The much-awaited debut of three-year-old All Too Hard filly 4. Vanilla Sky arrives, with the stable confident enough to start her over this trip. Looked real smart winning the third of three recent trials, and she draws to get the right sort of run.
Dangers: Local three-year-old 1. Members Only was very good on debut in heavy ground at big odds, but conceding 3kg to the top selection looks a task. Expect 3. Parochial to run a big race fresh off a very quiet trial, with blinkers going on.
How to play it: Vanilla Sky to win.
Odds and Evens: Split a special.
RACE 5 – 3.50PM: KAM-COOL REFRIGERATION POSTHASTE – BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (900m)
Plenty of depth in this one over the short course. Don’t undersell talented five-year-old mare 4. Heaven’s High at big odds resuming for a new stable off a dominant trial win. Has a smart fresh record, and draws to get a lovely trail just off the speed.
Dangers: Tough Wyong mare 2. Invincible Kiss has been strong through the line in three consecutive metro BM72s, and looks well treated on a 55kg limit coming back to a provincial BM78 with leading jockey hopping aboard. Progressive home track four-year-old 5. Mr Polar will be hard to beat again from a soft draw if she backs up in six days from a dominant BM68 win here last Saturday. Include Exosphere three-year-old 6. Ballistic Moon after sweeping home to win his maiden here first-up in heavy ground.
How to play it: Heaven’s High each way and trifecta 2,4,5/2,4,5,6/2,4,5,6.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 6 – 4.30PM: BELLA GROUP SERVICES BEAUMONT HANDICAP (1400m)
Now the two-year-olds lock horns, and hard to go past exciting Sebring colt 1. Tea Leaves who charged home to miss by a nose in a good provincial maiden at only his second start. Should relish getting on to the bigger track over a bit more ground.
Dangers: Big watch on American Pharoah colt 2. Another Pharaoh on debut for an experienced local stable off three trials. Keep safe debutant Criterion colt 4. Last Not Least, who has spent plenty of time at the trials since last spring and is bred to handle soft ground.
How to play it: Tea Leaves to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 7 – 5.10PM: SUEZ NEWCASTLE NEWMARKET HANDICAP (1400m)
Wide open feature race of the day at group 3 level sets up well for smart home-track five-year-old 2. Gem Song second-up off a long break. Was having his first run in more than 15 months when working home nicely behind a star galloper at Randwick, and this is a lovely progressive distance returning home.
Dangers: Godolphin has targeted this race with high-class resuming six-year-old 1. Cascadian, who looked forward winning the second of two trials. Conditions will suit, but a query jumping from the inside barrier for one who loves to settle well back. Can never discount five-year-old 4. Outrageous over this trip. Has been freshened since charging home late in a strong Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast, and looks well treated dropping to 55kg. Keep safe four-year-old stallion 8. Bottega who resumes from a soft draw and nice trial, while include in wider exotics Godolphin mare 6. Asiago second-up and five-year-old 3. Purple Sector resuming off two trials.
How to play it: Gem Song each way and box trifecta 1,2,4,8.
Odds and Evens: Evens.
Loading
RACE 8 – 5.50PM: NOVOCASTRIAN ELECTRICAL F&M BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1200m)
Promising Zoustar filly 5. Never Second couldn’t run down the winner resuming at Hawkesbury, but she’s been given time, and can bounce straight back over this longer journey.
Dangers: Progressive 6. Hasty Duchess resumes off two trials, and was a dominant winner at second start last spring while 3. So Far Away was solid through the line first up here, and blinkers have replaced winkers.
How to play it: Never Second to win.
Odds and Evens: Split.
BEST BETS:
R1 8. CHENIN BLANC
R4 4. VANILLA SKY
BEST VALUE:
R7 2. GEM SONG
Tips supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
