Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - NORTHERN EYES (1) sat handy then drove hard late but just failed to overcome Jumeirah Beach over 1500m at Hawkesbury a fortnight ago. Looks ready for his first run beyond a mile. Hard to beat in an open race. WALKING PAINTING (3) has scope for plenty of improvement at the third run back from a spell. Too bad to be true at Randwick last time but has trialled satisfactorily since. Worth another chance with the blinkers going on for the first time. Veteran GENERAL SOHO (6) comes here off a game win in the mud at Newcastle two weeks ago. Has raced here four times and won three of them. Can get the job done again. STAR IMPACT (9) loomed up last start over 1600m at Warwick Farm but didn't finish off as hoped. Getting down in the weights and another 100m might be what she needs. PRINCE OF SORTS (4) wasn't far away in the Jumeirah Beach race at Hawkesbury. Can improve if the track is not in the heavy range.
RACE 2 - Absolute lottery. ROUGE MOULIN (4) appreciated the drop in grade when an eye-catching second in a 1400m Randwick Highway last time out. Won't spend a penny from the inside gate and will just need luck getting clear to play a big role. IMAGE OF THE SUN (15) enjoyed a seven-week let-up before a closing second over this distance at Quirindi recently. Races well here and should be peaking at the third run back. WIN THE DAY (9) didn't appreciate going back in trip when down the track at Warwick Farm ten days ago. Needs the mile now so worth another chance. PHAROAHZANO (12) has been close at his last couple and looks a strong each-way bet with just 53kgs after the claim.
RACE 3 - AKAYSHA (2) defeated the subsequent Group 3 winner Beadman on debut two back then ran on nicely but just missed over this distance at Randwick last start. That form is good enough to win a race like this. Snowden stablemate MISS FREELOVE (3) led from the outset and could not have been more impressive over today's distance at Canterbury last time out. Not likely to get things her own way this time but from gate one can box-seat and give this a mighty shake. STARDOM (6) jumped straight to the front and dominated over 1200m at Wagga recently. Easily accounted for by Akaysha on debut two back but has improved. Will give them something to catch. The speedy RAINBOW GLOW (5) is in the mix first-up from a spell on the back of a couple of nice recent trials.
RACE 4 - Victorian mare SPARKLING (2) showed pace then battled on fairly to finish fourth when resuming over 1200m at Randwick last time out. Goes well with that run under the belt. Has the visitor's draw which makes it tough but with luck she is good enough. INVADER ZIM (6) warmed up late but never threatened when resuming over 1200m at Randwick last start. Won two of three when second-up so he is right in this. OH DIAMOND LIL (5) resumes. Took all before her last prep. Trialling in dashing style so she looks set to pick up where she left off. BLAZING HARRY (1) ended last campaign on a good note and ticks a few boxes today. Can be in the finish.
RACE 5 - Incredibly tough race. CORMAC T (18) looks good value following his nice return behind Our Empress Zoe over 1550m at Canterbury last start. Suited by this extra trip and he usually improves with that run under his belt. Honest gelding who will give a sight at double-figure odds. OUR EMPRESS ZOE (15) led for home and held on comfortably last start over 1550m at Canterbury. Will handle the extra distance and gets some weight relief. Must be respected. RISE TO IT (7) is better placed today than his first-up run and is a silly price in early markets. GOOD BANTER (14) was solid first-up at Randwick and had some support there. she's a second-up winner in the past and won't be far away in an open race.
RACE 6 - Genuine three-year-old ZEALOUSLY (6) raced wide without cover and did a good job to hang on for third behind Miss Icelandic last start over 1000m at Randwick. Meets that mare 2kgs better today and should enjoy a lovely run in transit behind a hot tempo. Looks ready to win at the third run back. SHARP SHOCK (12) is back in trip after failing in the 1400m Tamworth Cup recently. Loves this track and trip - just needs luck from a wide draw to run a big race at huge odds. PASSEGGIATA (16) led and just failed to hold out Miss Icelandic when resuming at Randwick last time. Goes well second-up so she should be hard to reel in again. SPANISH FOX (2) did a reasonable job first-up on a heavy Hawkesbury circuit. Knows how to win so the early price is generous.
RACE 7 - SOFT LOVE (6) settled well back after a slow start then quickened impressively to win her third race from three starts over 1200m at Caulfield six weeks ago. Has trialled twice since to keep her up to the mark. Good enough to take this next step. THAMES (12) is racing well but a win this prep has been elusive. Did her best work late to grab second over 1200m at Mornington last time out. Back in trip but the bigger track suits her pattern. Looms as the main danger. WAVE BREAKER (10) raced wide but kept coming and just missed a first-up win over this distance at Warwick Farm recently. Group 3 placed behind Lady Of Camelot as a two-year-old. Has the class to play a big role. DUCK EGG BLUE (11) hasn't put in a poor run this prep. This is probably short of her best trip at this stage of the campaign but on a seven-day back-up she is worth a small investment at juicy odds. Last start Canterbury winner PHOTOGRAPH (5) will improve off that run and is in the mix.
RACE 8 - PISANELLO (6) returned to form with a powerhouse win over this distance at Canterbury last start, coming from well back in the turn to beat a handy field. Just missed at Group Three level in March so he has the class to win, although a wide draw dampens the enthusiasm a tad. OSTRAKA (1) is racing handy but not quite finishing his races off over 1200m of late, most recently in the Takeover Target last Saturday. Like him coming back in trip and Nash aboard doesn't hurt either. Likely improver. RENOSU (9) raced on the pace and was beaten under a length by Pisanello when resuming at Canterbury last time out. Always improves second-up. Drops a massive 6.5kgs so he looks a big chance to turn the tables on his stablemate. BALLROOM BELLA (12) worked hard to lead from a wide alley then dropped out last start over 1200m at Randwick. Knockout chance back to 1100m from an inside gate. Wagga Town Plate winner COMPELLING TRUTH (3) is flying and cannot be underestimated.
RACE 9 - WRITTEN IN CODE (9) lined up in Group Three company for the first time last start and caught the eye late in the 1300m Hawkesbury Guineas, just missing the placings. Rock hard fit and the extra 100m on a roomier track helps. Ready to put some black-type to her name. ZEITUNG (15) has raced well in stakes grade all prep, the latest offering a closing third in the Hawkesbury Guineas. Drops 3kgs under today's scale and is better suited on a track like this. Needs luck from a wide draw but is good enough to win. ANAHITA (16) turned in just an even effort first-up in the Hawkesbury Crown over 1300m. Gets a soft run from the inside stall and with that run under her belt should be highly competitive. DARK GLITTER (13) ran on well to finish just behind Written In Code and Zeitung at Hawkesbury. Hasn't been all that far off them in her last few. Each-way proposition. WATCH MY GIRL (10) resumes. Beaten two lengths in the Group Two Millie Fox first-up last prep. Must be respected.
RACE 10 - GALLANT STAR (16) was a shade disappointing in the Country Championship final but bounced back with a close second over 1400m at Hawkesbury a fortnight ago. Tackling a stakes race for the first time but on the limit he looks the one to beat. THE INSTRUCTOR (9) won the Listed Hareeba at Mornington before a close third in the Wagga Town Plate last time out. Will need to work from a wide draw but with even luck should be right there at the finish. PHEARSON (8) didn't have the best of luck in last Saturday's Takeover Target at Gosford. Fitter for two runs back from a spell and this is his optimum trip. GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS (3) ran his best race since arriving from Ireland in the Hall Mark four weeks ago. Can go on with it now.
