Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - FUKUBANA (4) has been plying his trade in tougher Sydney metropolitan contests and certainly hasn't disgraced himself. Enjoys racing at this circuit with two wins and a placing from just three spins and gets the services of gun hoop McDonald from a favourable draw. Ticks a few boxes. DEMON DARB (9) was a touch disappointing last time out but the back-to-back wins prior were full of merit. Can bounce back to form from the inside marble. VICTORY WIN (2) loves this course and distance with three wins and a second from four attempts and will be ready to peak now fourth-up from the break. Has to be considered. PIRAEUS (17) made up a stack of ground late at the latest effort and should be hitting the line with gusto once again. SHIHAB (6) has hit a purple patch of form in recent efforts and can trouble the judge again with any luck from the wide draw.
RACE 2 - WINSOME STAR (10) got the job done over this distance range at Eagle Farm last time out in a confidence-building victory and has since had two rev-up trials in preparation for this. Gets the Melbourne Cup winning combination of Symons/Laxon/Dolan and only needs some luck from the sticky draw to feature in the outcome. DEEP RESPECT (2) returned in fine fashion with a close-up second at the latest outing and is drawn to get a gun run in transit from the inside alley. Looms as the main danger. JEALOUS (16) strips fitter second-up from the spell and may earn some minor money. BANANA SLIDE (14) is first-up but has a solid fresh record with two wins and a placing from just four starts and rates among the main hopes.
RACE 3 - PISCES (1) just missed the placings at Group 3 level last time out and should find this assignment much more to his liking. Has gotten better with each run this time in and will be ready to peak now fourth-up from the spell. Winning rider J Mac reunites and should be going very close against this lot. GOODLUCKTOME (2) is a consistent conveyance who just ran into one better in Listed company at the latest outing. Maloney sticks in the saddle and he should give backers a sight from the low draw. EL MORZILLO (8) has placed around this circuit and will strip fitter with that first-up run now in the locker. Top-three aspirations. COSMO CENTAURUS (5) is a bit hit or miss but is more than capable enough on his day. Can feature if he brings his A-game. Former Kiwi SO NAIVE (3) is having his first run for the new stable but showed enough across the ditch to warrant consideration in a race like this. Respect any market confidence.
RACE 4 - The $200,000 Listed Bernborough Handicap. Import AL MUBHIR (2) put in an improved performance placing at Randwick last time out and should be cherry-ripe fourth-up from the break. Drawn to sit up on speed from gate two and should handle the wet conditions. J-Mac rides and he can make his presence felt. The well-named TENZING (4) has only missed a drum once in five starts over this course and distance and handles all going. Rates well and looks the main danger. SIBAAQ (9) has been back to the trials with a freshen since his last run over 1500m at Rosehill. He's better than he showed last start where he had no luck and can bounce back in a big way. BROOKHAVEN (12) can be thereabouts on resumption.
RACE 5 - The $300,000 Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic for the babies. BESKAR (8) looked handy breaking the maiden status on debut before being tipped out for time to furnish. Has since returned in good order placing in the G3 Kindergarten and must be respected from the Freedman yard. Right in this contest. GALLO NERO (2) hit the frame in the Magic Millions in January before being given time to mature. Tuned up for this with a recent trial win and can run a big race while fresh. The well-related NAVY PILOT (6) (full to 2xG2 winner Tiz Invincible) got the maiden win last time out and will take some confidence from that victory. Top-three candidate. UNITED STATES (7) gets the deadly Waller/McDonald combination and has to be included. COOL ARCHIE (3) has put back-to-back wins together and has earned his shot at this level.
RACE 6 - The $200,000 Group 3 Chairman's Handicap. Import SIR DELIUS (1) is having his first local run but the form he showed up north would certainly measure up in a race like this. Has shown that he has acclimatised well winning both Randwick trials and gets the reliable Waterhouse/Bott/Clark combination. Might have a bit of class over this line-up. CABOCHE (9) has a solid record over this track and trip with two wins and a placing from just four attempts. Include from the inside alley. FLOATING (5) strips fitter third-up from the break and will be ready for the step-up in trip now. Cannot be disregarded. MANZOICE (11) returned to a semblance of form last time out and may earn another cheque.
RACE 7 - The $160,000 Listed Bright Shadow. IN FLIGHT (2) is on the doorstep of another victory with consecutive runner-up finishes and strikes a winnable contest here. Drawn perfectly for Collett in gate two and will strip fitter third-up from the spell. Expected to go one better. KIN (3) wasn't too far off the top selection when resuming and gets the services of McDonald in the stirrups. Leading player again. NAVYONTHEHIGHWAY (7) has won three from four around this circuit and will be better for that first-up hit-out. Deserves respect on best figures. TIGER SHARK (1) is a last-start winner who shouldn't be slept on.
RACE 8 - A cracking edition of the $1.5 million Group 1 Doomben 10,000. OVERPASS (1) returned in fine fashion with a close-up second in the G1 TJ Smith before just tiring late in the Quokka over in the west. Is an eight-time winner over this six-furlong journey and has a fantastic affinity with hoop Parr. Should give backers a great sight. SUNSHINE IN PARIS (12) can't seem to draw a gate but certainly hasn't disgraced herself this time in work. Has placed over this track and trip and maybe some McDonald magic can navigate the sticky draw. BENEDETTA (14) saves her best form for this distance range and is more than capable on her day. Keep very safe. SCHWARZ (2) got the lucrative Group 1 on the board last time out and has kept ticking over with two recent trial wins. Sure to be thereabouts. MAZU (3) best of the rest after a last-start win in the Hall Mark.
RACE 9 - The $250,000 Group 3 Rough Habit Plate. FIRM AGREEMENT (1) has been knocking on the door of another victory with three consecutive runner-up finishes in the Tulloch, ATC Derby and Packer Plate. Schiller has been in the saddle for two of those efforts and steers again today. Can go one better against this line-up. BELLE DETELLE (14) was an impressive winner of the Adrian Knox before not being disgraced in the ATC Oaks last time out. Respect the Waller/McDonald combination. KING OF THUNDER (3) has been given a bit of a freshen up since an okay run in the ATC Derby and has placed two from two over this journey. Top-three candidate on best form. SHANGRI LA SPRING (2) should head them up from out wide and will be in this contest for a long way. MAISON LOUIS (7) has won three of his past four and draws the inside marble. Include in calculations.