Race 1: Beltoro won this grade, track and distance two starts back, but up 3.5kgs on that, one alley helps. Riverplate hit the front and felt the pinch late at Sandown. Up in grade, but drops 3kgs and racing well. Lyrical Lad won this grade before a spell, rarely performs early prep, third-up now so can improve. Wishlor Lass unbeaten in three career runs, up fromBM70 to BM84, but well weighted on the minimum and gets J-Kah.
Race 3: Amur has won only two starts, both at the Valley. Both by small margins, but this flashy colt was tenacious in both and expect he’ll be in for the fight here. Scorsese was green on debut at Sandown. She overraced, was trapped four wide the trip and copped a bump mid race. Despite this she found the line strongly for third. Scorsese will be improved off that and is capable of winning. Hell Queen is big odds for her first-up run. She jumped out and trialled, trial was okay. She was third here, before a spell, behind Charm Stone and Empress Of Wonder. Williams rode her there and sticks for this.
On Top: Scorsese $6.50. Dangers: Amur $5.00, Hell Queen $18.
Race 4: Could play two each-way in this tough race. Duke of Hastings and Teser met at Sandown last start. Teser was fifth and did a good job to hit the line hard from well back at 1700m. Out to 2000m looks perfect. Similar for Duke of Hastings. He was last and closed strongly for ninth and comes into this third-up. Mimi’s Award is more than up to this grade, second-up record is solid, this a bit short, but expect could hit the line hard and one for exotics.
On Top: Duke Of Hastings $14. Dangers: Teser $13, Mimi’s Award $26.
Race 5: Annavisto resumes off the back of a jump-out and impressive Cranbourne trial win. She’s a smart mare, three-time first-up winner, has won here, so ticks some boxes. Vespertine lacks the class of some of these, but she’s a fit mare. She had no luck at Sandown last start when three wide, no cover throughout. She was still game at the end behind race rival Road To Arataki. Boogie Dancer resumes, has jumped out well, but goes best with the cut out of the track.
On Top: Annavisto $2.30 Dangers: Vespertine $10, Boogie Dancer $8.50.
Race 6: Impossible race. Something small on Foujita San. This colt was G2 placed before a spell. At his first run back he didn’t stretch out when cramped for room at Sandown. Ollie was soft on him late and stayed on for this. Winkers go on, rise in trip and is well drawn, so plenty of positives.
On Top: Foujita San $23.
Race 7: Hard to go past Nature Strip. He resumes and trial was super at Warwick Farm. Discussion about the rails draw for the straight race, but expect J-Mac will get him away from the fence if need be. Marabi looks the danger. She resumes and was impressive winning Cranboure jump-out under her own steam. She’s new to the straight, but won the G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield before a spell and has won seven of eight career. Coolangatta won both her trials and gets in with just 53.5kgs and is definitely in the mix.
On Top: Nature Strip $2.05. Dangers: Coolangatta $6.50, Marabi $7.50.
Race 8: Uncle Bryn races well and his fourth behind Annavisto in a Cranbourne trial was a good effort. Sat back and worked strongly to the line. Wide draw not ideal for Umgawa, but his last start was decent behind subsequent G1 runner-up Gentleman Roy.
On Top: Uncle Byrn $7.50. Danger Umgawa $16.
Race 9: Jungle Jim won two of last three including one up the straight here. This is the toughest test and looks up to it. D’Jumbuck showed plenty of ticker to fight and win here last start, beating Jungle Jim. A month between runs, but kept ticking over with a jump-out at Cranbourne, when not let go. Sacred Palace every chance at the Valley behind Dance to Dubai, third-up so should be close to peak.
On Top: Jungle Jim. Dangers: D’jumbuck $5.00, Sacred Palace $8.50.
Rosehill
Race 1: Super Extreme very consistent and won two of last three Highways. Looks nicely placed here with the 2kg claim as rises just 1kg for Randwick win. Preemptory was 8th in the same race and should have finished a lot closer. He was poorly ridden and went to the line without being tested. Preemptory gets a new jockey and meets Super Extreme 3kgs better after Lloyd’s 2kg claim, wide gate only concern.
On Top: Preemptory $10. Danger: Super Extreme $4.60.
Race 2: Two 1200m trials will have Miracle Spin primed for a solid first-up run at the 1500m. He’s been in the money in three of four starts, gets a 2kg claim and good draw. Kibosh fought hard Midway grade last start, likes sting out of the track and expect could lead and be hard to run down. Luvoir copped a slaughter job last start when four deep throughout. Fought on gamely and more than capable of playing a part in this.
