Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - There are some well-related gallopers amongst these babies. LOCKYER (1) (half to G2 winner Strasbourg) was well supported here on debut but just ran into one better. Will have taken a stack of benefit from that day at the races and where there's smoke there's fire. Looks very hard to toss. FORMULA ROSSA (9) (half to Listed winner and G1 placed Hypothetical) wasn't too far away when facing the starter for the first time and the extra furlong here should suit. Serious threat. MORTAL HALO (4) (full to G1 winner Port Lockroy) has shown ability at the trials and any push in betting should be noted. COOL ARCHIE (3) wasn't disgraced at Doomben and has since been given time to furnish. In the mix. MR DEMOCRAT (5) next in line from the Bruce barn.
RACE 2 - EL PENSADOR (8) absolutely savaged the line at Doomben last time out over the mile journey and the extra furlong here should be ideal. Jockey Wilson-Taylor is yet to miss a place in three steers and looks the galloper in this field with the most upside. Goes on top. LUDOVISI (6) doesn't win out of turn but is usually thereabouts and will be rock-hard fit for this. Among the leading contenders. READY AZZ EVA (4) is a two-time winner around this circuit and must be respected from the Heathcote camp. Top three hope on best. MISS CHENERY (7) has been in a rich vein of form this campaign and must be included from the low draw. JEALOUS (11) next in line.
RACE 3 - Looks a wide-open affair for the stayers. CORMAC T (9) has just run into one better at the past couple of NSW outings but looks to be building up to another victory. Drawn to get across easily from gate four and should give backers a sight up on speed. UP AND UNDER (1) returned to a semblance of form at Doomben last time out and is drawn to get all the favours for Maloney from the inside marble. Respect from the Waller barn. OLD SONG (7) bounced back to the winners' stall at the latest effort and gets in well at the weights with the 1.5kg claim. In the mix. SIMPLY REFUSE (10) best of the rest in a race with a stack of hopes.
RACE 4 - The well-related TEN TRINITY SQUARE (14) (full to 2xG2 winner Pure Elation) hasn't put a hoof wrong stringing three wins together on the bounce to start his career and has earned his shot in town now. Racing with a lot of confidence and can go right on with the job. END ASSEMBLY (8) is a consistent conveyance who has hit the top-four in all four starts this campaign including placing over this course and distance two back. Draws low, gets in light with the claim and can play a prominent role in the finish. BEWS (7) has been right there in both starts since joining the new stable and strips fitter third-up from the break. Top-three candidate. BLUE SPINEL (9) grows a leg for Jones who has four wins and two placings from ten rides. Can run a big race while fresh. NED'S GULLY (2) is two from three over this track and trip and cannot be discounted.
RACE 5 - The $160,000 Listed Just Now. CIGAR FLICK (3) has been just behind the placegetters in both Group 3 runs this campaign and should find this assignment a touch easier. Ready to peak now third-up from the spell and has drawn to get a cosy run in transit from gate four. Rates the testing material. DANNY'S ST DARCI (1) has been plying his trade in the same company and will be rock-hard fit for this. Leading hope in this contest. TRIFLING (7) is a two-time winner around this circuit and has revved up for this with a recent Gold Coast trial placing. A return to form would not surprise. RAPT (8) is first-up here but the form she showed when last in work was good enough to feature in race like this. Keep safe while fresh. BURNING BELL (5) is a bit hit or miss but can play a role if she brings her A-game.
RACE 6 - The $160,000 Listed Tails Stakes. BETTCHA THE CROWN (4) has hit a purple patch of form this time in with a close-up second at Doomben when resuming before going bang bang there at the past couple. Collett has been in the irons for all three of those performances and sticks solid. Expecting another bold showing. I AM ARTIE (5) has won six of seven this preparation and is racing in career-best form. Orman is yet to taste defeat in five rides and should be going very close again. The well-related JUNIPAL (1) (half to 2xG1 winner Palentino) was a touch plain last start but the two wins prior were full of merit. Worth another chance. INVER PARK (3) is a last-start winner who shouldn't be underestimated from the favourable draw. ENCODER (9) next best from the Freedman stable.
RACE 7 - The $300,000 Gateway. TRANSATLANTIC (2) absolutely smashed them on the Sunny Coast at the latest effort and will have taken a bunch of confidence from that dominant victory. Winning hoop Jones stays in the stirrups and should get all the favours from the inside alley. Right in this. BLAZING HARRY (9) has been in the mix in all six starts to date and should find this a touch easier than what he has been facing down south. Yet to put in a poor one and is a genuine top-three conveyance. The well-related TORABELLA (13) (half to 5xG1 winner Shoot Out) has put two wins together on the bounce and it's hard to ignore mares in form. Should give backers a sight. MISTER BIANCO (15) strips fitter second-up from the spell and can feature with a snug run from the low draw.
RACE 8 - The $160,000 Listed Bribie Handicap. HARD TO SAY (3) just missed the placings in the Keith Noud at the latest effort and prior to that was only five lengths behind Overpass, the conqueror of the west. Has a win and two placings from four attempts over this track and trip and should be ready to peak now fourth-up from the spell. Likely to measure up. ZARASTRO (2) is first-up here but won at Group 3 level when last in work and has saluted when fresh before. Tuned up for this with a dominant Doomben trial victory and should be right there at the business end. ROTHFIRE (1) is a six-time winner around this circuit and has a bit of class on these. Definite top-three contender while fresh. GOLDEN BOOM (7) will have derived a stack of benefit from that first-up hit-out and doesn't know how to run a bad race. Has to be included in calculations. SHALAA'S MOMENT (11) next best from the inside marble.
RACE 9 - GIVE ME SPACE (2) hails from a handy family (half to G3 winner Extra Time) and has hit his straps this time in with two wins and a placing from just three outings. Is one from one around this circuit and gun hoop Orman stays on top. Should prove very tough to hold out. The penny has dropped for SUPERHERO (4) who has been very competitive in NSW contests of late and gets the services of Maloney to navigate from the sticky alley. Shapes as a key contender. I'M HEROIC (7) is yet to miss a drum in three attempts at the trip and will be high on confidence following the last-start victory. Top-three credentials. ESTRONDO (3) is usually thereabouts and is a must for the multiples. THUNDERING SOUL (6) rounds out the selections in a race with only a handful of chances.
RACE 10 - Open affair to close out the card. Former NSW galloper TAVS (16) has been right there in both runs since joining the new stable and appears to be working up to another victory. Saves his best form for this seven-furlong journey and only needs some luck from the awkward draw to be right in the thick of things again. The speedy BULLION BOY (2) is an honest campaigner who has hit the top-five at his past nine outings and rarely runs a bad race. Gets 2kg weight relief with the claim and looms as a serious threat. MILLWARD (13) has put back-to-back wins together and cannot be forgotten. The well-related RAINBOW CONNECTION (5) (half to 10xG1 Hong Kong winner Golden Sixty) rounds out the selections.
