Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - INDIGO STAR (2) was beaten a nose at Canterbury first-up on a heavy track and has been kept on the fresh side. He's trialled since and there's further improvement in store. Has race fitness and JMac is a key jockey booking. The field has thinned out, and that will advantage POISONOUS (3) who's on debuts for James Cummings. He's trialled in town like a good horse in the making and led and won the two most recent. He can give this a shake. STARDEEL (5) resumed here well-supported, beaten 2L. He's has plenty in the tank, but can overrace and that works against him. Parr stays aboard and will take learnings into this. A player. WAR KING (8) debuts for Ciaron Maher and has trialled well. Has an inside barrier and the blinkers on, and also deserves consideration.
RACE 2 - RAGING FORCE (3) wasn't beaten far in the Group 3 Breeders Plate on debut and resumed with a spacious Maiden win at Muswellbrook jumping even money. He led in that and has trialled well at Wyong since with Berry up. He sticks aboard and the promising gelding can take the next step. JUST LEGENDARY (2) looked good at the trials and was narrowly beaten from the front at Gosford on debut. He's sure to improve off that and Clark will skip him over to the speed. A live chance. THE MAGIC MAN (1) resumes and creates plenty of interest. The colt led and did an alright job in Stakes grade when last seen and was narrowly beaten at Newcastle at his only fresh outing. Has a handy 2kg claim and looks ready to go. BRYANT (8) resumes gelded at Canterbury and it was a solid effort. He's been freshened and kept up to the mark with a trial. The gate is sticky, but he can't be discounted.
RACE 3 - SAPPHIRE ROSE (2) can build on her all-the-way Maiden win at Wyong on debut. She will strip fitter and will use an inside barrier. 23% stable-striker Morgan stays aboard, and she can take the next step. AGATHA (4) debuts from an inside barrier and brings promising trials. She draws to advantage and Berry sticks aboard. A bold run is likely. WOLLZEILE (1) resumed much improved with a narrow defeat in the rich Woodlands Stakes at Scone. She didn't have much luck following in an Open 2 at Randwick. Has a handy 2kg claim and is a solid each-way chance. SAYTARA (8) resumes and has trialled well. She was tried in a rich Gold Coast feature on debut and spelled after. Clark is booked and expect her to race forward and give a sight.
RACE 4 - FROSTY GIRL (6) settled rearward and couldn't have been more impressive easily winning a Warwick Farm Maiden on debut. She's been kept up to the mark with a Rosehill trial and JMac stays aboard the Waller-trained filly. Steps up to a 72, but fitter she looks well up to coping. CALIFORNIA SUNRISE (3) won here this grade, and it was a tough effort jumping a $3.0 favourite. Berry rides again and will give her every chance to repeat the dose. GLORIOSO (2) rates similarly. Missed a whisker at Wyong before delivering a 68 at Gosford, both on heavy tracks. She keeps Osmond's 2kg claim and has been kept on the fresh side. A chance each-way. I AM VELVET (1) has been switched north by the sharp Stokes barn to counteract her tendency to hang the Victorian way of going. She must be showing plenty generally and has been racing in stronger metro company. The 2kg claim assists and she's worth plenty of consideration.
RACE 5 - The Maher stable holds the aces. EPIC PROPORTIONS (1) has been racing in stronger company and is well placed with Roper's 2kg claim. Just missed at Hawkesbury first-up and then lost both front plates here on the course proper, beaten 2.2L. He's been kept on the fresh side and maps to get every chance. AXIUS (8) resumes with a 2kg claimer aboard and was in the market in the Up And Coming Stakes when last seen. He was a big Canterbury Maiden winner before that and has been gelded. He draws low and is free-running. Will be naturally improved and everything points to a bold return. NOT THAT EASY (11) is up to this at best and resumed in solid order in a Randwick 78. Sits at the bottom of the handicap and fitter she should be right in it.
RACE 6 - PINK SHALALA (5) peaks off narrow defeats at Canterbury. JMac remains aboard and will position the gelding forward. Keeps improving and is ready to win. LADY BOSS (8) has a similar set-up and is also poised to win. Collett replaces the apprentice, and she's likely to take a trail today. AUTUMN DREAM (12) and KADALL (14) are both chances from the Archibald stable. The former has pieces of form good enough, and she resumed in solid order. Tumbles in weight at this level, and that brings her into it. The latter was better again when narrowly beaten at Warwick Farm, but the 2kg claimer has to manage the outside barrier. HASTY HONEY (6) maps well and is good enough at best.
RACE 7 - GETAFIX (1) arrives third-up off a freshen and has the numbers to give this a shake. Tumbles in grade off the Hawkesbury Guineas and just missed in a recent Randwick trial. JMac rides for the first time, and that's a decent push for his chances. LUGH (7) resumes and impressed when winning a 68 at Newcastle at his only start last preparation. Has Nock's handy 2kg claim, and he maps for a soft run. Looks ready to go. BELIEVE IN ANGELS (13) has Clark aboard and will likely skip across to the speed. He's busting to win and is a chance if things go his way. METAPHORICALLY (9) led this grade at Canterbury first-up and missed a whisker. He won this track/trip at his only second-up outing, and expect the 2kg claimer to push forward. He also deserves consideration.
