Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - LADY ICHIKAWA (8) won her maiden two runs back then ran on powerfully to just arrive in time in a Class 1 over 1200m at Newcastle last start. Lightly raced mare who is putting it all together now. Maps nicely behind a strong tempo and with the light weight can easily chalk up the hat trick. MONTE SUPREME (7) went back from a wide alley and was left with too much to do in a Midway over 1200m at Randwick a fortnight ago. Finally draws a decent gate and over this slightly longer trip she poses a genuine threat. DIRECT FIRE (10) just missed when resuming over 1200m at Kembla recently. Awkwardly drawn but strips fitter and should be thereabouts. CONRAD (1) never got out last start at Randwick so forget the result. Ready to find form at the third run back.
RACE 2 - ANGEL FUND (4) clashed with Confess Our Dreams when she resumed over this distance at Warwick Farm 24 days ago. Gave that mare a big start when the field straightened but cut the margin to a neck in an eye-catching performance. Meets her 1kg better, has greater room for improvement, and will enjoy the long run home at Rosehill. CONFESS OUR DREAMS (1) raced handy after an awkward start then just held out Angel Fund at Warwick Farm last time. Building a fine record and will make her own luck up on the speed. The obvious danger. PASSEGGIATA (2) is a talented mare who was out of sorts at Caulfield last start and dropped right out. Back significantly in grade today. Yet to place in three third-up runs which is a concern. MONTE KATE (5) copped a few checks and faded badly at her latest run over 1400m here. Usually reliable so with blinkers on for the first time she deserves another chance. MAD DARCEY (3) impressed at Randwick a fortnight ago and has a fine third-up record.
RACE 3 - Typically wide open Highway. Joe Cleary brings KISSING SUPIDO (7) here off a couple of sound runs at Queanbeyan to launch this campaign. Pressed hard to lead last time from a wide draw and weakened late to finish third over today's trip. Gets a better gate this time and Tommy Berry replaces a 4kg claimer. Nice chance at a price. ATMOSPHERIC ROCK (1) charged home late to finish third in a similar Highway to this at Randwick three runs back. Struggled in better races since then but back in this company he demands respect despite the big weight. MOSGIEL DAISY (13) got the job done first-up in a Class 2 over 1250m at Taree. Yet to encounter a dry track which is the query, but she is building a nice record and should give a good account. STORMY WITNESS (12) didn't do a great deal first-up at Goulburn. Drops 6.5kgs with the claim and is capable of a lot better. GENTILESCHI (5) resumes. Might find this a bit sharp but she is too classy to rule out entirely.
RACE 4 - The regally bred FLEET COMMANDER (2) is racing through his grades nicely. Relished the step up to 2400m last start when he led all the way and easily put away a midweek BM78 field at the Kensington track. This doesn't look all that much harder so with a similar weight he should run them along again and prove tough to catch. ROARING ENGINE (3) brings a better form line to the race, his last start second to Whisky On The Hill over this trip at Caulfield an eye-catching performance at big odds. Fitter for two runs back from a spell and should run another big race. KADAVAR (5) was held up at a vital stage when runner-up to subsequent Saturday winner State Of America over 2140m at Warwick Farm last time. Won at his only try at this trip and drops 4kgs so there is plenty to like. FRETTA (11) was good behind a handy type last time. Each-way chance at nice odds.
RACE 5 - UNIQUE AMBITION (4) led the Angst Stakes field on straightening last start over the Randwick mile and refused to lie down, eventually finishing just 1.4 lengths behind the smart Lekvarte. Nicely placed up to this trip third-up. Maps to stalk the pace and will be hard to hold out. NAVAL COMMISSION (3) did a great job first-up under 62kgs at Warwick Farm, driving late but just missing in a BM72 over 1400m. Best form last prep came at today's distance and further. Not raced for 33 days but trust the Maher stable to have him right. MODESTY (9) was just fair through the line on his Australian debut recently, his first outing in 13 months. Untried beyond a mile but is lightly raced and has the Waller/Moreira factor. Last start Moonee Valley winner MORRYL MORAL (5) is up in grade and back in trip but cannot be underestimated out of the Maher stable.
