Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - The babies kick us off. RED CODE (2) looked good winning a recent Toowoomba trial by four lengths and is sure to be well-educated from the Sears barn. Gets the services of Guthmann-Chester in the irons and a strong debut showing would not surprise. STATEMENT OF TRUTH (4) is another to salute at the trials recently and Rodd stays on top for race day. Keep very safe. WILY JACK (6) has been thereabouts in both trial hit-outs and a watch on betting is advised. SOLIDUDE (3) was well-backed when facing the starter for the first time and where there's smoke there's fire. Can improve enough to feature in the outcome. LIFT'N'MEHIGHER (7) rounds out the selections with race experience on her side.
RACE 2 - ELROND (2) has been knocking on the door of a maiden victory, placing in both starts to date and strikes a very winnable contest here. Fenlon has been in the irons for both outings and sticks. Can shed the maiden tag here. HE'SGOTTHESAY (4) went down by a narrow margin last time out and drops back slightly in trip here. Should be hitting the line with gusto. TARAVIA (6) is facing the starter for the first time but has shown ability at the trials and any market support must be noted. FIRST MAN (3) has hit the top-five in all four career efforts to date and may run a race while fresh. MISS HIGHFALUTIN (11) next in line from the Gollan yard.
RACE 3 - CIPHERTEXT (7) has finished runner-up in two of three career outings to date including a close-up second here last time out. Drawn to get a gun run in transit from gate four and can go very close to breaking the maiden status. HEY DAISY (8) is at the races for the first time but was a dominant recent trial winner and only needs some luck from the sticky draw to play a major role in the finish. CANTANKEROUS (3) resumes here but the form he showed in his first preparation was good enough for a race like this. Can run a race while fresh. BOOTS WITH THE FUR (1) gets 2kg off with the claim and may earn some minor money again. BIG DEMEANOR (4) strips fitter second-up, draws the inside marble and gets the deadly Gollan/Maloney combination. Ticks a few boxes.
RACE 4 - COSMIC BEAUTY (3) is a very consistent conveyance who has hit the top-four in all eight outings to date and has a win and a placing from two efforts around this circuit. Gets plenty of weight relief with the 3kg claim and should be right there when the whips are cracking. AYE EYE BOOM (10) broke the maiden status at the latest effort and will have derived a stack of confidence from that victory. Can go back-to-back. LUVARCHIE (1) saves his best form for this distance range, draws low and is another to get some weight off. Ticks a few boxes. MACONDA (9) has placed two from two at this track and will be ready to peak now fourth-up from the break. In the mix. ZUETORO (6) next in line from the Bruce yard.
RACE 5 - WARRIOR FOR PEACE (10) was well in the betting at Muswellbrook on debut and didn't let supporters down with a domiant two-length victory. Revved up for this with a recent trial placing and is drawn to get all the favours from the inside marble. Worth keeping very safe. ALL ABOUT ARTIE (1) has hit the top-five in all nine starts to date and doesn't know how to put in a poor one. A must for the multiples. NAUGHTY NURSE (18) brings NSW formlines to the table and should find this easier than what she faced down south. Top-three commodity. MALTALI (9) has finished runner-up in two of his past three efforts and shouldn't be underestimated. AS EXPECTED (11) strips fitter third-up from the break and may trouble the judge with any luck in running.
RACE 6 - SAVOLDI (10) got the job done at Doomben last time out and should find this assignment a touch easier. Winning hoop Wheeler sticks in the saddle and will be right there at the business end. IMPENDOR (5) has a handy record over this distance range with a win and four placings from eight attempts. Drawn to get a soft run from gate two and can make his presence felt. WYNETTE (17) broke the maiden status at the latest outing and will have taken some confidence from that victory. Include from the inside alley. SPEED MAP (4) has hit a purple patch of form with two wins and two seconds from his past five starts. Hard to ignore. SMART RECOGNITION (8) best of the rest in a wide open affair.
RACE 7 - SPEED MAP (13) has placed three of five around this circuit and has been racing in a rich vein of form of late. Draws favourably and rates the testing material against this lot. SUPER IMPRESSIVE (11) has won two of her past three and it's hard to knock mares in form. Has to be included in calculations. OUTWEIGHED (3) has placed two from two over this distance range and will be at peak fitness for this. Top-three conveyance on best form. HE'S HEAVEN (1) gets 3kg weight relief with the claim and is a must for the exotics players. LADY SHOTGUN (2) next in line in an open contest.
RACE 8 - The stayers close out the program. TIETAR (9) has been heavily supported in all three runs this preparation but has just run into a few better. Will be ready to peak now fourth-up from the spell and gets in well at the weights with the 3kg claim. Looks the one they all have to run down. KATDEEL (1) has just missed the placings at the past couple and has placed two from two over this trip. Another to get some weight off and can certainly play a role in the finish. SAN JOSE BOY (8) has hit the top-four in six of seven career efforts and must be respected from the Bruce yard. Top-three candidate. BACKLIT BEAUTY (6) has won two of her past three including one over this course and distance last time out. Include from the inside alley. The well-related LASQUETI BOOM (15) (half to G1 winner Lasqueti Spirit) rounds out the selections.
