Race 4 2YO MAIDEN HCP (1400m)
The babies step out now in what shapes an open affair. Really liked the closing run from Toronado colt 8. Sly Boots hitting the line at Wagga second-up after a slow start. The extra furlong is right up his alley, and can progress into this for leading Randwick yard.
Dangers: At bigger odds, improving metro colt 1. Flying Trapeze can peak third-up coming out of that same country race as the top selection where he finished under a length from the winner. Snitzel colt 2. Cap Ferrat reloads 11 weeks after an average run in the group 3 Black Opal at Canberra, while Nicconi gelding 6. Nicconium is on debut in blinkers behind two progressive trials.
How to play it: Sly Boots to win. Odds and Evens: Evens.
Race 5 2YO MAIDEN HCP (1400m)
You rarely see back-to-back races for the two-year-olds at the provincials, and this looms as one of the toughest on the program. Settled on So You Think metropolitan colt 4. Glad You Think So on debut at big odds in blinkers. Has progressed nicely in three spaced trials, and with good speed on here, he can settle back and hit the line with venom.
Dangers: Watch the market closely around northern hemisphere-bred colt 6. King Colorado, who has been given four weeks since a fair closing run on debut in a strong maiden, and will relish dryer ground. Similar approach with well-bred 1. Ashfall, a colt by superstar The Autumn Sun who has been readied with four trials across three months. Another one by The Autumn Sun, 3. Cape Size gets winkers on five weeks after a plain debut at Warwick farm. Another city visitor, 11. Evelyn May is also in the mix after finishing just behind the placegetters in that same Wagga race as the top selection in the previous.
How to play it: Glad You Think So each-way. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 6 BENCHMARK 68 HCP (1400m)
Like ultra-honest seven-year-old 9. Catapult who hasn’t won for a while, but hard fit for this trip and banging on the door after twice attacking the line late in BM64 provincial class. Stays at the distance, and back down to his lightest weight since mid-February when competing in deeper metro grade.
Dangers:Plenty of them starting with 1. Cuban Granchico who won a similar race here two starts back before struggling in tougher city grade. At bigger odds, both 6. Zouologist emerging from some handy country formlines, and 8. All Machiavellian deep into his prep, can run into a place.
How to play it: Catapult to win. Odds and Evens: Odds.
Race 7 CLASS 1 HCP (1400m)
Another very tricky affair, but confident, lightly raced and UK-reared six-year-old 1. Sidereal can return with a bang for his second Australian prep after a 17-month absence. Beautifully bred by Galileo out of an Oasis Dream mare, and prepared for a big return winning both recent trials up to 1250m.
Dangers: Much improved filly 10. Allasandra draws the inside fourth-up, and comes off a smart Midway maiden win a month back. Keep safe too 5. Resistible who has been in and around the money in four runs this prep; while impressive first-up maiden winner 8. Always In is the clear best of the rest.
How to play it: Sidereal to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 8 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1600m)
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It doesn’t get any easier in the last over a mile. At the big value, like underrated metro filly 12. Miss Faberge who had little or no luck from well back at Wagga over the carnival 18 days ago. Drops significantly in weight for this, and had previously tackled listed company over the border. Can settle back here and produce a withering finish, with the winkers coming off.
Dangers: Consistent 6. Reginald is again fairly well placed coming off a strong win in similar company at Wyong, although goes up 2kg. Must respect tough and consistent three-year-old 4. Iron Man, despite drawing wide, although he may also go to Canterbury on Wednesday, while 10. Noble Beauty with some weight relief third-up can pump plenty of value into exotic returns.
How to play it: Miss Faberge to win. Odds and Evens: Evens a special.
BEST BETS
Race 2: 5. SMART LEGEND
Race 3: 2. SIR KERM
BEST VALUE
Race 8: 12. MISS FABERGE