RACE 6 - Going with the form from early juvenile features over a strong contingent of unraced runners. NORTH ENGLAND (2) led the Breeders field for home and looked like holding on only to be bloused by King Kirk in the dying stages. Subsequent trial winner so should be well-equipped to get the extra 100m today. O' OLE (6) overcame a wide gate and shared the lead in the Gimcrack. Looked a chance on the rise but was no match for the smart Bel Merci. Won a trial eight days ago to keep her ticking over. Big danger from a better draw today. GAEILGE (1) led until Comedy grabbed him in the last few strides in the Kirkham at Randwick a fortnight ago. Suspect that form is a length or two off the top pair, but still worth plenty of thought. TUPAKARA (9) overcame a mid-race check to work home into fourth in the Gimcrack. Gives the impression the extra 100m will suit. ICARIAN DREAM (7) scored a dogged debut win at Warwick Farm on 16 October. Each-way chance against a deeper field.
RACE 7 - Very good renewal. OLENTIA (3) wasn't the best away in the Invitation won by Belclare over this distance at Randwick last start but did a good job to work home and finish fourth. Meets the winner worse under this scale but with better luck in running she can turn the tables. The class runner is MAGIC TIME (2) who chased hard but couldn't reel in Belclare last time at the second run of her campaign. Won the Group One All Aged at her third-up run in the Autumn which is an outstanding form reference. A wide gate is the only knock. BELCLARE (1) led and caused a boil over in the Invitation at Randwick a fortnight ago. Goes from $26 that day to $3 here which is a little knee-jerk as she might not get things her own way up front. Still one of the hardest to beat. ARCTIC GLAMOUR (5) was caught on a limb in the Invitation so her failure was forgivable. Draws in close today and her best form is good enough. MISS HELLFIRE (8) flies second-up so she is a likely improver out of the inside alley.
RACE 8 - Quality edition of this race. ATTRITION (1) took a while to find form but it came last start when he dug deep under siege to hold out Kovalica in the 1900m Hill Stakes at this track. That was his first try beyond a mile and he lapped it up. The one to beat again. Derby winner MAJOR BEEL (15) is being kept to shorter trips this prep. Ran a cheeky race in the Chelmsford won by Fangirl three back but has since struggled in the two elite mile races at Randwick. Back a level today and if Tim Clark can control things he might be tough to catch at a big price. LINDERMANN (3) is in the mix after he dug deep to just get home in the 1800m Craven Plate at Randwick last start. Still has room to improve at the third run back from a spell. TERRITORY EXPRESS (11) is back in fine shape and will be storming home.
RACE 9 - FIRE STAR (6) stalked the pace then kicked away for an easy win last start in a BM78 over this distance at Warwick Farm. Needs to take another step forward today but his numbers suggest he is up to the task. MIDNIGHT OPAL (9) resumed in the same race as Fire Star at the Farm 24 days ago but was never in the hunt after getting well back then running into traffic in the straight. Beaten just 2.5 lengths by Brave Mead at Listed level at this stage last prep so he can play a big part in this. IRON MAN (3) started favourite but gave away too much start and just failed to peg back the in-form Spanish Fox over 1300m here last Saturday. Back in trip for the second consecutive start is the query, but he always races well here. STROMBOLI (4) was just fair behind Pharari over 1100m here four weeks ago. Best form comes at this trip and he draws a decent gate for a change so could be the big improver. MARS MISSION (8) has been poor this prep but a switch north might do the trick.
RACE 10 - ROCK EMPIRE (1) has been freshened up since a dogged win over the mile at Warwick Farm back on 25 September. Gai and Adrian might have a summer target for this promising four-year-old, hence the let-up. Will roll forward and give a great sight. Dual Group 3 placegetter FRENCH ENDEAVOUR (3) is racing well at the midweeks this prep. Charged late but just failed to pick up Need Some Luck over this distance at Warwick Farm last start. Meets him 4.5kgs better after the claim and the longer run home here suits. RAPBIDASH (12) was hard to miss last time out when she came from near the tail of a big field to be beaten 1.1 lengths by subsequent Saturday winner Spanish Fox. Ready to peak third-up over a slightly longer journey. Genuine gelding NEED SOME LUCK (6) scrambled home over this trip at the Farm recently, his first try at seven furlongs. Not that well in today but hard to dismiss. CHICA MOJITO (2) has form around some in-form and classy types, so she is right in contention.