By Ray Hickson
| Race 1 - 11:05AM MERCURE KOOINDAH WATERS 2YO HANDICAP (1200 METRES) |
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5. Royal Exile has be benefit of racing experience and he did beat older horses in good fashion at Taree just before Christmas. If there’s a concern it’s that he was quite green, baulking on the post but he showed a nice turn of foot to pick them up from midfield. If he’s learned from that and can be handy to the pace he could get away with it.
Dangers: Wary of the Waterhouse/Bott colt 4. Proton who has trialled twice over the 850m or thereabouts and there was significant improvement into the second. Imagine he leads from the inside gate and the 1200m will suit. There was nothing wrong with the latest trial by 3. Gold Globe over the 1030m, he looked to lengthen quite well late there too. It might be a bit too soon for 2. Audit looking at his latest trial but it’s a small field and he could run well.
How to play it: Royal Exile WIN ($1.80 TAB Fixed Odds).
| Race 2 - 11:35AM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1100 METRES) |
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11. Move She Can enjoyed a nice run second-up and finished a bit too well to win at Newcastle in a country BM66. Consistent mare who arrives at this race in peak fitness and can be competitive here.
Dangers: 10. Lady Olenna was excellent when resuming at Rosehill at this trip but hasn’t run up to expectation in two starts 100m shorter and further since then. Gets into a race that should suit if she can settle and finish off. 13. Grassburn is good odds and she’s been solid in three runs for the new stable. Threw the race away at Taree last time but comes back in trip and draws to get her chance to measure up. 3. Miss Rebel has been placed in a Highway previously and wasn't beaten far by Move She Can when they met at Newcastle. Worth including.
How to play it: Move She Can EACH-WAY ($12 TAB Fixed Odds).
| Race 3 - 12:05PM BRONTE SIMPSON MEMORIAL MIDWAY HANDICAP (1600 METRES) |
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4. Charleroi is very well placed coming back to Midway grade after a couple of runs at BM78 level where he’s been more than competitive. Unlucky two back then while he had his chance at Randwick two weeks ago he tried hard and was only nailed for second late. Peaks now on home track right back in grade.
Dangers: 1. Cape Byron raced handy and when headed in the straight he fought hard to be beaten narrowly by Missile Strike who has run well again since. Will push forward from the gate and if he gets the right run he’s in the mix. 7. Oakfield Saturn won well over this track and distance before starting favourite in a Midway at Randwick and things didn’t really pan out for her in the run, but she finished off nicely lake. Blinkers go on and she’s entitled to another chance. 10. Tenbury Wells has promised a bit more than he's delivered but there's been merit in his three runs back. Big weight drop on last week where he gave away too much start before running on. Each-way.
How to play it: Charleroi WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds).
| Race 4 - 12:35PM WYONG EQUINE CLINIC BENCHMARK 88 HANDICAP (2100 METRES) |
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Hard not to be impressed with 4. Unlimited who ran right up to some good support in scoring easily at Randwick against similar opposition. Rises 3kg but looks to be right at his top now, draws to get the right run and only has to hold his form to be right in the finish again.
Dangers: Stablemate 8. Sounds Unusual hit the line strongly to claim second over the mile when second-up signalling he’s on target for a win soon. Did win third-up last prep though at a mile on heavy and he’s not been beyond 1900m. Whether he needs this before breaking through remains to be seen but should be hard to beat.3. Elliptical ran his best race in some time when placing in the same race at his third run since coming back from Hong Kong and having an 18 month break. He could be ready to go on with it. 6. Lennox leaps in grade but does get right down in the weights. Close up at Canterbury over 1900m third-up and he's worth a look.
How to play it: Unlimited WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds).
| Race 5 - 1:10PM CENTRAL COAST COMMUNITY NEWS BM78 HANDICAP (1200 METRES) |
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9. Slinky started solid in the market first-up and had little chance in the run from back last on the fence with no runs opening up for her. Went to the line with a bit to give. Fitter and if she can hold a position from the inside gate this time around she can be a lot more effective. Good each-way chance.
Dangers: 5. Huon is often under the radar and he’s been going well in similar races, beaten just over half a length at Randwick a month ago behind Axius and can see him being somewhere in the finish again. 8. Mailata is a bit hit and miss but gets the blinkers on first time and if he’s on then he has the ability to show up. Not sure what to make of 2. Mogo Magic whose form has been very mixed of late. Blinkers go on and drawn well so if he finds an on pace spot could give cheek.
How to play it: Slinky EACH-WAY ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).
| Race 6 - 1:45PM LAWRIE MCKINNA MAYOR'S CUP F&M BM78 HANDICAP (1100 METRES) |
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11. Beside The Ocean is lightly raced and arrived just in time to win over 1000m when resuming on Boxing Day. Up in class into this but looks progressive and sure to be strong late as well.
