Source : the age
By Neil Evans
Track soft 7 and rail true.
Race 1
2. Cabriole is a Godolphin colt on debut after two progressive trials on rain-affected ground. By champion Lonhro and out of the good mare Flit, which won a Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and the Silver Eagle. 3. Central Coast is a colt on debut for the Chris Waller stable sure to command support from a softer draw. Beautifully bred by prolific and fashionable sprint sire Wootton Bassett out of Sunlight, which won 11 from 24, including the Group 1 Newmarket and William Reid double in 2019. Comes in off two impressive trials, and draws to bet the right run. Hard to see anything else winning, but keep safe another debutant 9. Perfect Apple, by Per Incanto from the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton yard, which starts with key gear additions after two improving trials. 6. Delicious Derek, a stablemate colt of the top selection by superstar The Autumn Sun has had two quiet trials, and can add value into trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Cabriole to win and quinella 2 & 3.
Race 2
11. The Pearls, for the same combination as in the opening race, can break through at only her second start. Hit the line late on debut at Warwick Farm in heavy ground, and the leading jockey takes over here. Being by Proisir and bred to get much further, the extra trip is a natural plus and she can be ridden a bit quieter from this wider gate. 9. Sequista has an edge in race fitness and is also well-placed to break through third-up from a handy draw, with a timely drop in weight. 8. Rosa Incanta is very progressive having gone down narrowly on debut here in heavy going and has the tactical speed to get over from a wide draw. 5. Long Legs, which was right behind Rosa Incanta on debut, and 6. Pillow Fight, a Zoustar debutant from the Bjorn Baker yard behind two forward trials, head the rest.
How to play it: The Pearls to win.
Racing returns to Canterbury on Monday with an eight-race program.Credit: Bradleyphotos.com.au
Race 3
10. Blue Willow, a progressive daughter of Blue Point, can go back-to-back at her fourth start for the leading combination again. Loved the way she ripped home from the back in heavy ground to salute at Newcastle a fortnight ago as a heavily backed favourite, and this looks an ideal next assignment. The one to beat. 2. Lady Boss was very well backed second-up on a heavy 10 at Warwick Farm, and was a bit stiff to miss by a whisker from just off the speed. Thrives on wet tracks, just a small query here running out the extra trip. 7. Barbray is very fit four runs into his first prep and destroyed a weaker maiden field at Goulburn by seven lengths as a heavily backed favourite 18 days ago, but for an off-speed runner, not sold on his map position drawing the inside. Gap to the rest headed by another Waller runner in 5. Automne Tree, which drops in class fourth-up, ahead of stablemate 8. Eraantyva, which is ready to peak fifth-up coming back in grade.
How to play it: Blue Willow to win.
Race 4
3. Bengal Boy is an underrated provincial-based five-year-old which impressed when surging home from well back to win a BM 68 at Newcastle third-up. Thrives in the ground for a race that isn’t much harder, and any extra trip is a plus being a typical son of Dundeel. 2. Naval Commission was very disappointing second-up over the mile after being well backed. Gets some weight relief, again from an ideal trailing draw, but suggesting he’s under the odds stepping up in distance. 1. Monarch’s Brae can improve sharply third-up over more ground, especially if the track improves a couple of ratings, after drifting a mile back in two runs so far this campaign. Finds a weaker race here, but a query whether he’ll get enough speed on to run over them. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Fay’s Angels, an honest country mare who is well into her campaign.
How to play it: Bengal Boy to win.
Race 5
Not much between several runners here, but 1. First Mission can make it two wins from three starts this prep, coming back 150m in distance. Landed a good betting move when a comfortable winner against similar opposition when resuming. He was then taken to the front in deeper Saturday Midway company and boxed on OK behind a smart winner. Distance and track are the keys, despite being asked to carry 61kg. 2. Gatekeeper is a big watch first up behind two improving trials, and returning to where he won on debut in mid-January after being backed from $6 into $4.40. Keep safe 9. Spaceballs, a talented filly which comes to hand quickly, and draws the inside resuming off a quiet trial. 8. Queen’s Rhapsody scored an overdue and dominant first-up win at Hawkesbury as a hot favourite and drops in weight, but has to get in from a wide barrier.
How to play it: First Mission to win.
Race 6
3. Apex is a smart son of Exceedance who can put two wins together having easily got the maiden out of the way when resuming at Warwick Farm 19 days ago. Always shown ability, right at home on rain-affected ground, and the extra 150m is no concern. 4. Puntin resumes from the inside draw behind two trials. Has natural speed and won three straight up to BM 64 grade last prep before a game unplaced effort when trying to lead over a mile in much tougher company at Randwick. Would likely prefer the track a little drier, but sure to give a big sight. 9. Metaphorically is a big market watch at good odds, resuming as a gelding for the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton camp off two progressive trials. Stablemate 10. Straand Beauty is also right in the mix rolling forward, having missed narrowly in two runs back in weaker grade.
How to play it: Apex to win.
Race 7
7. The Black Cloud is a smart mare, and terrific value resuming off an easy trial. Has already won twice from four attempts fresh and is unbeaten on soft ground from three starts. Drawn to get a cosy run with cover right behind the speed and just needs a clear crack at them from the 300m. 4. Zealously is a talented customer which fought on strong to claim a BM 78 third-up on the stand-alone Saturday meeting at Scone. Carries a kilo less here, but this is a deeper race and he has a task on this tighter track getting over from near the outside draw. 13. Dollar Magic chased home the former at Scone first-up and wasn’t far away from pulling off a big-value move firming from $7.50 into $5.50. Normally holds her form into the next run and from a handy draw is right up to this. Be surprised if the winner comes from anywhere else, but 6. Flying Destiny, down sharply in weight first-up behind two trials, and 11. World Alliance, five weeks between runs via a trial win; are both capable of running into the money at good odds.
How to play it: Black Cloud to win.
Race 8
3. Who Ever Thought is a tough country-based six-year-old which has earnt a start in a metropolitan race second-up. Dug in hard from the front to claim the Country Cup on Scone Cup day 24 days ago and will carry only 1.5kg over the minimum weight after the jockey’s claim in what is a suitably much smaller field. 2. Pink Shalala chased home a smart winner here second-up in heavy ground and has the conditions and the draw to suit again. 6. Sacredarro is a lightly raced and progressive four-year-old stepping up in grade and distance from a dominant country Class 1 win when resuming. 1. Forecaster is over the odds dropping in grade fourth-up. 7. Line Of Fire is the best of the rest deep into the prep with blinkers back on.
How to play it: Who Ever Thought to win.
BEST BETS: Race 3 (10) Blue Willow. Race 6 (3) Apex
BEST VALUE: Race 7 (7) The Black Cloud
