and should go close here once again while Dame Kiri ran on nicely last start and comes up with barrier one here second-up. Maddi Rocks trialled up nicely leading into this and Starla is building towards a win.
Selections: 2-4-8-9
Suggested Bet: No Bet in this one with my original on-top pick Seleque being scratched.
Race 7 Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) @ 2:45pm
Ziegfeld
Expecting a far better performance from the former French horse here after a tough run first-up on a Heavy 9 track. Gets back onto a Soft track second-up here, where he is one win from one start second-up and two wins and one placing from four Soft track runs. There looks to be very little speed in the race so he should be able to cross with True Detective and they look as though they will dictate the terms of the race. The change in conditions and a softer run should see him turn the tables on True Detective and Order Again and he beat home Countofmontecristo last start. Should be right in the finish.
Kirwan’s Lane had to go up the inside last start in a race won by the swoopers in the race won by Mongolian Marshal. He comes back to the Sydney way of going and draws well in barrier four. Form prior was solid, with a third to Opacity and a win over the handy Ellsberg. Big danger.
Cisco Bay is in excellent form and is a good place claim as is True Detective and Countofmontecristo.
Selections: 4-5-2-9
Suggested Bet: Back Ziegfled each-way ($5.50 win, $2 place).
Race 8 Benchmark-72 Handicap (1500m) @ 3:25pm
Ashim
Another former French horse goes around in this and has a strong winning chance in this. Excellent run last start when running second to Zorocat on a Heavy track at Randwick over the 1300m second-up. He should be rock-hard fit now after that run and will appreciate coming back onto a Soft track. The step-up in distance to the 1500m should suit and with natural improvement, he should be right in the finish here and be hard to beat.
Too Good To Be Tru comes up against the older horses here but is well in with a chance after his great run last start in the Grafton Guineas behind the smart Tamilaide.
Arctic Thunder can bounce back to form while War Cabinet and Fantastic Baby also have claims at a price.
Selections: 1-10-12-13
Suggested Bet: Backing Ashim to get his first Australian win here ($3.20).
Race 9 Benchmark-78 Handicap (1200m) @ 4:05pm
Smart Image
Has had a strong trial leading into this, where if he was not held up, he would have won the trial comfortably. It caught the eye strongly and found itself a feature in the trial file and be looks to have a terrific chance in this. Recent run was strong when coming from back in the field and finishing strongly to secure a second to Shadow Crush. He comes into this rock-hard fit and being fourth-up for the first time in his career and with the freshen up and solid trial leading into this, he should be flashing home late and will be tough to hold out.
Above And Beyond has claims of running well first-up at big odds while Tycoonist was a solid winner last start and is capable of backing that up and running well here.
Cuban Royale trialled well between his first-up run. Draws well and gets in well at the weights while Rule The World resumes with new trainer Mack Griffith.
Selections: 6-4-3-10
Suggested Bet: Back Smart Image ($4.60).
Race 10 Benchmark-88 Handicap (1300m) @ 4:45pm
Frosty Rocks
He will make his own luck by leading the field up and giving them something to catch. He has a terrific first-up record of two wins and one placing from four first-up runs and has a handy record on Soft tracks also. First-up last preparation, he was a dominant winner at this track and distance when winning by 2.8 lengths beating Dream Circle, who he faces here. He draws well with barrier two and will be hard to run down in this.
Ventura Ocean is undefeated since coming to Australia after winning both of his races last preparation at Eagle Farm. Has had two trials leading in and had a freshen-up since those trials. Could be in for a big performance here.
It has been some time since Noble Boy has been at his best but he was very impressive in a recent trial. Has a top record at this track and trip and can run better than his price suggests while Blue Solider is an interesting horse racing in Australia for the first time. Market and Mounting Yard watch on it while Irish Songs has had no luck in stronger races in Victoria and could run a big race with even luck.
Selections: 3-6-13-1
Suggested Bet: Tough to have too much confidence with an abundance of winning chances. No Bet.
Quaddie
Leg 1 (Race 7): 2,4,5,9
Leg 2 (Race 8): 1,3,7,10,12,13
Leg 3 (Race 9): 1,3,4,6,10
Leg 4 (Race 10): 2,3,6,9,13
$300 = 50%
Is Gambling a problem for you? Call Gamblers Help on 1800 858 858 or your local state gambling helpline. Gamble responsibly.
