By Ray Hickson
Race 1: 12:20PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1800M)
8. Warrior For Peace might be a small risk at the extended trip but he’ll do no work from an inside gate and considering he was badly held up at Rosehill last time he did a great job to be beaten under two lengths. That was at 1500m but the run was too good not to want to jump on in an open Highway. 10. Regal Problem comes through the same race and she was a short priced favourite there but didn’t have a lot of luck herself. She was only beaten three lengths and didn’t really get the chance to wind up. No surprise to see her bounce back with even luck. 2. Silent Call commands respect coming from the Dunn yard, and he’s off a solid enough all the way win at Ipswich. This is tougher and he’ll need some early breaks but can’t leave out. 4. Holy Hell will look to be on speed somewhere and has had a tick-over trial since a strong win at Wagga over the mile a month ago. Lightly raced mare who is an each-way chance.
How to play it: Warrior For Peace WIN.
Race 2: 12:55PM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1000M)
1. Mal Coupe rushed through the grades at the end of last season culminating in a win in a Benchmark 78 at Rosehill. Could easily have won five straight had he not bumped into Hawker Hall in a Class 1 so he’s progressive. Back to a Midway to resume, any give in the track would be a bonus to his chances but has the right set up with a good gate. 4. Vetwelve is more than capable of running a cheeky race fresh despite the 1000m being a touch short of his best. Had good Midway form last time in around Meridiana and Modella and will be running on. 13. Let’s Go Again has been around the mark without winning with a placing at this level at Rosehill before coming back 100m and finishing close up behind Big Red Tequila at Warwick Farm. Draws well and has each-way claims. 5. Everyone’s A Star has a wide gate but it is just the one turn and the gate didn’t bother her when sweeping to an easy win on January 3 at this track. Backed it up with a game second up in grade behind Super Norwest.
How to play it: Mal Coupe WIN.
Race 3: 1:30PM COOLMORE PIERRO PLATE (1100M)
It’s hard to know exactly what 9. Sequinned had in the locker on debut because she didn’t get any chance to let go as she ran into all sorts of trouble before easing out late behind Satin Summer three weeks ago. She’s a half-sister to Bivouac, jumps from the inside and is worth another chance in an open two-year-old event. 4. Miss Chanel is the logical horse to beat looking at the set up from a nice gate and with two excellent efforts under her belt. Tried hard to run down Chilly Girl in the Widden with a gap to third and should be hard to stop. 1. Outspan probably gives away a start from his outside gate which is a shame as he looks a real talent. Reacted to a kinder draw at his second start and was dominant, comes down to the sort of run he gets. He could still be too good. 5. Ciaron’s Star made a promising debut behind Satin Summer running on nicely into third there. Didn’t gain a run in the Millennium last week and she looks open to improvement.
How to play it: Sequinned WIN.
Race 4: 2:05PM MYPLATES HANDICAP (1400M)
Hard to go away from 4. Sovereign Hill. It might get a good degree of control of this race. He was far too good in this class at Rosehill two weeks ago, leading all the way, and stays in the same grade with an extra 3kg to carry. He seems to have come back looking something like the horse he promised to be as a youngster and will be hard to catch. 16. Pictor is a very interesting runner and he could pose some kind of threat if he has some luck. Resumes in blinkers and showed plenty of promise last time. Nice recent trial against Group 1 horses and worth keeping safe. 5. Duvana is flying and steps up in class after a dominant showing at Warwick Farm to make it two from three this time in. Gets a lovely run again, the claim keeps him down in the weights and no surprise if he measures up. 10. Off The Press didn’t have the best of luck behind Sovereign Hill when they met at Rosehill, he was held up as the winner was getting away so have to forgive the unplaced run. Previous form was honest.
How to play it: Sovereign Hill WIN.
Race 5: 2:40PM WELLINGTON RACING CLUB TROPHY (1600M)
10. Cross Tasman was denied four straight wins in a close finish at Rosehill two weeks ago where the difference was probably the winner getting a cheap run through on the turn while he had to swing wide as they were alongside each other at the 600m. He’s a progressive type and while beaten he was far from disgraced and should get his chance to atone out to the Randwick mile. 2. Hellsing looked all over a winner last week only to be swooped on by Sun God. That was an encouraging run though as it backed up a much improved effort before that. So now he’s found his form, while back up in the weights, he should be around the mark again. 6. Just Party continues to race well and continues to find a couple better. No match for the first two when third in the Cross Tasman race at Rosehill. Blinkers off so perhaps he could spark up. 9. It’s A Knockout is a lot better than her first-up run at the Gold Coast reads and from a much kinder gate and with the run under her belt she’s a big improver.
How to play it: Cross Tasman WIN.
