Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - Tricky race to kick off the card with a few of these at the races for the first time. Of the raced brigade LEVERAGED BUYOUT (7) wasn't too far off a pretty smart one at Newcastle on debut and is sure to have derived a stack of benefit from that race day experience. Rates the testing material. SOLIDUDE (9) has hit the top-four in all three starts to date and looks to be knocking on the door of a maiden victory. Top-three candidate. MEET GEORGE (3) has placed in both outings this preparation and will be ready for the step-up in trip now. In the mix. NOTTINGTON PRINCE (1) is the most experienced runner in the field and can feature from the favourable draw. ARTISTIC ENDEAVOUR (2) best of the rest.
RACE 2 - KHOR (5) has been plying his trade in metropolitan Melbourne contests and will find this assignment much more to his liking. Gets the services of Maloney in the irons to navigate from the wide draw and a return to the winners' stall would not surprise. AKROTIRI (3) returned in fine fashion with a strong Eagle Farm victory and Fenlon stays in the saddle. Again gets the benefit of her 2kg claim and should be right there at the business end. BESTOWER (9) finished runner-up over this track and trip last time out and is drawn to get a soft run in transit from gate three. Should be hitting the line with gusto. Former Victorian FULL OF SINCERITY (2) has been right there in both runs since joining the new stable and cannot be left out of calculations. THE IRISH (11) next in line from the Freedman barn.
RACE 3 - The feature race on the card, the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic. PRINCE TYCOON (2) commenced the career in good order with a strong Caulfield win and is sure to have derived a bunch of confidence from that first-up victory. Gets gun hoop Shinn on board to handle the sticky draw and should be right there when the whips are cracking. DRAGONNE ROUGE (6) hasn't put a hoof wrong stringing three wins together on the bounce and it's hard to knock fillies in form. Can continue the picket fence. SISSTAINABLE (10) got the job done over this sprint journey last time out and will be at peak fitness for this. Top-three credentials. AMOSU (5) was a touch disappointing when resuming but go on the solid victory over this course and distance on debut. Worth another chance.
RACE 4 - SAN JOSE BOY (3) is a model of consistency who has hit the top-five in eight of nine starts to date and is one from one over this track and trip. Gets the services of Thornton in the saddle and another solid performance is expected. THINK LIKE PADDY (5) got the maiden out of the way last time out and can go right on with the job now. Shapes as one to consider. DUBAWI'S GIRL (11) gets in well at the weights with the claim and is drawn to get across easily from gate three. In the mix. SAVANNAH GANGSTER (1) is a last-start winner who shouldn't be slept on. Include in mutliples. THAT'S YOU (10) best of the rest.
RACE 5 - Victorian raider ALECTRONA (8) loves this seven-furlong journey with two wins and four placings from eight attempts and should find this easier than what she has been facing down south. Is yet to miss a drum in four first-up attempts and a strong showing while fresh would not shock. MISS BUSSLINGER (16) hasn't been too far away in Listed company of late and will appreciate the drop back in grade here. Rates a genuine top-three commodity. FRENCH ENDEAVOUR (10) has been just behind the placings in both runs since joining the new stable and will be rock-hard fit for this. In the mix. The well-related PASIMA (6) (half to G3 winner and G2 placed Inkaruna) has placed four from four over this trip and is drawn to get all the favours from the inside alley. Sure to make his presence felt. SCUD (4) has hit the top two in all four runs around this circuit and shouldn't be underestimated.
RACE 6 - NORTH OF ELI (11) returned in fine fashion with a handy second at Ipswich and has saluted when second-up before. Ready to find his best form now. MISTER BIANCO (7) has placed two from three over this journey and draws perfectly for Rodd in gate two. Definite top-three prospect. PROVANCE (13) is having his first run for the new stable and gets 2kg off with the claim. Any market confidence must be noted. HELLCIBELL (9) has been a touch flat at the past couple but the form prior was full of merit. Worth another chance. CASROCK (12) goes well for hoop Graham who has three wins and six placings from 15 steers. In the mix.
RACE 7 - ACTION KING (2) loves this sprint journey with three wins and three placings from just six attempts and will strip fitter third-up from the spell. Has his share of ability and looks very hard to toss in this suitable contest. ENTERPRISE LUCIA (7) has placed around this circuit, draws the inside marble and gets 2kg off with the claim. Ticks plenty of boxes. TALTARNI FIELDS (5) resumes here but is yet to miss the top two in three first-up efforts. Can run another big race while fresh. ARISPHERE (8) gets the reliable Gollan/Jones combination and shouldn't be ignored. CHAKRA BOY (1) grows a leg for hoop Stanley who has four wins and five placings from just 11 steers. Include in calculations.
RACE 8 - FIRST MAN (2) is unlucky to still be a maiden finishing runner-up in all three runs this preparation and strikes a winnable contest here. Drawn perfectly for Rodd in gate four and should be going very close to shedding the maiden tag. MISS HIGHFALUTIN (10) has hit the top-five in all four career outings to date and is yet to put in a poor one. Respect from the Gollan yard. BOROGORU (8) has placed one from one over this course and distance and gets Maloney back on top. Top-three contender. NATIONAL INTEREST (17) has placed five from seven over this journey and is usually thereabouts. One for the exotics players. SUGAR ISLAND (22) next in line.
