Race-by-race tips and previews for Muswellbrook on Friday

Track soft 6 and rail true

RACE 1
4. Better Off Alone is a lightly raced and promising filly in the Bjorn Baker stable that did not finish it off when resuming in group 3 company at Flemington, but has since returned home and trialled in sparkling fashion, running a very slick final 600m for a soft 7 rating. Has tactical speed, any downgrades are a plus, and bred to relish the wet. 5. Hellenic Belle is a big improver heading into her second start after being beaten out of sight at group 3 level on debut when over-racing badly early. Big watch on 8. Street Lyric, a filly by Street Boss on debut for the Nathan Doyle stable behind two solid trials, and is bred to thrive on wet tracks. 7. Pietiero, a Kris Lees-trained filly by Pierro on debut off two trials, and at even bigger odds another first starter 2. Raguel, a home track gelding by Harry Angel, can both figure in the minor money.
How to play it: Better Off Alone to win.

RACE 2
4. Kharif is a debutant colt in the powerful Ciaron Maher stable, and another one by hot sire The Autumn Sun. Fitted with two trials, and drawn to get an economical run in what is a wide and tough race. 8. Talk About Laya was around the money in three country runs to launch her career last spring, and trials suggest she’s ready to fire. Stablemate 13. Powerful Annie ran home late on debut in a handy country super maiden, and bred to relish soft and heavy tracks. 3. Hellfighter resumes for a second preparation off a quiet trial. 6. Checks’n’balances shapes over the odds improving into his second start from the inside.
How to play it: Kharif to win.

RACE 3
1. Ready And Lucky is well-placed to win third-up off a lengthy break. Did her best work late when resuming in a smarter race at Wyong before being ridden quieter and hitting the line hard against weaker country opposition as a short-priced favourite. Strikes peak fitness, relishes rain-affected ground, and the jockey’s claim again off-sets a big weight. 3. Siragusa is an emerging sprinter, and will likely jump a hot favourite returning off a nine-week break. Swept home to thrash country opposition on debut earlier in the year, and has been given a very soft trial. Gap to the rest headed by 9. Rose Water, an improving mare resuming off two quiet trials; while 2. Oenology, is a BM 58 winner two starts back, 10. Akauwheo off a last start win in a weak country race, and 11. Tipsy Miss landed her maiden on the same day as the former; can all add value into trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Ready And Lucky to win.

RACE 4
5. Zocketman is a smart Rosehill-based colt resuming off two trials, and returning to the course where he powered home to thrash his rivals on debut as a two-year-old. Bolted in a CL1 at the provincials after that before finding it too tough in deeper city company before spelling. Drawn inside, and bred to thrive on soft tracks. Scratched from Hawkesbury on Thursday to be saved for this. 2. Occult is a big market watch at good odds resuming behind two improving trials, with blinkers on. 13. Real Baker is a promising one resuming for his second start after easily winning on debut in the country. Blessed with early speed that will be needed to get over from a wide draw, and won both lead-up trials, the latest by a whopping nine lengths on a Soft 7. 4. Whil To Win is a capable metro mare that can run a race second-up also with blinkers back on. 10. Chamber Of Secrets resuming with multiple gear changes, and 12. Echelon down significantly in weight third-up; head the rest.
How to play it: Zocketman to win.

RACE 5
10. Andale Andale is a progressive and lightly raced mare building a smart record. Powered home to beat a similar-graded field here third-up, and as long as she can tuck in from a wide barrier, can win again carrying the same weight in an open contest. Big watch on 15. Feared, a sparingly raced three-year-old that has won his last two from off speed as a hot favourite, and gets nice weight relief stepping up to this class. 13. Regal Problem is a stablemate of the top selection, and a threat from a soft draw deep into her preparation, and dropping significantly in class and distance. 4. Solitario will appreciate getting out to this trip second-up. 6. Laizabout hit the line hard second-up in a similar field here 19 days ago, and is over the mark, especially carrying his lightest weight since last spring. 11. Favour The Bold gets weight relief and gear changes third-up; while 2. Christa is a second-up improver at big odds.
How to play it: Andale Andale to win.

RACE 6
3. Straand Beauty is a tough and improving four-year-old well-placed to claim the feature sprint, and go back-to-back fifth-up. Missed narrowly in consecutive BM 72 runs at Warwick Farm before finishing hard to win against similar opposition. Looks fairly weighted rolling forward, and is hard fit for this. 2. Durova is a talented country mare with a 50 per cent winning strike rate from 12 starts. Won four of her last five either side of a freshen-up and spell, the latest the Prelude for this when careering away under 63kg. 1. Colourful Emperor reloads five weeks after a game effort from the front in CL6 company at Doomben, but has to get over from a wide draw. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Saratoga Power, improving second-up with gear changes, and 7. Kantishna first-up via a forward trial.
How to play it: Straand Beauty to win.

RACE 7
2. Green Fly is a tough and still progressing seven-year-old that can make it three straight wins, and book his place for the Big Dance at Randwick in spring. Impressive surging home from near the back to win a good Saturday race at Eagle Farm before again settling a long way off the speed and powering home late to claim the Listed National Sprint in Canberra. Loves the going, with all seven wins from 35 starts coming on either soft or heavy ground. Naturally up sharply in weight, but still looks very fairly treated, and drawn to get cover is the one to beat. 4. Magnatear is very honest on speed, and was less than two lengths from the top selection in that Canberra feature. 7. War Eternal is fit, and will relish dropping back from group 2 company. 8. Hellsing also came through that same Canberra race as the top selection when well beaten finishing in slower ground, but had placed in three races prior up to metro BM 88 grade. 10. Uzziah has ability, and made a lightning move around from the trail to claim the Armidale Cup two weeks ago, but far more depth here. 5. Zaphod, resuming off two improving trials is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Green Fly to win.

RACE 8
6. Rivkin hasn’t won for a while, but placed in two of his last three hitting the line hard from well off the speed. Nearly all his best form is on rain-affected ground, and he represents terrific value drawn to find early cover. 8. Miss Rebel stuck on strong when missing by under a length in a Country Championship qualifier here. That was a month between runs, and she looks very well treated on the minimum weight. 2. Miss Busslinger is a good mare that has been up for a long time, but continues to race well. Has run home late in consecutive Provincial Championship qualifiers, but a query she can carry a big weight if the ground drops nearer heavy range. 7. Hulu has had little or no breaks in her last two, and this is more suitable with blinkers off. 13. Tickle Me Pink fourth-up can add value into wider exotics.
How to play it: Rivkin to win.

BEST BETS:

R1 4. BETTER OFF ALONE; R7 2. GREEN FLY

BEST VALUE: R5 10. ANDALE ANDALE

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Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au