Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - Sydney-trained SIR MAURICE (2) wins this at best and will have benefitted from the first-up placing at Queanbeyan. His provincial form reads well and he can go on with it now. Gary Portelli trained a double here at the last meeting and this fellow can add to the record. Stablemate BUBBLE TEA (7) found the $1.45 favourite Weeping Woman 8L too good here on debut but covered the others. She's sure to have come on and can sit handier today. SOOBY ROSE (5) resumed at the Sapphire Coast in solid order. Krogh is a positive jockey switch replacing the 3kg apprentice. She a hope with the extra fitness. VELLA ICON (6) missed a whisker here three back but her efforts at the track since have been less convincing. Draws well and no surprise to see her back in the finish. FLASHY ICON (1) resumes and showed enough on debut to keep safe.
RACE 2 - MAIKROW (2) is in a sharp Sydney yard that's been targeting this venue with success. He's trialled well in town for his return and was last seen beaten 3L in an Open 2 at Warwick Farm. He will be naturally improved and the in-form Heywood is a key jockey booking. CHAMP DE MARS (1) has the more immediate form and fitness and is a danger. Races forward and was beaten a whisker here a month ago. Taylor stays aboard and will give her every chance from an inside barrier. ROWDY SHEBANG (5) resumes and owns a Corowa trial win. The speedy galloper will use the rail and Martin is a positive jockey booking. She's up to this at best. PRAIRIE LEGEND (7) has switched from a Victorian yard on a 39-day return. He's good enough but has been down on form.
RACE 3 - Tricky. DON'T THINKABOUTIT (6) won here this grade and then came back and was caught wide starting a $5 favourite. Keeps the handy 3kg claim and he can bounce back with a touch more luck. KHALEEJ (8) just missed at Nowra and Albury and he placed at the latter following on a heavy track. Peaks today and rates a winning chance. CHAMPAGNE IN LACE (1) likes to run along and failed to hang on for a place on the Ballarat synthetic 24 days ago. That was ambitious and she's better placed back home. Flies around the circuit and the 1.5kg claim is handy. The awkward barrier is a niggle. HERMOSA ROSA (5) has been hard to catch but has won fresh-up and Penza's booking interests. Brings soft trials from Warwick Farm and draws to advantage. Keep safe.
RACE 4 - Tough. BURGUNDY GIRL (8) races favourite and missed a whisker this track/trip 14 days ago behind Tip Top Timing at 65 level. She has a soft gate and keeps the handy 3kg claim. She has weight relief and deserves to break back for the premier local yard. Sydney-trained AUTUNNO (7) had been racing over a mile in metropolitan and provincial company. He maps for a soft run and Martin is a positive jockey booking. He's on a quick back-up and can win at best. SHAFTY (5) made good late ground in the Burgundy Girl race and peaks with more to give. Has a 1.5kg today and flies at the track. Has claims at a price. CYBORG (3) was outgraded at Forbes coming back to the mile. The two efforts prior read pretty well and he's on a quick backup.
RACE 5 - ZAZEL (4) won a CL2 here first-up and then narrowly missed the hat-trick at Moruya last start in stronger than this. She will carry just 1.5kg more after the claim but she will need a good ride from the awkward barrier. SINGLE ATTRACTION (5) resumed in a CL1 at Gundagai and won by a space. She raced at Grafton following and didn't get into it mucking the start. She will be fitter and is better suited today. Maps well and winning rider Krogh is reunited. BREAKING GROUND (3) has Gold Coast synthetic form that's good enough and he should be ready to show more for the Nisbet barn. Raced forward but ungenerously over 1750m here last time and can go better coming back to a sprint. FERRARI GIRL (2) is a leader who flies at the track. Has to be considered.
RACE 6 - CHOP THE ICE (9) is a course specialist coming off an 8L demolition job here in a CL2 over this distance. His rating stacks right up and he tumbles 5kg in weight. Will likely race forward again and can go on with the job. PROPHET'S PRIDE (5) has been going well in stronger races in town. Has a handy 1.5kg claim and she will use an inside barrier. Peaks today and is a live chance. CHARLEMAGNE (4) resumes for the Seib yard and is up to this at best. He's proven fresh and has trialled here in preparation. Loves this trip and will come late. READY TO HUMBLE (1) is back in grade and better than the immediate form suggests. Owen will run him along from the rails gate and he can also give a sight at a price.
RACE 7 - BLIND DATE (10) peaks off two threatening efforts at the track. She settles back but we know she will run the trip right out. She's the one to beat with average luck in the run. CRAFT (1) is knocking on the door and the extra metres shouldn't bother. He's likely to take a sit today and rates well enough to fight out the finish. FIREALARM (2) beat Blind Date by a whisker here 14 days ago. He carries 4kg more but keeps improving and he's a chance. SKEPTICISM (7) made up a stack of ground placing here last time and should appreciate the step up in distance. This is harder but she will be fitter and deserves consideration at juicy odds. ROCKY THINKS SO (8) resumed for the new barn in solid order. He may need another but has Victorian provincial form would see him very competitive.
