Track good 4 and rail true so fairly even early before gradually trend away from the fence.
RACE 1 – 11.40AM: McDONALDS DUBBO & WELLINGTON MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
Debutant gelding 2. Cyclone Clyde (Rockface x Tembissa by Johannesburg) is bred for speed and bolted in his only trial under a hold all the way. Looks ready to rip for smart local stable, although will need to jump cleanly from a wide barrier.
Dangers: Gulgong colt 1. Chevron Prince came from well back on debut this track when easy out in the market. Draws to tuck away well back on the inside and be produced late. Liked the recent trial work of 6. Slatey Bay – stablemate to Chevron Prince – but will need plenty of luck drawn well off the track while Scone filly 10. Kohinhoor Road has had three fair runs back from a spell, and gets a lovely run just off the speed but up in weight.
How to play it: Cyclone Clyde to win and quinella 1 and 2.
RACE 2 – 12.15PM: KINGS HALL JEWELLERS MAIDEN HANDICAP (1300m)
Advertisement
Another wide open charge, although short on depth, and quite a few will be waiting a long time to win. Liked the effort second run back from Nyngan-trained gelding 6. Tapanui who closed from a long way out at Parkes. Former Victorian campaigner which ran well up to 2000m late last year, and gets in nicely at the weights.
Dangers: Four-year-old Scone gelding 1. Agent King was well backed resuming at Tamworth when just even to the line, but much better over this longer trip, although drawn very wide. Mudgee gelding 4. Leica Benz hasn't run on in two starts so far, although company was a bit stronger than this. Draws OK, and with that experience expect a much improved run.
How to play it: Tapanui each-way.
RACE 3 – 12.50PM: LANDMARK HARCOURT OPEN HANDICAP (1300m)
Really competitive race, with nearly 400 starts across the field. Banking on six-year-old Mudgee gelding 5. Go The Gantry being ridden quiet from the off the speed. Was run over late in stronger Cup field at Scone after leading, but before that flashed home in the Town Plate at Wellington before finishing hard to win a weaker BM75 at Narromine. Any sort of cover back around midfield, and he can charge over the top.
Dangers: Seven-year-old Muswellbrook gelding 6. Star Shaft looms as a threat after finishing off nicely in consecutive metro runs. Will appreciate the wide stretch here, and look for him late. Local seven-year-old gelding 8. Any Blinkin' Day rarely puts in a bad one, and fought on OK from the front in the Parkes Cup. Back in trip but draws well and should be in the finish. Five-year-old Gulgong gelding 4. Sugar Dance is on the cusp after three solid runs back from a spell, holding his ground OK in and around the speed. Will need some luck under a big weight and wide draw, but is capable.
How to play it: Go The Gantry to win and box first four 5-6-8/4-5-6-8.
RACE 4 – 1.25PM: SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND BALL CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)
Yet another big and even field at set weights, and will be a long time between drinks for most of them. But one runner still in his first prep and showing enough promise can make it two wins in three starts. Local three-year-old gelding 5. Mayaman was specked in from an enormous price before charging late to win his maiden at Narromine, and then got home hard again in a better race at Mudgee. Stays at the mile, and as long as he gets some cover early, will be flying home again.
Dangers: Three-year-old Goulburn gelding 6. Pauldron won his maiden three runs back at Wellington, and last couple have been solid around this grade. Draws a nice trailing gate, and should be in the finish again. Local five-year-old gelding 1. Comzig has been up for a while but really attacked the line at big odds in his last two. Will go back from a wide gate, but suited down this wide straight. Gulgong mare 8. Tropicana Lass having her third straight run at the mile is best of the rest.
How to play it: Mayaman to win and quinella 5 and 6.
RACE 5 – 2.05PM: AFA INSURANCE CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)
Same conditions, but even tougher, although more depth and quality to work with. Going with maiden three-year-old Scone gelding 10. Greenskeeper which is still improving. Rattled home to just miss at Tamworth after a solid closing effort as a well-backed favourite at Taree. Drawn the fence, and will again run the mile out strongly. Earmuffs go on pre-race.
Dangers: If Scone mare 8. The Cyprian reproduces her winning maiden effort from two runs back, she's in the mix. Found the step up to Class 1 a little tough, and appears a mile is as far as she wants, but has ability. Local six-year-old gelding 4. Traffic Cop was disappointing at Mudgee when a little easy in betting, but rock solid in the market in previous few when right around the placings. Draws OK and gets a useful claim. Four-year-old Muswellbrook gelding 3. Litt Up didn't finish off either in that same Mudgee race behind Redazzity after being friendless in betting, but previous form was solid, and draws a nice trailing gate. Parkes three-year-old gelding 6. On A Promise broke through to win his maiden last start, but this is naturally tougher.
