Neil Evans
Track Heavy 8 and rail out 7m:
Race 1
8. Time For Snow is a tough-as-teak Canberra three-year-old that can finally snap a long run of playing second fiddle. Beat all bar the winner in his last five, on as many different tracks, and mostly by very small margins. Untried in heavy but in the money three times on soft, and looking for more ground. 2. Hold The Door was a dominant front-running maiden winner here two starts ago before dropping right out in a metropolitan BM 64 when forced to do too much work early. Can strike back returning to country level, but still under the odds in this going. 3. Knight Of Rhodes from the Matthew Smith stable is fit and better placed here after a horror run at Newcastle; while stablemate 1. My Greek God third-up over further, and 5. Aerostern Bro also out in distance; can both fill the minor money.
How to play it: Time For Snow to win
Race 2
5. See Diamond is by wet track sire Prague, and can hit the ground running on debut for a leading provincial stable. Has been good through the line in two trials, and drawn to get to the outside. 2. Cold Gin is an improving city filly and draws the inside fourth-up. 3. King For A Day is by Kingman, and a big market watch on debut for the Smith yard behind two trials. 4. Russian Reign has been solid through the line in two runs back from a spell, but a query if the ground remains heavy. 6. Arizona Lover second-up is clear best of the rest in a tricky race.
How to play it: See Diamond to win
Race 3
4. Tough As Stone is trained on the course, and can improve enough to break through at just his second start. Kept chasing in a handy maiden at Corowa, stays at this trip and gear changes have been made. Was scratched from Albury on Tuesday to be saved for this. Stablemate 6. Fortythreebeans is a natural threat heading into her third start after running home into a place at Wagga. Drawn to get cover and finds a race with less depth. 2. Glenn’s Legacy is also trained here, and a big second-up improver. Doubt the winner comes from anywhere else, but keep safe 7. Rockabye Roxy resumes for a second prep for a shrewd Canberra stable.
How to play it: Tough As Stone to win
Race 4
4. Big Opinion is another trained locally, and will be hard to stop in an open race, coming back from much deeper CL3 Highway company when beaten under two lengths. Two of his three career wins have come in soft going, winkers go on, and one of the best non-metro jockeys in the country does the steering. 6. Wandaye is a big betting watch, resuming off a 45-day break and Rosehill trial win for a leading metro stable. 3. Tommy Flyer is a lightly raced Canberra five-year-old also first-up. Was competitive in some deeper races last campaign, and will handle the conditions. Gap to the rest headed by 2. Zoufield fourth-up with a gear change, and 8. The Eyes Have It and won his only start at this track in a CL1 two runs ago.
How to play it: Big Opinion to win
Race 5
4. Indecisive is an improving Randwick four-year-old well positioned to strike second-up off a long break, despite drawing wide. Tackled some handy city maidens early in his career before breaking through over a year ago at Hawkesbury. Had some setbacks before final returning off two trials with a solid closing effort in a provincial CL1 where the winner ran some slick sectionals. This is a drop in quality, and he’s drawn to settle back and find the middle of the straight. Keep safe 9. Vereeva loves wet tracks and can improve third-up down sharply in weight. 6. Overtook is over the odds dropping in grade third-up, so too 2. Vinolass se three wins from nine starts have all come on rain-affected ground. 3. Ditterich is a reliable weight carrier and placed in four of his last five.
How to play it: Indecisive to win
Race 6
7. I Am Overs is a progressive metro filly ready to break through fourth-up. Did her best work late at the provincials before again working home okay in a handy Saturday super maiden. Brings good formlines for a race like this, and bred to handle wet tracks. 2. Look Here hits peak fitness, and will roll forward from a wider draw, although unproven in the going and short enough in early markets. 5. Let’s be Honest has worked home okay in his last two, and draws to get cover. The market will tell a big story with 6. Wairarapa, a powerful filly by Pierata on debut for the Waterhouse-Bott stable behind three soft trials, and is bred to relish the going. 4. Roy Kelton is an improver at big odds with gear changes in play.
How to play it: I Am Overs to win
Race 7
10. Roonami hit the line impressively to claim her maiden here second-up after being backed from $2.50 into $2.35. This is tougher and a wide race, but she’s on the rise and no concern jumping to the mile. Drawn to get early cover, and can be strong late. Watch the betting on Randwick filly 8. Mamma Mia coming back significantly in class fourth-up, with winkers replacing blinkers. 6. Sweet Treats is a fit and improving mare drops in quality, but the inside draw may not be favourable late on the day. 2. Dunwithya is lightly raced, and can run a race fresh at big odds off two progressive trials. 14. Shezain is a progressive mare and big watch second-up off a break if she starts in this race rather than the last after working home late here in deeper company. Include 3. The Adiage, a first-up country maiden winner, and 12. Turn Left deep into a long prep, in trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Roonami to win
Race 8
9. Reckless Behaviour is a talented home tracker and can return with a bang at good odds for only his fourth start in another open race, despite drawing wide. Took handy strides last spring after winning his maiden, and despite not having publicly trialled, has reportedly been working well. Thrives on wet tracks. 2. Olington Lane is promising having won both starts so far, the latest closing off from well back to claim a CL1 here. Extra furlong looks ideal, and already proven in all conditions. 5. Shezain (also accepted in R7) finished well here second-up in a CL2. 7. Kirwans Bridge is trained here, and after bolting in his maiden two starts back, finished only a neck from Olington Lane last start. Local 8. Brass Monkeys second-up goes in wider exotics.
How to play it: Reckless Behaviour to win
BEST BETS:
Race 4: (4) Big Opinion
Race 5: (4) Indecisive
BEST VALUE:
Race 6: (7) I Am Overs
Supplied by Racing NSW
