RACE 3 – 1.50PM: TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1100m)
1. Melik’s style is to hunt forward and, with positive tactics likely to be used again here, he profiles as the winner. The lightly-raced five-year-old, with just four starts to his name, has built an imposing record with two wins and two seconds. He has had excuses for both defeats too. He hasn’t started any longer than $2.15 in his career either. The son of Redoute’s Choice wasn’t knocked around in a recent Muswellbrook barrier trial cruising through the line. 8. On Time gets in very light with just 51kg after the claim of Reece Jones. She beat Crackerjack Kenny at the back end of last preparation before finding the line strongly first up at Wellington with 59kg over 1000m.
How to play it: Melik to win.
RACE 4 – 2.25PM: ANZ BLOODSTOCK NEWS HANDICAP (1100m)
9. The Face sets up well here. First-up he was nailed late by Salina Dreaming after doing a touch too much early work. He subsequently ran in the listed Gosford Guineas on a heavy track and gave plenty of cheek out to 1200m. Forbidden Love was too strong late but she is a group1-placed filly. Dropping back to 1100m also looks in The Face’s favour, as does getting back on top of the ground. The race is tailor-made for him. 2. Emanate comes off three straight wins at the back end of last preparation and gives every indication that she’ll be racing in group company before too long.
How to play it: The Face to win.
RACE 5 – 3.00PM: BOWERMANS COMMERCIAL FURNITURE HANDICAP (1100m)
5. Rule Of Law is a colt still with plenty of upside but even off his exposed form to date, he sets up well to resume a winner against his own age in BM72 company. A rail-friendly heavy track was against the son of Snitzel on debut but his two subsequent wins on firmer footing were those of a sprinter capable of taking a giant leap from maiden and class 1 provincial form into much better races. Maps to get some kind of control in front. 7. Super Effort resumed with a luckless seventh at Warwick Farm before splitting Private Eye and Count De Rupee in what has been a sensational form race. Five of his seven rivals have run since and every single one of them won.
How to play it: Rule of Law to win.
RACE 6 – 3.40PM: HEINEKEN HANDICAP (2000m)
4. Sacramento only won narrowly second-up but the margin doesn’t tell the story. The four-year-old was forced to take a trail behind a tearaway leader, carting the rest of the field up to the turn where he looked to be under siege yet he kept responding to hold off 3. New Arrangement. He actually meets the Waller five-year-old 1.5kg better off despite beating him. The son of Pierro will get out further again than 2000m already being a winner over 2800m as a three-year-old but this is the perfect third-up assignment for him to control from the front. It was James McDonald, back in the saddle on Saturday, who paired with New Arrangement when he won with such arrogance two starts ago.
How to play it: Sacramento to win.
RACE 7 – 4.20PM: SKY RACING ACTIVE HANDICAP (1400m)
11. Le Lude boasts a strong first up record (4:2-0-1). Rachel King knows the five-year-old well having ridden her in nine of her 20 career starts and will be able to use the draw to sit midfield which will give her every chance. She has had two trials and liked what we saw across the line in the latest of those with the slightest of niggles producing a burst of acceleration. We’ll give 3. Outback Diva a pass mark first-up but what stands out in her form when assessing her chances in this is her unbeaten second-up record. 4. Sausedge is back in grade, back to her best trip and back on top of the ground. Tick, tick, tick.
How to play it: Le Lude each-way.
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RACE 8 – 5.00PM: FUJITSU GENERAL CARRINGTON STAKES (1400m)
9. Chat closed off nicely in the Christmas Classic on the back of a seven-week freshen for John Thompson. That was behind subsequent Magic Millions winner Eleven Eleven. His third prior to that behind Through The Cracks and Edison also stacks up well in this. Even his Silver Eagle fourth behind Flit and Alligator Blood warrants a mention. The Deep Field gelding sets up nicely out to 1400m, down on the minimum with 53kg and the likelihood of settling in the first four. Stepping out in trip as opposed to coming back was the main rationale in putting him ahead of 3. Order Again who produced a PB first-up as a seven-year-old. That was over the mile and on a wet track. He now presents second-up three weeks later back to 1400m and dry.
How to play it: Chat to win.
RACE 9 – 5.40PM: TAB HANDICAP (1600m)
3. Selica is beautifully placed back to BM78 company on the back of a group 3 third. That was second-up jumping from 1350m to the mile too. With a tickover trial since, she should be at her top. Her first run for Annabel Neasham was also encouraging, doing her best work through the line behind Vitesse who had got complete control from in front. Two-kilo claimer Louise Day rode her that start and she jumps back on now. From a low draw she should park the daughter of Makfi in the first four or five. Would be very surprised if she isn’t in the finish. There’s not much between most of these. 9. Zing is the early favourite having won last start on the back of an aggressive Tommy Berry ride.
How to play it: Selica to win.
RACE 10 – 6.15PM: DRINKWISE MILE (1600m)
5. All Time Legend wasn’t quite as dynamic second-up but he won. That’s all he had to do. The four-year-old relished the hot speed first up settling out the back before unleashing a devastating turn of foot. It was a very different set-up two weeks ago where Kerrin McEvoy used his initiative to take All Time Legend straight to the fronts. He steps out to the mile now third-up and although he rises 3.5kg in weight, his record of five wins from seven starts suggests he isn’t going to be knocking around in benchmark races for much longer. 14. Brutality would be chasing four straight wins if not for a wide draw which cost him victory last start. His last 600m of 34.43s was four lengths faster than the next best in the race.
How to play it: All Time Legend to win.
Tips supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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