Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - The stayers kick us off. MAD ANA (11) broke the maiden status at the latest effort and is sure to have derived a stack of confidence from that victory. Winning hoop Lerena sticks in the irons and can go back-to-back against this lot. KENSHIN MARU (5) just ran into one better at Ipswich at the most recent outing and gets some weight relief with the 2kg claim. Looms as a genuine threat. GLENRAY'S MATE (2) is drawn to get all the favours from the inside alley and will be rock-hard fit for this. In the mix. GREEN MEADOWS (9) gets Wheeler in the saddle and can give backers a sight. SMELTER (12) has gotten better with each run this time in and may earn a cheque.
RACE 2 - SAMMAAN CITY (5) hasn't been too far off them in metropolitan outings of late and will appreciate the sharp drop back in grade here. Will be at peak fitness fourth-up, draws low and hails from an astute barn. Ticks plenty of boxes. ALMALIKAT SARAH (11) just missed the placings at Grafton when facing the starter for the first time and will have taken a bunch of benefit from that race day experience. Gets in well at the weights with the claim and looms as the main danger. PEAK MISS (9) must be respected from the Freedman camp and only needs some luck navigating from the wide draw to play a role in the finish. WILL IT SNOW (7) next in line.
RACE 3 - RISK FOR REWARD (1) resumes here but the form he showed before the spell was good enough to feature in a race like this. Has placed four of six over this distance range and has revved up for this with two recent trials. Rates the testing material. BARBIE STAR (11) put in a career-best performance first-up and may have turned the corner now. Capable of further improvement. SEKI (6) strips fitter second-up from the spell and gets some weight off with the claim. Keep safe from the Dunn yard. The well-bred GRUNT 'N' GROAN (4) (out of a G3 winner) is on debut but any betting confidence must be respected.
RACE 4 - BERRY FOXIE (4) resumes here but had been plying her trade in harder contests when last in work and has tuned up for this with a recent trial placing here. A strong showing while fresh would not surprise. LIETUVA (3) was a touch disappointing last time out but go on the solid runner-up finish behind a pretty smart one the start prior. Draws the inside marble and can bounce right back to form against this lot. GIDDAY GIDDAY (9) grows a leg for hoop Lenton who has two wins and two placings from just four steers. Hard to knock mares in form. MISS ZERMATT (6) has hit a purple patch of form hitting the frame in seven of eight starts this preparation. Can feature again. NAILS AND PRIDE (2) rounds out the selections.
RACE 5 - QUEST OF QUESTS (9) got the job done at Warwick two back before hitting the frame at the Gold Coast at the latest effort. Drawn perfectly in gate two and can make his presence felt again. MANHATTAN DRESS (14) shed the maiden tag in impressive fashion last start and is sure to have taken some confidence from that dominant victory. Can go right on with the job now. ALLHALLOWTIDE (2) will find this easier than recent metropolitan efforts and looks a genuine top-three candidate on best form. ARCHERS REIGN (3) next in line while fresh.
RACE 6 - DESERT LEGEND (6) is racing in a rich vein of form of late with a win and three placings from his past four starts with all of those efforts coming over this distance range. Drawn to get a cosy run in transit from gate two and should be right there at the business end again. Former NSW galloper SHALMUM (14) is having her first run for the new stable but should find this easier than what she faced down south. Gets in well at the weights with the claim and can run a big race while fresh. PRETTY RHO (9) has been thereabouts of late and must be included from the favourable draw. AIMA SUN (12) is one from one when Lerena is on board and may earn another cheque.
RACE 7 - KAREEM (8) was a touch plain at the latest effort but the form prior was good enough for a race like this. Is one from one over this track and trip and gets plenty of weight relief with the 3kg claim. Should be right there when the judge calls a halt. The well-related BADGERS NUTS (2) (half to G3 winner and 2xG2 placed Bass Strait) loves this circuit with three wins and two placings from just six spins and is racing with a lot of confidence of late. Has to be included in calculations. TYNDRUM GOLD (4) is a bit hit or miss but will find this assignment easier than recent outings. Top-three contender on best form. Stablemate FLASHING STEEL (3) has been racing exclusively in town and is sure to appreciate the drop back in grade here. Watch for sharp improvement. THE CATCH (1) is a four-time winner over this trip, draws low and gets 2kg off. Ticks a few boxes.
RACE 8 - AMBASSADORS (1) has placed three of his past four starts this preparation and looks to be knocking on the door of another victory. Is a two-time winner over this mile journey and must be respected from the Bruce yard. Looks very hard to toss. YALLA (3) is a last-start winner who draws the inside alley and gets 3kg off with the claim. Plenty to like about her chances. Former NSW galloper CANADIAN EXPRESS (2) has been impressive in both runs since joining the new stable and is drawn to get a gun run from gate two. Cannot be underestimated. FRIEND IN NEED (4) will be at peak fitness now fourth-up from the break and may earn some minor money. SPILLS (9) gets in light with the claim and is best of the rest.
