Track Heavy 9 and rail and rail out 6m from 1000m to 350m into a cut/away and true the remainder.
Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (1215m):
Improving five-year-old 2. Dempsey Rae gets his chance to break through second-up off a long break on preferred rain-affected ground. Was backed from $9.50 into $7.00 when resuming here on a heavy rating, and hit the line smartly. Suited rising in trip, and the wetter the better.
Dangers: 1. Cluster's General hit the line impressively from well back on debut in that same race here as the top selection, and is also aided by the extra furlong. Watch the betting on home tracker 6. Elegant Knowledge resuming for a second prep behind a quiet trial. Hard fit 5. Durusehvar deep into her prep with a significant change of jockey is the clear best of the rest.
How to play it: Dempsey Rae to win
Race 2 FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1012m):
Back against her own sex with a 3kg weight claim, augurs well for tough home track mare 2. Cool Fizz to go back-to-back. Beat all bar the winner in two improving runs before taken to the front and boxing on strong to claim a stronger BM 58 here in heavy going. Well placed again staying at the distance, and loves these conditions.
Dangers: Big watch on both lightly raced 7. She's A Revelation second-up in preferred ground; and 8. Spirits Burn Deep who resumes without publicly trialling, but comes to hand sharply. Include 4. September Girl who has a solid record on wet tracks and drops back in grade.
How to play it: Cool Fizz to win
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1012m):
Tough maiden sprint, but improving three-year-old 8. Talma I Love Her emerges as the best value in the race second-up. Let punters down when heavily backed into an odds-on favourite resuming here in heavy ground, but had to come through inferior inside ground, and that was his first run since late November. Was always in and around the money last prep, and the decision to stay at this short course and being drawn to get out to the middle, suggests this is his breakthrough race.
Dangers: Early favourite 12. Monte Cruise is the natural threat resuming off a strong trial win in heavy going, and gets in well after a 2kg allowance. 13. Tootsie is an honest and consistent mare trained on the track, and a big watch first-up off a 31-week break. Keep safe too at big odds lightly raced 6. Mawson's Edition second-up. Local mare 9. Bun In The Oven second-up can add further value into trifecta and first four returns.
How to play it: Talma I Love Her to win
Race 4 MAIDEN PLATE (1415m):
Not much between two Kris Lees-trained stablemates here, but leaning to progressive filly 10. She's Got Teeth who is set to peak third-up. Worked home late in a handy maiden at Muswellbrook on heavy ground before settling closer and narrowly missing in a deeper Super Maiden. Drawn to get similar cover here, and right at home in the going.
Dangers: 1. Naahro is also ready to win fourth-up coming back from a string of solid closing efforts in Super Maiden fields, although a concern drawing the fence for one who likes to drift a fair way back. 6. Idol Shot looks suited getting up to this distance at her third start. Gap to the rest headed by 8. Saskatoon Berry who relishes the wet.
How to play it: She's Got Teeth to win
Race 5 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2015m):
Sticking with the Lees yard, and progressive three-year-old 6. Oakfield Hawk can win again deep into his first full prep. Put the writing on the wall two runs back charging home late at big odds on heavy ground before coming with a similar surge to claim a CL1 at Taree after being backed from $3.40 into $2.60. Even better suited here up in distance, and on a bigger track where he can settle back and get to the middle.
Dangers: Drawn further out, lightly raced 7. Rumeur will need to find cover, but can rebound sharply having his second start for the new Gold Coast stable after crossing the Tasman. 2. Highland Raider struggles to win, but is hard fit and looking for this trip now. Both 1. Charmed Destiny going up in distance; and at big odds 11. The Riddler who is trained on the track; are worthy in trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Oakfield Hawk to win
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1615m):
Progressive mare 4. Vetoed is well placed to make it two wins from three starts this prep, dropping back from much tougher BM 68 metropolitan grade over the border. Swept home from well back to win a Cl1 first-up at Grafton before very gallant when working home late at big odds at Doomben 17 days ago. Drawn to get cover, and will be flooding home again.
Dangers: 8. Global Sensation can mix his form, but comfortable on rain-affected ground, and gets a significant weight drop for the rise in grade. Another one well in at the weights is 13. Rahaan whose best form is predominantly on wet tracks, and is on a six day back-up. 2. Rossy's Typa Girl is drawn to get cover with a 4kg claim; while 6. My Sonny's Faith coming back in distance; and improving 7. The Young Years are both each-way chances at good odds.
How to play it: Vetoed to win
Race 7 WOOLGOOLGA DIGGERS CUP BENCHMARK 82 HCP (1315m):
Hard to go past progressive and talented mare 3. Tectonic Plate who can take her impressive winning strike rate to near 45 percent from 14 starts staying in the grade third-up. Did her best work late when fresh as a rock solid favourite in a deeper race at Grafton before finishing best for a dominant win at the same track and level. Given four weeks between runs over a bit more ground with blinkers on pre-race for the first time, and with less depth here, she's the one to beat.
Dangers: 1. French Marine is tough, and although not having won for a while, much better placed here coming back from deeper provincial and metro fields where he was placed in his last two. Locally-trained 7. Fun Enuff rarely runs a bad one, and shoots for a fourth win - all at Grafton - from his last five starts. Down in weight too, but this is a significant step up in class. 2. Butch 'N' Bugs is tracking nicely to peak third-up in preferred ground off a seven week turnaround; while at big odds, last start CL2 winner at this track 10. Clipper Ship can add plenty of value into wider exotics.
How to play it: Tectonic Plate to win
Race 8 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1012m):
In a race with many chances, no better value than improving six-year-old 8. Nicci Knee Knack who can pounce second-up off a lengthy break. Held his own taking on better fields over last prep and returned with a solid closing effort first-up in this grade, missing by a neck after being backed from $4.40 into $3.20. Even better suited here, drawn to settle well back behind a strong tempo and get to the middle of the track late. Has only missed a place once from five starts in heavy going.
Dangers: 10. Theregos is a threat second-up coming back from a race with more depth; so too is 2. Speedy Target who draws to get cover, and the big weight is off-set by a 4kg claim. Keep safe 6. Under Twenty Two who ran home well in a CL1 fourth-up; 4. Golden Dubai can improve sharply third-up; while 9. Sigsworth goes into wider exotic plays.
How to play it: Nicci Knee Knack to win
BEST BETS:
R3 8. TALMA I LOVE HER
R5 6. OAKFIELD HAWK
BEST VALUE:
R8 8. NICCI KNEE KNACK
