John Schell
Selections based on a soft track:
Race 1
4. Portico debuted on the Kensington track at Randwick last month with an eighth placing. That followed a couple of trials, and he had performed well in each of them. He will find this an easier task than the debut effort and an improvement is on the cards. 2. Barracks made his debut at Newcastle in February and finished second when racing on the speed and battling on well enough. He’s won a recent trial at Warwick Farm leading into this and should take plenty of beating. 3. Oxford Power won two trials at Wyong and on the Beaumont track at Newcastle before debuting with a fifth at Wyong. He can run well here with the benefit of natural improvement. 5. Let There Be Drums is having his first race start on the back of a trial win at Kembla Grange and looks to have talent.
How to play it: Portico EACH WAY.
Race 2
10. Royal Botanic is a filly on debut here, and she has had a number of trials in preparation. Her latest two have been sound with a win on the Beaumont track at Newcastle last month before a third at Scone on April 1. Expect a bold showing here. 7. Smoke ‘N’ Darts had his first start when finishing second at this track behind Poisonous on March 26. He looks to have the talent to give this a shake. 5. Peleus resumed from a spell with a second at Gosford and backed that up with a fourth at Rosehill. That form looks solid for this. 1. Banner Banner ran home well when second at his first start at Nowra and can get into the placings again.
How to play it: Royal Botanic EACH WAY.
Race 3
5. Solid wasn’t too far away in a couple of Super Maidens last October and November. He resumes here after a solid trial at Rosehill in which he ran second, and the stable has been firing of late. 2. Superata has been thereabouts in recent runs and has six placings from 10 starts. Another bold showing is expected. 12. Che Ole has finished fourth in both starts and accounted for Solid in a recent trial. 10. Dawn Or Dusk made her debut at this track last month when finishing midfield, and she can improve on that performance in this.
How to play it: Solid WIN.
Race 4
3. Gorgeous debuted with a win as favourite on the Kensington track in January. She’s had a trial leading into this resuming run and won that at Warwick Farm. She’s drawn well and looks set to maintain her unbeaten record. 1. Poisonous trialled well twice before resuming from a spell with a dominant win at this track and another bold showing is on the cards. 6. Frostisen won well at this track two starts ago and then wasn’t disgraced when midfield at Wyong. 5. Charlina was grabbed in the last stride at Newcastle last time out and warrants plenty of thought again.
How to play it: Gorgeous WIN.
Race 5
9. Azure Angel was a Scone winner on debut last November and was then spelled. She had two trials before resuming with a late closing third at Newcastle and should be better for that run. 4 Autumn Blonde resumed with a close-up fourth at this track and only needs to run up to that to make an impact. 1. Convergent was placed here last time out and should perform well again, while 8. Ascot Green won well here on debut and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
How to play it: Azure Angel WIN.
Race 6
7. Wishful Thinker was resuming from a spell when finishing third at Kembla Grange. He followed that up with an all the way win at Wyong when last produced and only needs to run up to that performance to be hard to hold out again. 2. Pick Up The Tab won a couple on end at Kembla Grange last May before being spelled. He’s been down the track in two runs back from a spell but can improve here. 1. Dumebi ran well when paced at Wagga when last produced and has claims again, while 4. Viewpoint won a maiden here in December and bears close watching here fresh.
How to play it: Wishful Thinker EACH WAY.
Race 7
9. Knowing Look was having her first start when lining up at Warwick Farm last June and finishing midfield. She was spelled after that and then resumed after a trial with a win at Newcastle when leading throughout. She’s had another trial leading into this and has the advantage of gate one. 5. Ocean Chill has had two starts back from a spell and has been placed in each of them with a third at Kembla Grange and a second at Wyong. She only needs to run up to that form to be hard to hold out again. 2. Chilli Margs is a former Kiwi that had two trials before making her Australian debut with a sixth at this track when not beaten far. 3. Empress Of Japan is resuming from a spell after two trials and has the talent on her day to run a bold race while fresh.
How to play it: Knowing Look EACH WAY.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays at racingnsw.com.au
