Latest News

By John Schell

Selections based on a heavy track

Race 1: 3. Monte Veebee has finished second in five of eight starts including his latest two starts since resuming from a spell on the Kensington track at Randwick and then at Albury when heavily backed as an odds-on favourite last time out. This looks a nice race for him to break through from the inside gate. 5. Elegant Artist has been racing well having not finishing further back than fourth in four runs back from a spell. 1. Donington resumed from a spell with a midfield effort here behind Miss Hvar and can improve on that effort. 8. Pharoah Queen is on debut and has had two trials leading into this. She’s in a good stable and should not be underestimated.

How to play it: Monte Veebee WIN ($1.28 TAB Fixed Odds)

Race 2: 4. Jump In The Line has been placed in two of his eight starts and resumes here having had two recent trials. He wasn’t too far away in his most recent runs before the break ad looks poised to run well fresh. 5. Cathedral Cove was heavily backed at Goulburn two starts ago when finishing second and he followed that up with a last start third at this track in a satisfactory effort. 1. Strassman ran second on debut at Armidale and then resumed with a fifth at this track when having his first start for a new stable. 3. Kickstart comes out of the same race as Strassman and could sneak into the placings.

How to play it: Jump In The Line WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds)

Race 3: 1. Cassiel had solid form last campaign and was spelled after a second at Newcastle. He looked good in a trial before resuming with a strong Canterbury victory and he only needs to run up to that to be hard to hold out again. 5. Livin’ Thing has a win and a placing from three starts and resumes here on the back of two good trials. 6. Berezka won easily at Caulfield Heath in December before a third at Geelong. She has the talent to give this a shake. 2. Mr Rock It is resuming and a bold run fresh wouldn’t surprise.

How to play it: Cassiel WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds)

Race 4: 1. Good Prize has been racing in great form with three wins from his last five starts. He’s raced on the speed and won the latest two at Canberra and only needs to have maintained that form to be hard to hold out again. 5. Strawberry Impact was a winner at this track two starts ago and was nosed out at Newcastle last time out. 6. Monkhana won well at Hawkesbury before a solid last start fourth at Newcastle. 9. Kervette ran well enough at this track when last produced to suggest she can play a part in the finish.

How to play it: Good Prize WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds)

Race 5: 7. Can Expect Greater was close-up despite finishing last in a trial before resuming and hitting the line well to score a dominant victory at Nowra. She looks to have come back in good order and can go on with the job. 9. Ready To Rocket won well on debut in November and resumed with a solid third here last month. 4. Invasive Dreams is a consistent mare that could run into the placings here on her best form, while 2. Silencio Porfavor has shown ability and looms as a major player.

How to play it: Can Expect Greater WIN ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds)

Race 6: 3. Straand Beauty hasn’t raced since February when she finished a solid second at Canterbury behind Outback Miss. She has a solid record with a win and three placings from just seven starts and has looked good in both trials leading into this return to racing. 1. Dashing Rupert scored a win at Scone three starts ago when resuming from a spell and has finished fourth in both runs since then. That form looks solid for this event. 4. Kyeema resumes here having raced in Hong Kong and he won the latest of his two trials leading into this. He bears close watching. 2. Inside Man was a debut winner at Canterbury last November and was then unplaced in two more runs. He resumes here for a new trainer on the back of two trials.

How to play it: Straand Beauty WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds)

Race 7: 4. Prorata was fresh after a win at Bathurst and a sixth at Canberra behind Sun ‘N’ Sand when finishing well enough to finish third at this track last month on the back of a solid trial. He’s a son of Pierata that has shown talent in his career, and he looks set to run well again here at the 1400m. 1. Presides is a former Godolphin galloper that ran second here before scoring a strong Newcastle victory. He since finished second again at this track last time out and looks hard to hold out again. 3. Flying Embers impressed when resuming from a spell with a Hawkesbury victory and followed that up with a close second at Canterbury. She has the talent to give this a shake. 8. Miss Hvar improved on her trial efforts when scoring a shock win here at big odds on when on debut and warrants respect.

How to play it: Prorata WIN ($13.00 TAB Fixed Odds)

Best Bets:
Race 5 (7) Can Expect Greater
Race 6 (3) Straand Beauty

Best Value:
Race 7 (4) Prorata

All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Kembla Grange meeting