How to play it: Greenskeeper to win and box trifecta 3-4-8-10.
RACE 6 – 2.40PM: WAYNE MALLISON PAINTER & DECORATOR CONSOLATION BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1300m)
Loading
It doesn't get any easier with several chances, but the standout value is three-year-old Muswellbrook gelding 3. Asudem who just needs even luck from the wide gate, with blinkers and lugging bit coming off for the first time. Has had two fair runs back from a spell closing off OK, and will appreciate the spacious track. Was right on the heels of some decent horses in late spring.
Dangers: Lightly raced local three-year-old gelding 6. Gorn Hoff was brave scoring an upset maiden win on this track at only third career start, and second horse has since run well again. Will park right on the speed from a good draw. Talented four-year-old Mudgee gelding 11. Thunderzone went straight to a metro Highway after screaming home to win his maiden at Orange earlier in the year, but will be forced to go right back from the extreme outside gate in first run for more than four months. Another locally-trained four-year-old 12. Sipharderson is ready for this longer trip after getting the line nicely in two runs back, but also draws wide. Front-running local five-year-old gelding and last-start winner 8. Phenomenal Spirit will again stick on hard, Scone four-year-old gelding 4. Axis has had two reasonable runs back from a spell and Cessnock-trained 5. Ghetto Boy, which mixes his form but draws an ideal barrier, head the rest.
How to play it: Asudem each way and first four 3-6-11/3-4-5-6-8-11-12.
RACE 7 – 3.20PM: REGIONAL AUSTRALIA INSURANCE SOLUTIONS WINTER COUNTRY CLASSIC QUALIFIER F&M BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1300m)
Promising Muswellbrook filly 7. Little Miss Nic can go on with the job up in trip after sweeping home to win her maiden this track in first run for eight months.
Dangers: Scone mare 10. Ecstatically won a good quality maiden two runs back before giving plenty of cheek from the front at Muswellbrook. Draws to control the race again, and will take plenty of running down. Canberra mare 3. Fraternater was disappointing on speed this grade at Parkes after sweeping home to win at Wagga, and gets no favours up in weight and drawn wide. Cowra mare 5. Dictation finished nicely to win a Class 1 at Wagga two back before easy in betting when doing her best work late at Narromine. Draws the fence and will get a nice stalking run. Scone mare 8. Rosesay hasn't lived up to the early promise, but often tackled stronger fields. Better suited over this longer trip, especially drawn out.
How to play it: Little Miss Nic to win and quinella 7 and 10.
RACE 8 – 3.55PM: REGIONAL AUSTRALIA INSURANCES SOLUTIONS WINTER COUNTRY CLASSIC QUALIFIER CG&E BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1300m)
Now the boys' turn, and very keen on four-year-old Mudgee gelding 4. Regal Cannon resuming for smart stable. Probably a peak second-up runner, but still produces fresh and trial was sharp. Took a while to break his maiden late last year, but consistent galloper who can stalk the speed from the inside draw.
Dangers: Rival Mudgee six-year-old gelding 8. Skin Deep hasn't won for a long time, but after a long lay-off has hit the line impressively in two runs this prep, although up sharply in weight. Five-year-old Scone gelding 6. Marokawa comes back from a solid effort in a stronger class 2 over the Scone carnival, and had previously held his own in a Saturday Highway at Hawkesbury. Will just need some luck from the wide barrier to be in the finish. Mudgee four-year-old gelding 7. Petain has been hitting the line hard in similar company, but also has to overcome a wide gate.
How to play it: Regal Cannon each-way.
RACE 9 – 4.35PM: THE GIFT CLOSET BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1000m)
No loafing in the last, which suits local five-year-old gelding 3. Larlabrook who resumes for leading stable with a strong fresh record, and draws an ideal gate.
Dangers: Six-year-old Gulgong gelding 1. Attalea has been very consistent this prep around this grade, and draws to park off the speed and swoop late. Eight-year-old Mudgee gelding 7. Escebee is another which will drift back and finish hard, so too local mare 8. Go Beau Jangles which flew home to win this track at big odds last start, and draws to get plenty of cover back in the field.
How to play it: Larlabrook to win and first four 1-3/1-2-3-7-8.
BEST BETS:
R5 10. GREENSKEEPER
R7 7. LITTLE MIS NIC
BEST VALUE:
R6 3. AUSDEM
Supplied by Racing NSW.
Full form and race replays at www.racingnsw.com.au