On Top: Kibosh $8.00. Dangers: Luvoir $21, Miracle Spin $7.00.
Race 4: King’s Gambit was disappointing last start when a beaten short priced favourite. It is hard to come into him off that, but apparently he was affected by the heat, so he could turn things around. Platinum Jubilee is a month between runs after her great second in the Magic Millions. Gai has taken her along quietly and the filly comes into this off the back of a soft trial.
On Top: Platinum Jubilee $4.60. Danger: King’s Gambit $2.15.
Race 5: Nash sticks with Lindermann after his solid first-up run at Randwick. The Waller trained colt finished the race off strongly. He’s been placed at Listed level, over 1800m, so the step-up to 1400m looks perfect. Lindermann likes the cut out of the track and is a second-up winner.
On Top: Lindermann $7.50.
Race 7: Sacramento was a big betting drifter when he fifth to race rival Banju over the mile at Randwick last start. That was Sacramento’s first run since October and he faced the breeze, three wide, for much of the race. Sacramento did not shirk the task and worked to the line strongly. He meets Banju 4.5kgs better, is a three-time second-up winner and out to 1900m is a plus. Banju doing everything right, but yet to win beyond 1600m. King Frankel is smart and resumes here. Out to 1500m first-up, but has had two 1200m trials and in good camp so should be forward enough.
On Top: Sacramento $9.50. Dangers: King Frankel $2.30, Banju $5.00.
Race 8: Aft Cabin had Zou Tiger well covered when they met at Randwick last start. Both will have taken improvement and should fight this out again. Osipenko was fifth and finished off better than most. He was too far back, but can be closer from the rails draw this time and out to 1400m looks ideal.
On Top: Aft Cabin $1.55. Danger: Osipenko $7.50, Zou Tiger $7.50.
Race 9: D-Day for Bullfinch, might have said that before. He had trouble getting a run last start at Randwick when lumped 58.5kgs. Rises in grade for this, but healthy 4.5kg weight drop. Cross Talk resumes and showed he is on song for a big-first-up run with two trial wins. He’s been in the money nine of 10 starts, has won here and is unbeaten in three first-up runs.
On Top: Cross Talk $2.00. Danger: Bullfinch $6.00.
Eagle Farm Race 1: Smart Recognition just missed when second to race rival Nazorian at Doomben last start. He got too far back in the run and did his best work late. Extra distance will suit Smart Recognition. Trifling good win at Sunshine Coast last start, having fifth run this prep’ and drawn wide.
On Top: Smart Recognition $3.90. Danger: Nazorian $4.40.
Race 2: Namazu should beat these on his first-up run. Got too far back at the Sunshine Coast, in Listed grade and closed strongly for second. His second-up record is solid, down in class and 1600m is his best trip. Star of Michelin is fit and races well on this track and is a two time winner over this trip.
On Top: Namazu $2.10. Danger: Star Of Michelin $8.00.
Race 4: Head Of State was impressive winning here last start, up in grade, but gets a 4kg weight drop. Scarlet Tufty was a month between runs and did some work when midfield here last start. He’ll strip fitter for this and gets in with a light weight.
On Top: Head Of State $1.70. Scarlet Tufty $5.00.
Race 5: Small each-way play on Red Light Roxanne. She got too far back here last start and finished well for third to Vaccine. A step-up from the mile to 1800m should work in Red Light Roxanne’s favour.
On Top: Red Light Roxanne.
Race 7: Argyle Pink resumes and up to this on form prior to a spell. Gollan trained and solid trial win at Doomben. Stablemate Zavaboom tricky gate, but last run here, this grade was solid. Orman to ride, so can get the right run. Enterprise Pomme drops from a Listed race to a Class 3, so very well placed. She was decent in the Listed race at Doomben, showed speed, gave up the lead then overraced. It took a toll and she tired late. Good alley for this and being Eagle Farm, Enterprise Pomme can hopefully be given a more relaxed ride in the early part. Delyth is fitter for two runs from a spell, but would have liked to see more last start.
Race 9: Hellavadancer had every chance last start and ran into a smart one in Vaccine. One alley is a plus, but jury out on his ticker. Red Top was third to topweight The Vowels last start and meets that horse 2kgs better and well drawn. Sunset Soiree is a promising filly winning two of three, this toughest test, but goes into exotics.
On Top: Hellavadancer $3.00. Dangers: Red Top $13, Sunset Soiree $6.50, The Vowels $7.00.