By Neil Evans
September 25, 2023 — 6.00pm
Track Good 4 and rail out 3m
Race 1 - 1.40pm: COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN PLATE (1150m)
The late market moves will have a big say in the opener, with two three-year-olds on debut, and another returning for a second start, all from strong stables. One of them, 9. Written Silk by Written By starts his career behind two impressive city trials for the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou yard, particularly the latest when he swept home to run the winner to a half head after covering ground back in the field. Will get back again from this draw, but looks to have a serious finishing motor.
Racing heads to Newcastle on Tuesday.Credit: Jenny Evans
Dangers: Snitzel colt 7. Head of The Herd returns off a 24-week debut failure for the Waterhouse-Bott camp when solid in the market. Draws inside here, and has been fitted to run this out via two trials, but also accepted for Rosehill on Wednesday. Watch the betting on locally-trained I Am Invincible colt 8. Invincible Whip on debut behind two quiet provincial trials. Improving 4. King Rupert got shuffled back at vital time resuming off a long break, but still found the line okay, and drew to find another sound on-speed position here. Keep watch too on local stallion 2. Imran resuming for only his third start behind a forward trial.
How to play it: Written Silk to win
Race 2 - 2.30pm: CLASS 1 HCP (1200m)
Sticking strong with promising mare 4. Hellcibell who steps up from a dominant maiden win as a hot favourite when she opened up a big break through the middle part of the race. Still very much on an upward curve, and should take care of this lot staying at the distance and kept tricking over at the trials.
Dangers: Expecting lightly raced mare 1. Extra Smart to improve significantly second-up. Big watch on ex-Queensland mare 2. Tesaura reloading off a month’s break for a new country stable with pre-race blinkers going on, and has trialled okay up to 1100m; while resuming mare 2. Arrabbiata can run into a place.
How to play it: Hellcibell to win
Race 3 - 2.55pm: MAIDEN HCP (1350m)
Very moderate maiden here, with most having poor records. Not so, improving four-year-old 1. Press The Pedal who shapes as the clear one to beat second-up over a bit more ground, despite drawing the outside gate. Tracked a smart winner, and on top selection from the previous race, at Scone three weeks ago before peaking on the run late. Given the fast-finishing second-placed horse that day then came out and thumped a handy maiden field at Dubbo, the formline stands out a long way.
Dangers: Honest mare 4. Ausbred Yahoo can improve second-up off a lengthy break; while both five-year-old mares 2. Scootaloo at her fourth start; and 3. Brown Pearl at her third outing; can challenge for the minor money. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Press The Pedal to win
Race 4 - 3.35pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2130m)
Progressive local mare 3. Myeyesadoreyou can make it two wins from her last three deep into the prep. Motored home from midfield to win a handy CL1 two starts back before tackling a deeper grade on the course proper here 10 days ago, and running home okay.
Dangers: Veteran stablemate 2. Into The Oblivion hasn’t won for a long time, but is well-placed here also coming back from that same Saturday race as the top selection. The sharp rise in distance second-up is a big plus for home track European-bred mare 1. Zippy Power. By 2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist, and steps up now from a plain effort over a mile in a country BM 58. Improving 4. Got An Inspiration second-up; last start country CL1 winner 5. Sandastan; and hard fit 9. Yehbut; all go into trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Myeyesadoreyou to win
Race 5 - 4.10pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m)
Sparingly raced 3. Beetson may have turned the corner with a first-up maiden win at Tuncurry, finishing hard from midfield under a big weight. Had struggled in provincial grade through her first prep earlier this year, but has come back stronger as a four-year-old, and draws to get good cover off the speed.
Dangers: Big watch on progressive local mare 4. Velvet Haze who peaks fourth-up with some weight relief. Metro four-year-old 2. Nobel is also ready to peak fourth-up despite coming back 300m in trip. Another home tracker 5. Harmony Halo is right in the mix back from a deeper race third-up; while metro mare 7. Mayapple is the best of the rest third-up with blinkers going on.
How to play it: Beetson to win
Race 6 - 4.50pm: FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1150m)
Home track mare 2. Amberina is one of the better provincial maidens going around and should have won last start at Coffs when hitting the line hard as a heavily backed favourite. Reloads 22 days between runs again from another wide and testing barrier, but a new rider takes over and a bit more ground is an obvious plus. Placed in four of her last five, including a couple of smarter maiden fields.
Dangers: Keep safe Waterhouse-Bott filly 7. Alot A Lip who was heavily backed from an each-way quote on debut at Hawkesbury before fading late. Capable mare 4. Miss Artfire lost her way first-up at Wyong when right in the market, but can rebound 25 days between runs. Watch the market around 1. Aldersyde resuming off a nine-month spell with gear changes and behind a sharp trial win. Both locally trained debutant fillies, 8. Flying Deel by Dundeel and in the Paul Perry yard; and Under The Louvre-sired 9. Inseine Lover for the Steve Hodge stable; have trialled well and can be put through the exotic plays.
How to play it: Amberina to win
Race 7 - 5.25pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1150m)
The closer stacks up nicely for emerging metro three-year-old 6. Dylan’s Lad 23 days since a dominant country maiden win second-up. Has trialled quietly since, and can go on to win better races than this.
Dangers: Watch the betting on metro mare 11. Successful who resumes from a soft draw behind two progressive trials. Keep safe improving 2. Fine Vintage who scraped home first-up off a long break in a competitive CL1. Tough mare 3. Play My Song has been consistently working to the line in mainly deeper company this prep, and the extra ground here is overdue. Included in exotic bets at bigger odds, 8. Quick Onyx and hard fit 10. Preghero who has placed in his last two.
How to play it: Dylan’s Lad to win
