Race-by-race preview and tips for Friday’s meeting at Goulburn
By Neil Evans
Track heavy 8 and rail out 7m.
Race 1 - MAIDEN HCP (1000m)
Randwick-based filly 1. Cellina Di Nardo returns for the Waterhouse-Bott yard 27 weeks after going under on debut as a heavily backed hot favourite at Nowra. Been given plenty of time, and strong through the line in two progressive city trials up to 1050m. Looks primed, and already shown an ability to handle rain-affected ground.
Racing returns to Goulburn on Friday for an eight-race meeting.Credit: AFR
Dangers: Well-bred city filly 4. Are Ee Que has scored a dominant trial win in soft ground since a fair debut at Newcastle on a heavy 9. Watch the betting too on 2. Mythical Moochi resuming for a second full prep behind two improving trials. Expect sharp improvement second up from lightly raced 3. So Yes It Is, which Is bred to thrive on wet tracks. Local filly 5. Rogue ‘N’ Ready improves into her second start and 9. Rose Gold resumes without the blinkers off two trials head the rest.
How to play it: Cellina Di Nardo to win.
Race 2 - CLASS 1 HCP (900m)
Improving metro filly 3. Yukan Rose is tracking to peak fourth up, staying at the short course and coming back from deeper provincial company. Finished best to win first up at Newcastle in heavy going before two fair closing efforts since. Prefers this ground, and at peak fitness, drawn to stay off the fence where the better going is likely to be.
Dangers: 1. Duke Of Bronte dug in hard from the front to win his maiden comfortably as the hottest of favourites coming off a four-week freshen up. Right at home in the ground, but up to 61kg in a race with a bit more depth, he threatens to go around under the odds. 2. Amigos No More ran home well at big odds resuming in provincial company, while 7. Just Wai, resuming from the inside draw behind two trials, can run into the minor money.
How to play it: Yukan Rose to win.
Race 3 - MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
Home track four-year-old 7. Thoughtful by dual Cox Plate winner So You Think finds an ideal, and weak, affair to launch his career. Was good through the line winning a trial on soft 7 ground two weeks ago, and reportedly been working well.
Dangers: Honest 4. Ken’ker has placed in two from three runs in his first full prep and has enough tactical speed to take up a forward position. 11. Jazz All Knight comes off a 34-week break & has trialled OK at the track, while 3. Dressel returns for a third prep off a quiet trial.
How to play it: Thoughtful to win.
Race 4 - BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2145m)
Not much between a few of these in what will likely be a real battle of tempo and tactics. Progressive home-tracker 5. Victory Roll is primed to make it three wins from four outings this prep. Finished strongly to claim his maiden over a mile at Wagga before close up in provincial company, then powered home for a dominant class 1 win here a fortnight back. Up in weight, but stays at the trip, and shapes as the superior wet-tracker.
Dangers: Like the way 1. Knights Armour is progressing having finished off well third-up in deeper grade, although rises 3.5kg for this. 9. Alpine Kandy flew home from last second-up, and drawn to get a soft run back in the field. 4. Oneforian stepping up sharply in distance, and 6. Ever Was who has been finding the line OK at deeper provincial level, are the best of the rest while 2. Dubai Showgirl is trained on the track, and will relish a drop in class fourth-up.
How to play it: Victory Roll to win.
Race 5 - BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1200m)
Warwick Farm-based 1. Unwritten finds a winnable race fourth up despite being asked to carry 62.5kg coming back from provincial BM64 level. Given 22 days since hitting the line in a smarter race at Wyong, and although hasn’t won for a while, draws to get a soft run with cover back in the field.
Dangers: Improving local filly 7. Super Norwest emerges as the best weighted runner after the jockey’s claim. Reloads off a trial win and four weeks since a tough effort in Saturday Highway company, beaten just over two lengths in heavy going. 2. Best Intent drops down fourth up from tougher metro opposition, and handles all ground. Big market watch on 4. Epaullo Creed, which won three straight last prep at BM58 level, and resumes off two progressive soft track trials. Include 6. Chop The Ice and lightly raced 8. Able Red, resuming off two trials, in trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Unwritten to win.
Race 6 - BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m)
Capable mare 7. Miss Boom Boom can return with a bang in a very moderate sprint. Comes off a near 10-month break in her first run for the new Garry Frazer stable at Hawkesbury. Has been given two improving provincial trials, and the jockey booking is a solid pointer.
Dangers: Tough mare 5. Lethal Lady likes to settle back and attack the line late, and finds her thinnest race in a while, but doubtful the inside draw in these conditions will do her any favours. Improving 6. Penitent is a big watch third-up coming back from provincial opposition, while 1. Pretty Vegas third-up and 3. Dapper Dancer, who is also on the improve, can both run into the money.
How to play it: Miss Boom Boom to win.
Race 7 - MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)
Talented filly 11. Sweet Proposal looms as the one to beat fifth-up from a soft draw. Has run into a place in her last two, the latest as a heavily backed odds-on favourite at Hawkesbury when not suited by the inside draw, and the stablemate coming out was a further pointer.
Dangers: Improving three-year-old 1. Annoint is handily placed third-up over a furlong further after a tough frontrunning effort in deeper provincial company when reloading off a five-week break. 10. Skip A Beat is drawn right off the track, but hard fit fifth-up and coming through some handy form lines, she is capable of running into the finish. 2. Bounty By Knight is tracking to peak fourth-up from the inside gate and getting to the mile, with a stronger jockey taking over. Expecting significant third-up improvement from lightly raced 4. Goodnight Barlow back at country level, while the money will be the best indicator for well-bred three-year-old 5. Sea Strike, who draws wide on debut for a strong Randwick stable behind two very quiet trials.
How to play it: Sweet Proposal to win.
Race 8 - BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1400m)
Progressive three-year-old 4. The Favorite Son can make it two wins from his last three. Surged home from midfield to win a handy Muswellbrook maiden two starts back before reloading off a month-long break and again charging home late to miss by a whisker in a BM58 at Scone. Strong jockey takes over, and in going that he relishes, looms as the clear one to beat.
Dangers: Keep safe 6. Trezzamina, which is trained on the track and led all the way for a dominant third-up win at Moruya after being backed from $2.80 into $2.45. 1. Avonview is a key market watch resuming for a new Canberra stable without publicly trialling, but more than held her own in metro BM72 grade late last year, and was preferred in this to a stronger race earlier in the meeting. Include 2. I’m Not Leaving, second up, 3. Sycamore, resuming off a recent trial, and 9. Super View, third up in referred going, in all trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: The Favorite Son to win.
BEST BETS
Race 6: 7. MISS BOOM BOOM
Race 8: 4. THE FAVORITE SON
BEST VALUE
Race 2: 3. YUKAN ROSE
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au