Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - The Matt Smith-trained ICEBREAKER (3) seeks the hat-trick off comfortable wins here with the latest this grade/trip. Carries more weight, but fitter rates to go on with the job. Stablemate NOBLE ONE (7) showed better form placing at Muswellbrook and he delivered his Maiden at his only start this track. Has his first try over a mile and is likely to go well. FERRARI MAN (6) draws inside and will run them along. Drops back to the mile and always puts in. Hard to catch. VICTORY AT OMAHA (1) is third-up and has a handy 3kg claim. His best would see him in the finish and he should be ready to show more.
RACE 2 - WAVERLEY (2) placed three times including in town before finding the 72 a stretch too far at Rosehill. Carries a lot more weight today but tumbles in grade and can get back on track. MY GREEK GOD (6) peaks and is another decent chance for the Matt Smith yard. He's still a Maiden but rates well on the Canterbury effort last time and the middle distance will suit. Maps well and has the first-time blinkers applied. SOUL TAKER (4) peaks and has been within range x3 over a mile. Draws to advantage and is well in the mix. ROBRAN (1) for the trifectas and first fours.
RACE 3 - Competitive. MISSY NO NAY (1) is a leader who showed more like her best placing at Gundagai. Draws to advantage and the in-form JVO stays aboard. Has been kept on the fresh side and fourth-up will take catching. BLUE BAYOU (6) settled back in the same contest and made ground. She has more to give and has the first-time blinkers applied. Maps well and a handy 2kg claimer goes aboard. MAGIC FOREST (7) resumed with a tidy Maiden win at Dubbo and then was disappointing heavily at Goulburn on a heavy track. She has upside and will present fitter on a better surface. Collett sticking aboard is a positive and she's worth another chance. LOVE BY STRAAND (8) drops back to a shorter sprint freshened. Won her Maiden at Queanbeyan as expected and that effort stacks up.
RACE 4 - CASH AND CARDS (4) resumes today for a top Sydney stable and has trialled sharply at Randwick. He missed a nose at Newcastle on debut and was spelled after a luckless run in a strong form race at Canterbury. The colt draws to advantage with Collett up and will be naturally improved. WEBEJAMIN (11) resumes and was beaten a nose at Kembla Grange when last seen. She's also trialled well and placed her only fresh outing. JVO rides suggesting she's pleasing. ORACLE OF OMAHA (6) is third-up and can show more for the sharp Neasham-Archibald yard. The longer sprint should suit. SHADDAP (8) debuts and brings trial placings from Hawkesbury and Randwick. Jumps from an insider gate and should be around the mark.
RACE 5 - CHARLEMAGNE (1) was beaten a nose at Orange and then lifted his figures again winning impressively here this grade over 1200m. Draws awkwardly again but arrives on a 7-day return and with average luck can repeat the dose. PROPHET'S PRIDE (2) led and was just caught here by Charlemagne. She has a 3kg claimer aboard today and is sure to give a sight. The Olive-trained pair EPAULLO CREED (4) and MISS STALWART (10) are both going well enough to consider. The former will likely lead and the latter has a key jockey switch to Penza. ASTUNNER (6) is third up and the local will get every chance.
RACE 6 - Neasham-Archibald-trained RAMPAZETTO (1) has been racing in stronger and has been unlucky not to have broken through. He resumed over 1300m with a tidy effort at Hawkesbury and will be much sharper today. A senior rider goes on and this is winnable with average luck. BUCKENARA (3) is also Sydney-trained and was spelled off a solid effort at Newcastle in an Open 2. He has been fitted out with three trials and placed in the latest at Canterbury. Will be naturally improved and kicking off over 1400m isn't an issue. MAL COUPE (7) led and improved sharply when beaten 1.4L at Hawkesbury surprising the market. He draws handy above and will be in the finish holding the form. SPURLINE (12) and MY SHALOM (14) are both going well enough to consider.
RACE 7 - Tough.TEETOTAL (3) was quickly at his best finding one better in a 64 at Wodonga from the front. Ward sticks aboard and will push forward. Drops back a couple of levels in grade and fitter is sure to give a sight. LORD FINLAND (6) resumes for the Pepper yard and Heywood's booking suggests he's pleasing. Has pieces of form that would see him in the finish. BREAKAWAY WEEK (7) missed a whisker here 7 days ago in a return to form. Keeps the 2kg claim and maps for the run of the race. She has to be considered. LOVE OF AIR (9) is third up off a solid effort at Rosehill. Has the rail and will get every chance to run out the longer sprint.
