Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - NICCIMOTA (3) is knocking on the door of a maiden win and just missed over this track and trip last start when favourite. She looks the main pace influence in the race, so she'll be able to cross from barrier 5 and her recent form stacks up well. Will prove very tough to run down. COZZIES CHOICE (6) settled midfield and wasn't beaten far despite finishing 7th, only 1.6L off the winner down the straight here. Pike rides again, she should be fitter now and the Blinkers go on first time. Can sit just off the speed and be launching late. MAKWELL SMART (2) was sound in his debut run back in October and has turned in a nice trial in readiness for his return. Drawn nicely for the straight course and can play a role in the finish. STARCHASER (5) is better than he showed over 1200m last time out and comes back in trip off a freshen. Can improve. RAY'S SAUCE (1) will find this a lot easier than his fresh run and can put his best foot forward.
RACE 2 - LUCKY I AM (10) led them up on resumption in a stronger race than this and was only gunned down late in the race. The horse that beat her 0.5L then went and won in Saturday grade. She has enough speed to cross from out wide and if she can find the front, she'll be hard to run down with the added fitness on her side. COUNTESS OF KENNA (7) was in good form last campaign in wet conditions and the form out of those races worked out well. Her trial coming in has produced a Saturday winner and while she'll need luck from the barrier, she appears the main danger. AURORA QUEEN (12) has trialled well coming into this and had plenty of support on debut. Pike rides now and she can be right there in the finish. FAVOURED SON (4) was good on resumption despite being $31 and he's fitter now. Can give a bold sight again. GREY REVOLUTION (6) just missed as a 30-1 chance last start and can be in the finish again.
RACE 3 - SHAMILIAN MISS (10) ended up just 0.4L off the winner on the main track here fresh. The slight rise in trip shouldn't be an issue and she has enough speed to offset the wide draw. Looks to have plenty of upside and if she can bounce off the impressive fresh effort, she'll take beating. SPANK APPEAL (3) just missed out on a maiden win last start when beaten a lip in a good maiden at Ascot. He can roll forward from the barrier and he rates highly on his latest effort. He's raced around some nice ones early in his career and he can go close. HYPERREAL (1) got a long way back fresh over 1000m but rattled home to just miss out by 1.4L. Now up to this trip second-up looks an ideal move and with improvement likely, he'll be right in the finish. GOD'LL GETYA (4) has trialled well coming into this event and can play a role on resumption. FANCY RED (13) has looks good at the trials coming in and she can be in the finish on debut.
RACE 4 - FOXY RASCAL (1) was only plain first-up as favourite at Ascot but he should take plenty of benefit from that run with just the one trial coming in. He'll be better suited over the slightly longer trip and the barrier isn't an issue with his racing pattern. Can get back to his best now and run over the top. CARAWAY (9) was very sharp at the trials recently and looks in for a strong campaign. Chris Parnham hops in the saddle, suggesting she's ready to fire first-up. She'll need some luck from the barrier but she's expected to be right in the finish. SWEET EYES (11) was just fair on resumption over 1200m on the main track here, though she did show good promise over further than this in her debut campaign. Can improve sharply now and Pike sticking is a positive sign. TOUSLED CROWN (12) draws well and ran well over this trip on the main course here 91 days ago. Worth including. DOBLE OH NADA (3) is a long time between runs but his recent trial was solid. Keep an eye on the market.
RACE 5 - AH KUM (2) was trending the right way at the end of last campaign and was thrown into the deep end in the Lex Piper first-up. He'll be better for that effort and he is way back in grade today. Brad Parnham hops in the saddle now and he can put his best foot forward back to Maiden grade. REDBACK FLYER (5) sat just off the speed and found one better over 1400m at Ascot last time out. The rating out of that effort was strong and he looks set to go to another level out in trip now. Chris Parnham sticks and he can make his presence felt. PARISH PRINCE (4) steps up to the mile for the first time but it looks to suit this son of Playing God. He comes through the same race as Redback Flyer and he draws a much better gate this time. Can be right in the finish. ALITTLE SCOONER (6) just missed over 1800m most recently and should be strong to the finish. NOW SHOWING (7) just missed last start at Geraldton and gets the blinkers on now. Can feature.
RACE 6 - GOLDEN DORE (2) has been knocking on the door recently and maps for a much better run in transit this time. The inside draw is a big tick and he's been favourite his past couple. Back to an easier race now and he can return to winning ways. BLACK FOR CASH (5) got a long way back at Ascot last start but it didn't matter as he picked up his rivals and spat them out over this trip, winning by 3L. While he's likely to get back again, he looks well placed in this race and he can storm over the top to win again. LOMBADINA (6) may have ended up in the slow going out wide at Belmont last start and stretches up to the mile now. CJP hops back in the saddle and a return to her best form would see her hard to hold out. LOVA SESSION (1) flew home fresh to catch the eye and straight up to the mile is a big tick. Pike sticks and he can make his presence felt. MY JIMMY (8) has been around the mark for a while now and he can be thereabouts again.
RACE 7 - DON'T TRUST JUDAS (2) rattled home from well back to just miss over 1400m on the main course here last time out to be 0.4L off the winner. He's knocking on the door of another victory and while he has drawn wide again, his recent figures suggest he can get the job done this time. GREAT EMOTION (7) will be fitter for a recent trial coming into this and stretches out to new territory first-up for the campaign. It's an interesting move, though CJP sticks from the trial and she maps to get every chance. Has plenty of upside and can be there when it matters most. AMARLIME (5) disappointed last start after a good win down the straight here fresh and now step up to 1300m for the first time. Pike sticks and she'll find this a little easier than last start. Can bounce back to form today. BONNY ROCK (6) is better than he showed last start and the form out of that race has been good. Can feature. DELICATE RULER (1) can roll forward and give a bold sight.
RACE 8 - SIMPLY THINKIN' (2) bumped into a big winner first-up over 1000m but she usually improves with a run under her belt. Pike remains in the saddle and while the draw is sticky for the straight course, her figures stack right up. Can go one better this time. CHOP SUEY (3) is drawn nicely for the straight course, but whether he can hold a position is the question. He's racing in good order, though, and he's right there on recent figures. Wouldn't surprise to see him win back to 1000m. ON THE FULL (5) resumes today without a trial but gets the blinkers on. He's a two-time winner fresh, and Carbery's booking is a good sign. Can be right there at the finish. FAMOUS DREAM (8) is better than she showed at the end of last campaign and all the form from her starts last campaign worked out well. Can make an impression. SAFEKEEPER (9) will find this easier than her past couple and is not to be discounted.
