Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - The maiden stayers kick us off. MISS DYNAMO (9) is unlucky to still be a maiden placing in four of five overall outings and strikes a very winnable contest here. Strips fitter third-up from the spell and gets in well at the weights with the 2kg claim. Ticks plenty of boxes. WIMOWEH (14) is knocking on the door of a maiden victory finishing runner-up at her past couple and is drawn to get all the favours from the inside alley. Looms as the main danger. ALECIA (12) has hit the frame at her past three efforts and gets the services of Jones in the irons to navigate from the sticky draw. Top three candidate. BRIEF SPIRIT (2) has been thereabouts of late and may earn some minor money. TRUSTY BANDIT (6) next in line in a race with only a handful of chances.
RACE 2 - GOLD FEVER (2) has placed five of eight overall including one over this distance range. Strips fitter second-up from the spell and has to be included from the favourable draw. WARRIOR HEAD (5) is first-up here but the form he showed when last in work was good enough to feature in a race like this. Can run a race while fresh. BLUE MOVES (9) has placed in all four outings since joining the new stable and is knocking on the door of a maiden victory. Don't underestimate. AKERMANIS (4) is facing the starter for the first time and any market confidence must be noted.
RACE 3 - EXPECTANT (2) is a consistent conveyance who has hit the top-four at his past seven outings. Has placed one from one over this course and distance and can play a major role in the outcome. FLAMINGO BEACH (6) is first-up here but draws the inside marble and gets in light with the claim. Top-three credentials while fresh. TEXAS (1) is a two-time winner over this journey and looks one for the exotics players. MAUI (7) rounds out the selections in a competitive affair.
RACE 4 - BOLSHEVIC ROAD (3) got the job done at Ipswich two back before just running into one better on the Sunny Coast last time out. Guthmann-Chester sticks in the irons and should be going very close again. ICHIBAN (1) doesn't win out of turn but goes well for Orman who has a win and three placings from just five steers. Can improve enough to take this out. Former Victorian LUPINE (8) has been thereabouts in both runs since joining the new stable and looks to be nearing another victory. In the mix. VREDEFORT (5) broke the maiden status last time out and will have derived a stack of confidence from that win. Can go right on with the job now. The well-related APPELLANT (6) (half to G1 winner Southern Legend) best of the rest.
RACE 5 - MERCIAN (8) hasn't done much wrong with a win and two seconds from four starts to date and looks the runner in this field with the most upside. Has placed over this track and trip and winning hoop Thornton stays in the saddle. Should be right there when the whips are cracking. SALT LAKE BETTY (13) goes well for Collett who has a win and three placings from six rides. In the mix on best form. Former NSW galloper LIMAHULI (14) is having his first run for the new stable and any market support must be respected. DANCE WIZZARD (4) returns after six months in the paddock. In the mix fresh.
RACE 6 - OCEAN ZAR (8) loves this journey with three wins and four placings from ten attempts and rarely puts in a poor one. Sure to prove tough to hold out. FAIRWAY CHOICE (12) is lightly raced but has won three of six overall and is always thereabouts. Top-three contender. BANDASHA (4) has a win and a second from two starts around this circuit and will be rock-hard fit for this. Don't dismiss. TANNENBURG (6) rates a danger.
RACE 7 - Open race to close out the card. VALETUDO (15) has been playing her trade in tougher Sydney metropolitan contests and should find this assignment much more to her liking. Gets the deadly Waller/Maloney combination and will be right there at the business end. KEEP SAFE (8) broke the maiden status at the latest outing and will have taken a bunch of confidence from that overdue victory. Franklin stays on board and again gets the benefit of his claim. Can make it back-to-back wins. MIST OF DAWN (14) has hit the top-four in all four starts to date and is one from one around this circuit. Right in this. DON'T DISS AROUND (3) has remarkably hit the top-five at his past 17 starts and doesn't know how to run a bad race. A must for the multiples. SOUTH SEA (4) strips fitter second-up from the spell and can trouble the judge with any luck in running.
