Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail True
RACE 1
8. Triumvirate is a progressive three-year-old, and well-placed to break through for a leading Victorian stable. Has run home strong from both just off speed and well back either side of the border in two outings this campaign, and top Sydney jockey takes over from a low draw. 1. Eton has to get over from a wide barrier, but can run a big race returning for his first assignment since spring as a gelding with blinkers coming off for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. Was okay tackling steeper city opposition last prep, and fitted with two trials. 11. Dolce Vita is another metro raider drawn to be in the finish second-up after a fair run behind a smart winner at Wyong. 4. Lord Limerick is a second-up improver over a furlong further for a leading Albury stable; while stablemate 3. Hold This can also improve back on to a much bigger track. Gap to the rest headed by 12. Lady Cowan on debut.
How to play it: Triumvirate to win.
RACE 2
1. Harry The Thief is a progressive three-year-old that will have to tuck in from an awkward draw, but capable of mowing this lot down third-up at big odds. Finished too well to claim a CL1 when fresh before a somewhat luckless run in a BM 68 at Wyong when hitting the line late after covering ground and over-racing early. Looks ideally suited to the bigger circuit, and carrying top-weight is no concern. 14. Wear The Crown is a lightly raced and promising Canberra filly that will likely jump favourite after a dominant first-up win at this course. Drawn to get a soft run behind the speed. 9. Lightning Speed is an honest and fit mare that has placed in three of her last four. 4. Cambar has ability, and a big market watch resuming as a gelding, with no public trials. 3. Transactions and 7. Rocket Rudee, both rising in class third-up, can add plenty of value into trifecta and first four returns.
How to play it: Harry The Thief to win.
RACE 3
2. Cosmic Avenger is a hard fit Randwick three-year-old that represents terrific value staying over the mile. Finished best to claim a Midway BM 64 three starts back before again attacking the line when up in grade at Rosehill. Then only missed by a neck three weeks ago at Newcastle. Back against his own age from a handy trailing draw, and with a significant jockey change, all combine to make him well over the odds in an open Guineas. 5. Blue Monday is a smart filly in the making. Easily took care of a weaker field when resuming at Albury before doing her best work late in a much deeper Group 3 at Randwick. Looks well treated at the weights against her own age, and with any clear run will be steaming home. 4. Coulter won two straight up to provincial BM 64 level before failing to fire a shot from a tough draw in a Group 3 at Rosehill. Better placed here, although faces a tricky draw under a hefty weight. 6. Hip Hip Ole is a progressive filly coming off a tough Prelude win 12 days ago. 3. Voting Rights, off a five week freshen-up and trial, and 9. Pure Melody head the rest.
How to play it: Cosmic Avenger to win.
RACE 4
On debut 5. Global Goal is a filly by multiple Group 1 winner Pinatubo in the John Sargent yard at Randwick. Fitted with two trials, eye-catching in the latest where she worked home strong through the line, despite covering plenty of ground the entire trip. 9. Portland Miss, with race experience, will be hard to hold out behind a fast-finishing debut win at Hawkesbury where she ran over a couple of well-fancied youngsters. 6. Isn’t She Autumn is a rival metro raider that won a much weaker race on debut, and another one by hot sire The Autumn Sun. 2. Friendly Fire, by Golden Slipper winner Farnan, is another city debutant making the trip, behind two trials; while 7. Miss Verona, a Victorian filly by Castelvecchio in the Hayes camp, starts her career behind a solid Caulfield trial.
How to play it: Global Goal to win.
RACE 5
10. Judith’s Revenge is a tough home track filly that has done everything but win since claiming consecutive and weaker races in January. Found the line late from midfield in two outings up to BM 66 grade before very stiff not to win the Guineas Prelude here when working through late in the slower part of the track. Hard fit in suitable fillies and mares’ company, and needs a clear shot at them from the 400m in an open race. 5. Bonnie Murringo is trained on the track, and similarly banging on the door for another win. Was always in and around the money earlier in the preparation, including a terrific closing effort in a Country Championship qualifier here. Then came off a let-up to do her best work late in a deeper CL3 Highway. 2. Autumn Blonde is better than her record suggests, but will need the breaks early from a wide draw. 15. Sweet Treats emerges over the odds fourth-up back on firmer ground. 4. Light Foot deep into the campaign, and at bigger odds metro mare 13. Micro Magic resuming behind two trials; can both fill the minor money.
How to play it: Judith’s Revenge to win.
RACE 6
12. The Magnet can go on her winning way after taking care of an average maiden field at Orange. Had tackled deeper provincial maidens earlier in the campaign, and looks well treated against this lot for a leading metro trainer-jockey combination, especially with the early favourite being preferred at Thursday’s meeting. 6. Fourthtimelucky is honest and crosses the border very fit, and draws the inside. 4. Trust In Chad off a last start CL2 win, 5. Demi God dropping in class second-up, and 13. Theo’s Choice, trained on the course and drawn low, can all be included in exotic bets.
How to play it: The Magnet to win.
RACE 7
5. Quietness is a tough on-speed mare that is ready to peak fourth-up. Wasn’t far away in consecutive Group 3 races early March before stuck on fairly after leading the Group 3 Easter Cup from a wide draw at Caulfield. Drops down to only a half kilo over the minimum weight, and can nail down a Big Dance spot rolling forward from a middle gate. 2. Travolta will be hard to hold out with any sort of early cover. Has continually run home hard in Group company through autumn, often without luck, and he’s a tough and reliable weight carrier. Stablemate 3. Star Of India continues to improve, and like the former, comes through the Group 3 JRA Plate at Randwick where he hit the line late. 6. Bear On The Loose is consistent enough, and can give his usual sight from the front coming via that same Randwick lead-up. 4. Bianco Vilano is a big betting watch having won two trials either side of the border up to 1500m since causing a boilover six weeks ago, charging home to win the Albury Cup. 8. Flying Bandit is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Quietness to win.
RACE 8
15. Buenos is a progressive and talented Canberra mare that is unbeaten over this distance, and can strike first-up. Swept home to easily account for a handy CL2 field when fresh last spring, and capable of reeling off a superior closing 400m burst. Hasn’t officially trialled, but that is common practice for the stable. 16. Moor Mumm has hit the line impressively in her last two against better opposition. 8. Pleasurize steps up in grade and journey off a first-up win. 13. Bide Your Time is another watch fresh off a long break for a leading Canberra yard; while 14. Sergeant Stan rising in grade third-up, and 18. Atmospheric Rock draws well if he gets a run, can both boost trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Buenos to win.
BEST BETS:
R1 8. TRIUMVIRATE; R6 12. THE MAGNET
BEST VALUE:
R5 10. JUDITH’S REVENGE
Supplied by Racing NSW