Dangers: 7. Be Quiet is way over the odds from a nice draw down in the weights on an easy win in lesser grade at Gosford a few weeks ago. She ran well at Canterbury before switching stables and no surprise to see her run a cheeky race. 9. Heat Missile is a market watch resuming having taken on a couple of stakes races before a spell. Chance the 1100m is a bit sharp but have to keep safe. 12. Indefensible is more than likely going to give a start, hopefully not as much as last time, but she has the blinkers so on that'll help. Capable if she gets it right.
How to play it: Beside The Ocean WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds).
| Race 7 - 2:20PM DE BORTOLI WINES 3&4YO BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1300 METRES) |
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10. Bella Corazon should be forgiven for her unplaced run at Randwick last time, she ran up behind them and right into a dead end. Not sure where she finishes but overlook that and go on her easy win two starts ago where she sat off the speed from a good gate and was too strong. Draws well and a good each-way hope.
Dangers: 5. Loving did little first-up but got the confidence back with an easy win at Gosford sitting right behind the lead and racing clear. Up in class again but with that win on the board he could go on with it. 7. Shelstein showed improvement second-up when a nice third at Randwick two weeks ago in a BM78. Extra 100m looks ideal and gets every chance to continue lifting this time in. 13. Sequista broke through at Gosford second-up the favourite and looked to have her chance at Randwick on Boxing Day after having a nice enough run. Just a bit weak late chasing the winner. Is racing well just may be under the odds.
How to play it: Bella Corazon EACH-WAY ($9.00 TAB Fixed Odds).
| Race 8 - 2:55PM DOMELAND WYONG TOWN PLATE BM100 HANDICAP (1350 METRES) |
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1. Accredited has been right around the mark this preparation and while he was a little disappointing in Brisbane last time this looks a perfect race for him to get back on top. He ran a game second in The Hunter second-up and again ran well behind Yorkshire after that so with a soft draw and a designated leader he should have no excuses.
Dangers: 4. Whinchat gets complete control of this race if he can get the first 100m or so right as the only natural leader engaged. He couldn’t find the front last time but did box on well to be beaten under two lengths. Back to the trials again and this is a good chance for him to fire. 5. Xidaki is another more than capable of winning a race like this if things can go his way. Found himself well back in a race where nothing made ground at Randwick last time so can overlook that. On his first-up effort he’d be in the mix. 9. Cavalier Charles isn't used to having 52kg on his back and he comes out of the Snake Gully Cup where he was touched out by Ticklebelly. Small field and gate one gives him every hope.
How to play it: Accredited WIN ($2.10 TAB Fixed Odds).
| Race 9 - 3:35PM LIMITLESS LODGE LAKES MILE (1600 METRES) |
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3. Know Thyself is the logical horse to beat, he just keeps lifting the bar and he was strong winning first-up at 1400m three weeks ago with a good ride off a tricky gate. Fitter, unbeaten second-up and landed a perfect draw to get a great run. Can’t punch any holes in him and he’s going to take some overcoming.
Dangers: 2. Amor Victorious draws to lead them from gate two and he just held on to score in a Listed mile at Eagle Farm. Now he’s found winning form again he could well hold it and any control he gets makes him hard to run down. 1. Robusto was runner-up in this race last year and backs up after another brave effort over 1300m at Eagle Farm last week behind Need Some Luck. Placed in The Ingham before that. Just needs the breaks from his wide gate and if he gets them he will be thereabouts again. 6. Gallant Star steps up the mile after going down in a close finish behind Know Thyself last time out. Does meet him on somewhat similar weight terms and less than favourable draw but he’s racing well and hard to leave out.
How to play it: Know Thyself WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds).
| Race 10 - 4:15PM ASAHI GROUP BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1350 METRES) |
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7. Althoff is screaming out for this sort of trip and gets it after two eye-catching runs over 1200m this time in. He’s done a lot of promising to date in his career and though he has a slightly tricky gate all he needs is a bit of tempo on and a back to follow and he should be closing in on them late. Good chance.
Dangers: 4. Puntin hasn’t done a lot wrong and is effective when fresh. If he finds the lead he should be hard to run down. Fitter for two trials and one to be very careful with. 8. Bojangles was a forgive run at Randwick two weeks ago off a wide gate. On his previous couple of efforts he’s a major chance to break a long run of outs. Hasn’t raced on his home track for some time but won both attempts. Each-way chance at least. 5. Captain Furai gets in well with 55.5kg after the claim and though he hasn't won for a bit he was honest with placings in three of five runs last time in. Can show up fresh.
How to play it: Althoff WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds).
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Wyong