By Neil Evans
September 10, 2023 — 6.00pm
Track good 4 and rail out 5.5m from 600m to WP & 4.5m the remainder.
Race 1: MAIDEN PLATE (1015m)
Open and testing maiden sprint starts the program, and there’s plenty of value about provincial mare 5. Alegna first-up. Hasn’t started for 15 weeks, but comes to hand quickly, and went close in a deeper provincial maiden when fresh last time.
Dangers: Sunshine Coast-based 2. November Rhythm has the fitness edge deep into the prep despite a five week freshen-up after holding his ground okay in a smarter provincial maiden. Must track the betting on 8. She’s A Bad Girl resuming behind a narrow provincial trial win, and is a stablemate of the top selection; while 3. A Tender Lady can be right in the finish a month between runs if she gets over okay from a wide draw. At bigger odds, include home-track debutantes 10. Hotfoot Performer and 12. State Of Awe who have both trialled okay in trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Alegna each way.
Race 2: MAIDEN HCP (1215m)
It doesn’t get any easier here over a furlong further. Among a few leading Queensland-based chances, Sunny Coast-based mare 4. Seiryu can strike second-up, getting on to a bigger track. Was only fair at Ipswich from just off the speed fresh, although didn’t get a lot of room when it counted, and was competitive enough this time last year against provincial and metro opposition when in the Hawkes stable. Was scratched from Sunday’s Sunny Coast meeting to be saved for this.
Dangers: Big watch on another Queeensland raider 2. Saddles resuming behind two solid trials, although has to slot in from a wide barrier. Keep safe 3. Gleaming Legend who is also well placed getting on to a bigger track after doing his best work late at Ipswich 24 days ago. At each-way odds 7. Young Pip has been in and around the money over the border all prep; while ex-Victorian 8. Irish Knight is a watch first-up for the new stable at big odds with gear changes.
How to play it: Seiryu to win.
Race 3: MAIDEN PLATE (1420m)
Another open and very tough maiden over further, especially with some of the early fancies drawn wide. That gives emerging Ballina three-year-old 12. Mofeed a map advantage. Hit the line from a long way back on debut here, and the extra journey is a natural plus settling a bit closer this time from a low draw.
Racing returns to Grafton on Monday with an eight-race card.Credit: AP
Dangers: Plenty of them, headed by improving 11. Transition who has shown steady improvement across three runs to start her career and draws the inside. Watch the betting, too, on 13. Good Kitty who is hard fit and has enough early speed to overcome a wide barrier, and the Bobby’s Kitten stock are going well. Improving 1. Among Us and tough 2. Filthy Rich, who has been close-up in his last three starts, can both run into the minor money.
How to play it: Mofeed to win.
Race 4: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1015m)
Ballina four-year-old 4. Burnt Butter can go back-to-back after landing that overdue and deserved maiden win 20 days ago. Should find a similar trailing spot from the same draw right behind the speed, and like him staying at the trip in a race that isn’t much harder.
Dangers: Improving mare 2. Adelaide Fever was unwanted in betting fresh, but still boxed on for a long way in front. Fitter now and with the leading country jockey taking over, she’s right in the battle. So too is local mare 1. Lady Tulessa who has led and won twice here in this grade either side of a narrow second placing, but again asked to get across from a wide draw. Gap to the rest headed by 13. Volfoni third-up if he gets a run.
How to play it: Burnt Butter to win.
Race 5: CLASS 1 HCP (1115m)
At good odds and resuming for his second full prep, Headwater three-year-old 8. North Of Eli can pounce fresh. Sept home to win his maiden at this track at only second start before tackling very handy two-year-old metro opposition. Returns off two progressive trials, winning the latest in smart fashion.
Dangers: Improving provincial four-year-old 2. Calamity Fox will be hard to hold out if he gets over from a tricky gate early enough. Has beaten all but the winner in his last two, and a key jockey change has been made. Eagle Farm-based 3. Sir Carter is much better placed here fourth-up after weakening out at the Sunny Coast over further 22 days ago. No doubting 1. Shaquila has both the form and ability to win after being edged out in a Class 1 as a heavily backed favourite, but has to do it from the second widest barrier. Watch the betting, too, on 6. Sparkingly dropping back from a deeper provincial company on a 10-day back-up.
How to play it: North Of Eli each way.
Race 6: BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1420m)
Rarely is there much between the leading contenders at this level, although can’t go past talented Ballina five-year-old 3. Nickelback fourth-up. Was well backed before stalking the speed and going home best in a country Class 3 before running home strong behind two smart ones in tougher Highway grade at Rosehill. That reads very well for this carrying only 1.5kg more and draws to get cover.
Dangers: Drawn right alongside, sparingly raced local 7. Tigertude can mount a challenge third-up dropping sharply in weight for the rise in class. With enough speed up front, 5. Kennysing will be running home, and has been very competitive in similar graded races. Plenty to like as well about the last couple of wins from 9. Revontulet in weaker grade, the latest charging home to claim a BM 58, and is a stablemate of the top selection. Last start third-up BM 60 winner 2. Bahamut and 4. Orleans Rock, resuming from the inside draw, both go in trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Nickelback to win.
Race 7: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1215m)
Moderate and tricky sprint here, but lightly raced three-year-old 8. Sparkle Motion can make a statement fresh for the Matthew Dunn yard behind two improving trials. Thrashed his opposition in mid-May to break the maiden at third start before spelling.
Dangers: Nomadic and lightly raced mare 10. Rock Together can figure second-up and five weeks between runs via a quiet trial. Gold Coast-based 7. Redsnap has hit the line late in two progressive runs up to Class 3 level this prep after being transferred up from Victoria. Include 3. My Odette in all exotics drawn wide, but dropping down from a tough metro company over the border. Improving 15. Ellie’s Dream is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Sparkle Motion to win.
Race 8: CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1620m)
Another progressive one from the Dunn stable, lightly raced five-year-old 2. I Am Good At This is starting to honour the name he was given. Finished close-up in the money in consecutive runs either side of the border before sweeping home for an effortless maiden win as a hot favourite 18 days ago. Extra ground and top jockey hopping aboard are further plusses to say he’s the one to beat.
Dangers: Behind three improving runs in Queensland, 7. Soarhi looms as the main threat; while despite a tough and wide draw, 1. Captain Underpantz is over the odds fourth-up, with winkers coming off. At big prices, include 4. Ocean Shores, second-up and dropping back from the deeper Casino Cup, and 17. Voldermort, fourth-up from a low draw, in wider exotics.
How to play it: I Am Good At This.
BEST BETS:
Race 3: 12. Mofeed. Race 6: 3. Nickelback.
