Race 3 – 2.35pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1900m)
A rise in distance from the mile, and a drying track, are the keys for six-year-old 1. Norman to score a long-overdue fourth career win. Missed out narrowly in a weaker BM 58 two runs ago before being ridden from the back in a tactical change at Moree and flashing home late into a place. Under the same weight and over a further 300m, that run reads well for this.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by 3. Our Girl Eve who roared home from last to win a similar graded race second-up. Honest 5. Bill Peyto has been up for a long time but suited to getting out over this distance. Coffs-based stablemate mares 4. Mindspace and 7. Jacinda Belle are both third-up and value knockout chances.
How to play it: Norman to win
Race 4 – 3.10pm: CLASS 2 HCP (1400m)
Scone four-year-old 3. Eagledge can finally produce his best over more ground and sharpened up with blinkers being added. Ran home okay in two stronger BM 58s before a freshen-up and again doing his best work late in consecutive country Class 1s. Desperate for the longer trip now, he can be tucked away with cover back in the field from this draw, and given his head over the final 400m.
Dangers: Progressive mare 2. Agnodice is a serious threat after charging home for a dominant BM 58 win second-up. Top weight 1. Retrieval will relish a big drop in class and a 4kg claim to off-set the weight after finishing at the back in the Northern Country Champiopnship Wildcard qualifier. Both lightly raced filly 6. Charge By The Hour, third-up and a stablemate of the top selection; and improving 4. Dyecast Missile can run into the money; while home-tracker 10. Global Sensation second-up heads the rest.
How to play it: Eagledge to win
Race 5 – 3.50pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m)
A stack of chances in this one headed by local mare 6. Quick As A Flash who is well-placed to strike third-up off a month-long freshen. Hit the line late here a month ago in a race with more form depth before again settling back and working home late behind Agnodice who looms as a serious chance in the previous race. Draws to get cover around midfield. Was scratched from Grafton on Sunday to be saved for this.
Dangers: Capable 3. Bold Hoi Ho is right in the race fourth-up with some weight relief after working home fairly in heavy ground. Watch for any money around 4. Taketheshot who resumes off a 10-month spell via a quiet trial. Both 8. Kalahari Heart who likes to settle well back and run home hard; and underrated 9. Stormy Pluck down in grade second-up; are worthy exotic players. 1. China Grove is trained on the track, and resumes with a significant class drop.
How to play it: Quick As A Flash to win
Race 6 – 4.25pm: CLASS 1 HCP (1100m)
Confident promising filly 7. Fools Play can go back-to-back at this track, fifth-up and four weeks between runs. Ran three straight placings in handy maiden company, including a nose defeat from a wide gate, before tracking the speed and sweeping home for a dominant win here as a heavily supported favourite. Draws to get the same sort of run, and this isn’t much harder.
Dangers: Another emerging three-year-old, 1. Tryanza reloads a fortnight after leading until late in a handy CL1. Watch the market around talented and lightly-raced 2. Dusan who ran on okay at Ipswich as a well-backed favourite in what was his first outing since a dominant maiden win last November. Boosting tactical speed, 3. Pocket Picker can run a race four weeks after missing narrowly here against similar opposition. Last start off-speed maiden winner 4. Solar Power and improving 8. Gunmetal third-up; both go into exotic bets.
How to play it: Fools Play to win
Race 7 – 5.05pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1100m)
In a closing race with many chances, all aboard tough four-year-old 1. Iobject crucially coming back 100m in distance deep into the prep. Finished best to claim a similar race at Grafton three starts ago before struggling in heavy ground. Back to his best on firmer footing when beaten narrowly from the front in a better quality BM 66, and from the inside barrier, he either leads comfortably or sits right behind.
Dangers: Improving 6. Milingimbi returns for her first run since early last spring with a gear change, loves dry ground and is a first-up winner. Big watch on resuming 4. Island Legend who trialled well at this track, and has a handy fresh record. Keep safe 9. Vertical fourth-up; while veteran 2. Indian Thunder continues to race well through a long prep, bolting in a BM 58 at this track two starts back, but is drawn wide.
How to play it: Iobject to win
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