Race 6: 3:15PM TAB LIGHT FINGERS STAKES (1200M)
1. Apocalyptic accounted for a similar bunch of fillies in the spring at 1200m, 1400m and a mile. They might have improved but given she’s only had five starts you’d think she still has a good deal of upside herself. Nothing wrong with her trials leading in, if there is a sticky point it could be barrier one but that’s no reason to think she can’t return a winner. 4. Karinska is a potential improver on what she achieved in the spring as she took on Apocalyptic in four straight runs. Likely to want a bit further than 1200m but expect she’ll be strong late. 2. Savvy Hallie is the one that could catch them all on the hop as she’s had the run back for a handy fourth in the Sunlight at the Gold Coast a month ago. Apocalyptic had her measure in the Furious at this track and trip but she will run well. 3. Artistic Venture chased the favourite home in the Tea Rose at 1400m but the barrier does hurt her chances a bit given she probably has to go back and give away a start. Looks to have come up well.
How to play it: Apocalyptic WIN.
Race 7: 3:50PM ASAHI SUPER DRY EXPRESSWAY STAKES (1200M)
Small field and that will make this a tactical race but likely also gives every horse their chance. Settled on 4. Lady Shenandoah despite a luckless spring. She arguably should have won the Concorde first-up, was huge in the Manikato without luck, again ran a great race in the Everest when second in the Russell Balding. We know she has a big finish on her, she won the Light Fingers at this meeting last year, and she has to be a player. 3. Joliestar is a big fresh performer and she’s always dangerous first-up as she showed when winning The Shorts in the spring. She ran well in the Everest in a rare unplaced run and she’ll be fancied to go close. 1. Angel Capital has all the raps on him and he’ll get his chance to make a statement, though this is a harder task than when he resumed last time in. Big race for him and he’s a contender. 5. Caballus is still on the up and has a bit of fitness on his side having won in mid-December in Brisbane. Easy trial winner leading in and in the small field he could give some cheek if he gets a break on them.
How to play it: Lady Shenandoah WIN.
Race 8 – 4:30PM PETALUMA APOLLO STAKES (1400 METRES)
7. Autumn Glow is the likely winner and will extend her run to nine straight. She just holds all the cards in a race that, unless something goes horribly wrong early, she should be able to control from just off the speed. It’s a perfect draw for her. If she’s unlucky so be it. 3. Lindermann looks to have come back in great order. Had a confidence boosting spring and it’s easy to forget that he run second to Fangirl in this race last year plus has a win over Sir Delius from the spring. He’ll give a good sight. 9. Aeliana will explode one day and do something special, it could be here, and she does look to be a little more solid this time in. Gave Via Sistina a fright in the Winx Stakes first-up in the spring and she can only run well. 1. Ceolwulf resumes without the blinkers so that probably makes him vulnerable. He didn’t go to 2000m in the spring so that could be in his favour but his first-up record says he’ll run nicely and might get into a place. Keep an eye on 8. Stefi Magnetica and 2. Antino for placings too.
How to play it: Autumn Glow WIN.
The one to beat again, Autumn Glow with jockey James McDonald on board.Credit: Getty Images
Race 9: 5:10PM ROBRICK LODGE TRISCAY STAKES (1200M)
An open mares race and with that in mind no surprise if 6. Tuileries can run a nice race fresh. She has produced strong first-up efforts previously and while she can be a little risky settling in her races the way she’s trialling, says she’s in a good spot. Nice effort in the latest behind Napoleonic, gets a soft run from the inside and has to run well. 2. Manaal kicked off in Melbourne last preparation and failed but bounced back on her return to Sydney winning the Sheraco and Golden Pendant before a sound effort in The Invitation. Can’t fault how she’s trialling and her other four wins have come at Randwick, drawn well and is a definite chance. 4. Weeping Woman is the one coming up in class but she had a great late spring-early summer with three straight wins including downing tough stablemate Coal Crusher in the Razor Sharp. She’ll put herself up there and give herself every chance. 3. Gerringong was around about without winning last prep and gave Stefi Magnetica a run for her money in The Invitation. Another on pacer who is easy to like.
How to play it: Tuileries EACH-WAY.
Race 10: 5:50PM MACQUARIE ST SOCIAL HANDICAP (1300M)
Tough closer. 14. Aerodrome showed a lot of promise last year and is a very intriguing runner first-up against the older horses. He only had the one run in the spring in the Up & Coming so there had to be an issue. Screamed at the line in his latest trial, he has a racing pattern that should put him right on the back of the speed and any support would say there’s confidence he can run well fresh. 12. Polymnia has only won once in 14 starts but she was honest in three runs in the spring in strong mares company around Idle Flyer. She was placed behind that horse when resuming at 1400m in September. Keep safe. Not sure what to do with 4. Getafix who featured prominently in the stewards report after running 12th at the Gold Coast last month. He didn’t get a crack at them but that’s the story of his life. If he gets the breaks he has a powerful burst but he will get buried from gate two. That’s what makes him risky. 7. Althoff is flying and he was well ridden on the back of a solid tempo three weeks ago and fought off the challengers to score another strong win. Up in class and back 100m but he’s very hard to knock in a race that could pan out similarly.
How to play it: Aerodrome EACH-WAY.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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