Race-by-race preview and tips for Tuesday meeting at Gunnedah
By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail True
Race 1 - 1.15pm: MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)
We start with the maidens over a mile on a surface that may just slip back into soft range but remain relatively firm. Improving five-year-old 5. Reacquaint can break through here at big odds deep into his prep, and getting back out to the mile. Worked home only fairly here two starts back, but there was a bit more quality in that race, before finishing okay into a place in a handy maiden 18 days ago.
Racing heads to Gunnedah on Tuesday.
Dangers: Capable mare 8. Kaisa has been disappointing in two runs when well-fancied after only being grabbed late first-up at Scone. Gets her chance here, though, fourth-up in a weaker race. Another hard fit improver is 6. Subscribe Me who did his best work late last start in a maiden with more depth. Expecting 2. Lord Cat to bounce back from a poor third-up run with a crucial gear change made. Include 10. Snow Star in all exotic bets.
How to play it: Reacquaint each way and box trifecta 2, 5, 6, 8
Race 2 - 1.55pm: MAIDEN HCP (1000m)
Like progressive five-year-old 2. Eighty Eight Stars resuming off a 27-week break. Was in the placings all three runs last prep, and gets enough speed on here to settle back & produce a dominant final 300m.
Dangers: No doubting hard fit mare 11. Truffles is right in the fight after being run down late by a smart winner when fourth-up. Keep safe 5. Rockbarton Racer who can settle closer here in the run from the inside draw third-up and on a luxury weight after the 4kg claim. Watch the betting on 1. Court Recess at big odds having his first start as a six-year-old gelding behind a steady trial, and is bred to get much further by Group 1 2000m winner Hampton Court. Respect too for long-priced 3. Play The Record also resuming for a second start, with several gear changes. Was only fair on debut, but the 800m scamper was way too short, and behind a soft trial, can be stronger late in this.
How to play it: Eighty Eight Stars to win
Race 3 - 2.35pm: MAIDEN PLATE (1250m)
Emerging filly 11. Scholl Deep progresses off an eye-catching debut against provincial opposition when beaten under a half-length. Any further ground is a bonus, being by group 1 mile winner Kermadec, and she again draws to get cover just off the speed.
Dangers: Another progressive filly 12. She’s Got Teeth ran home hard into a place from last first-up at Newcastle and looks destined for better races, although a query drifting back on a tighter turning track here. Underrated Armidale mare 9. Pridefilly likes to settle back and hit the line, and will relish the longer journey. Include 5. Devilry who finished off okay in that same race as the top selection; and long-shot 8. Powerstone who is hard fit; in wider exotic bets.
How to play it: Scholl Deep to win
Race 4 - 3.10pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2150m)
Like lightly raced four-year-old 2. Ideel Hero over a longer journey with the blinkers coming off. Has been competitive in four runs against smarter opposition this prep, including a provincial mile win two starts back, and draws to do no work just off the speed.
Dangers: Big finishing 1. Norman will be hard to hold out over more ground if he gets enough cover back in the field after powering home into a place from near last in a deeper race 18 days ago. After three runs at the mile, including a handy provincial win two starts ago. Improving mare 4. Fusaichi Family should have won at Muswellbrook when nailed right on the line after tracking wider from the turn, but some doubt she would back up in three days on a smaller track. Honest 3. Iron Pot heads the rest.
How to play it: Ideel Hero to win
Race 5 - 3.45pm: CLASS 1 HCP (1400m)
Plenty of chances here, but no better value than four-year-old 3. Ballet Pride who can make it two straight fifth-up and over a furlong further. Snapped a run of some indifferent and at times luckless form by sweeping home to beat a handy maiden field at Scone, and looks well treated carrying 2kg less in a race that isn’t much stronger.
Dangers: Front-running 7. Mellencamp again draws to do little or no work on-speed and looks well-placed fourth-up dropping a significant 5kg after the jockey’s claim. One who likes to drift right back and finish hard is 8. Lago’s Daughter who hasn’t won for a while, but gets good weight relief here in a thinner face. Dominant debut winner 1. Dyecast Missile; 6. Quick As A Flash deep into her prep; and 9. Fill Your Heart with a senior rider back on; are all capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Ballet Pride to win
Race 6 - 4.25pm: BENCHMARK 74 HCP (1300m)
Tough four-year-old 12. Johnny Dash rarely runs a bad one and looks ideally placed here down sharply in weight over 100m further. Thrashed a CL3 field from the front at Dubbo back in early June before close-up again in a BM 66 at Scone when reloading off a seven-week break. Building a solid record, and should get a lovely camp from this draw right behind the speed. The one to beat.
Dangers: Capable mare 1. Cecelia hasn’t won for a long time but has been sparingly raced. Stuck on for a long time in the straight two starts back at the provincials before going too hard in front 24 days ago. Gets in only 3kg over the limit after the junior rider’s 4kg allowance. Both 2. Foreign Brother down in grade; and 6. Memories also dropping in class third-up; can run into the minor money; while 9. Toulon Factor and 11. Sparks go in wider exotic plays.
How to play it: Johnny Dash to win
Race 7 - 5pm: CLASS 3 HCP (1000m)
Resuming and talented mare 4. Jillonni can bring punters home on the right foot in her first outing for 33 weeks. All three career wins from 15 starts have come first-up, and she is sensationally weighted for this trip after the 2kg claim.
Dangers: Ex-Victorian 2. Crystal Chief resumes from a sound draw in his first run for the new Brett Cavanough stable. Big gap to the rest headed by 7. Spirit Of Pluto who peaks third-up.
How to play it: Jillonni to win
BEST BETS
R3 11. SCHOLL DEEP
R6 12. JOHNNY DASH
BEST VALUE
R5 3. BALLET PRIDE
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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