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*1st Race @ 12.55pm
*ALL races carry a BOBS Silver Bonus Available up to $9625.00; & Race 3 also offers a BOBS Extra Bonus up to $5625.00
*Track improving to Soft 5 & Rail out +3m from WP to 1400m; again from 1000m to 275m; & +1m the Remainder
*RACE 1 @ 12.55pm VALE - BEVAN HILL MAIDEN PLATE (1600m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
A good deep meeting kicks off over the mile. Local four-year-old Fighting Sun gelding 3. SET TO FIGHT (Craig Martin/Ashley Morgan; 59kg) can peak out to this distance third-up for the new stable since switching from Victoria. Held his ground okay in a deeper maiden at Armidale, and gets first use of the inside on a track that should continue to improve.
*MAIN DANGERS: Improving three-year-old and another ex-Victorian 1. Metal Bar is also primed for the distance rise at his fourth start after one run for the new Cessnock yard. Hard to see anything else winning a moderate affair, but included in exotics lightly raced 2. Oakfield Blackhawk who backs up quickly from a far superior form maiden at Scone.
Likely Tempo: Moderate
My Betting Attack: SET TO FIGHT to WIN & Quinella: 1 and 3
READ ALSO:
*RACE 2 @ 1.35pm TAB.COM.AU MAIDEN PLATE (1000m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
Plenty of chances in a tricky sprint at set weights where early positions will be vital. Home track three-year-old gelding 3. SPIRIT OF PLUTO (Luke Morgan/Ms Casey Waddell a2kg; 57kg) only needs to slot in and find some cover from the outside barrier to be in the finish. Hit the line hard at Armidale to just miss at his second start, and is well treated with the claim under the race conditions.
*MAIN DANGERS: Former Victorian Brazen Beau two-year-old 12. Askew has his first run in seven weeks for a new and strong Inverell stable, and a leading country rider booked is a significant pointer. Showed enough in some handy maidens through autumn, and has early pace to take advantage of a low draw. No runner is better placed under the set weight conditions than local three-year-old 1. Cut 'Em Up who will carry only 55kg after the claim returning off a freshen-up. Draws the inside and wouldn't need to improve much on his debut run. Scone filly 6. El' Perrito can bounce back at third start with blinkers on after failing to run on in a stronger maiden when easy in betting. Must include in exotics improving four-year-old local mare 5. Beauty Empress whose debut run was okay given she covered a mountain of ground, and gets a much better draw here.
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My Betting Attack: SPIRIT OF PLUTO to WIN & Trifecta: 1,3,12/1,3,5,6,12/1,3,5,6,12
*RACE 3 @ 2.10pm GREAT NORTHERN BENCHMARK 66 HCP (2100m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
The staying battle does loom as a race-in-three, but shapes beautifully for five-year-old provincial mare 1. FRENCH RESPONSE (Mark Minervini/Liam Blanch a2kg; 58.5kg) who charged home to win a handy BM 58 two runs back before again strong late in a deeper race over further at Muswellbrook. Gets a claim, and can settle back in the pack from a nice draw and finish over the top. Boasts a virtual 50 percent place rate from 27 starts.
*MAIN DANGERS: Taree three-year-old 2. Casirina is hard fit and drawn to get a soft run. Has worked home nicely in his last two through heavy ground, and was making a sharp step up from the mile to this trip last time. Provincial three-year-old filly 5. Lovetheinvasion has been placed in three of four runs this prep when well in the market, and is banging on the door. That said, she's failed to seal the deal over less distance, and must be a little query at the price over this journey. Be a stunned mullet if anything else wins, but include capable three-year-old 3. Chapal if you're playing trifectas and first fours.
Likely Tempo: Fair to Reasonable
My Betting Attack: FRENCH RESPONSE to WIN & Boxed Trifecta: 1,2,5
*RACE 4 @ 2.45pm DUTTON ELECTRICAL MAIDEN HCP (1200m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Local four-year-old gelding 1. TRUMPED UP (Cody Morgan/Jackson Searle a4kg; 55.5kg) can break through at his fifth run this prep, and end a frustrating wait that's seen him placed nine times from 16 starts, mainly for a former leading stable in Qld. Carries only half kilo over the limit after a 4kg claim, and last start wasn't far off smart Scone galloper Chaready who would put this field to the sword.
*MAIN DANGERS: Consistent filly 5. Chocolate Kisses has good tactical speed, and been in the placings in three of her last four, but under the odds from a wide draw. Improving ex-Randwick filly 9. Lovely Spirit made an impressive start for the new stable first-up for seven months powering home from well back to beat all bar a smart winner. Big market watch on Scone four-year-old 3. Mr Whitacre who resumes off a fair trial and nearly 11 months off the scene.
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Betting Attack: TRUMPED UP to WIN
*RACE 5 @ 3.20pm THRIFTY CAR RENTAL BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1400m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Exciting race for this grade, with a stack of chances. Lightly raced local six-year-old gelding 5. POET LAD (Craig Martin/Andrew Gibbons; 59.5kg) can strike third-up out to this distance. Has worked home well just behind the placings in two runs this prep, and desperate for more ground now considering he trounced a very handy Class 2 field over the mile last prep.
*MAIN DANGERS: Despite a modest win rate, Taree three-year-old 2. Being Naughty is still potentially the most talented in the race, and will appreciate getting back on firmer footing. Thrashed a useful maiden field four runs back on a similar rating, but has struggled to finish off his last two in the heavy. Tough five-year-old 6. Lord Magnussen charged home to win a similar graded race three starts back but will likely be forced a long way back from a tough draw; while both local four-year-old 9. Ziggi Rocks third-up; and last start winning mare 3. Fight For Love; are each-way hopes from wide draws.
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Betting Attack: POET LAD to WIN & Trifecta: 2,5/2,3,5,6,9/2,3,5,6,9
*RACE 6 @ 3.55pm ALLSOP SIGNS BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1200m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Very keen on progressive local three-year-old Smart Missile gelding 5. DEMEURER (Craig Martin/Andrew Gibbons; 59kg) who can make it two straight this prep. Jumped to the front and gave nothing else a chance in maiden grade first-up at Moree running good time. Steps up a level, but stays at the trip from a nice on-speed draw, and is the one to beat.
*MAIN DANGERS: Under-rated four-year-old 2. Vertical finished like a train from well back to land a weaker race first-up, although up in weight against some better ones here. Improving four-year-old 4. Equities has been close-up in two runs, and can figure over a little more ground despite a wide draw; while Inverell duo big finisher 3. Righthere Rightnow; and 10. Grove Street second-up; can both be included in exotics.
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My Betting Attack: DEMEURER to WIN & Quinella: 2 and 5
*RACE 7 @ 4.35pm SHAY BRENNAN CONSTRUCTIONS CLASS 2 HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Competitive and good pressure sprint to finish. Promising home track four-year-old gelding 3. DIXIE CAN (Craig Martin/Andrew Gibbons; 59.5kg) can make it two straight this prep off a long break, and cap a big day for the stable. Tracked the speed and was too strong late resuming in a BM 58 at Gunnedah, and has a tonne of progression given that was only his fourth run since debuting early spring in 2019. Can lay the platform here for a start soon in Highway company.
*MAIN DANGERS: Talented rival local four-year-old 2. Rubic Honour is a big threat second-up despite an awkward draw. Comes in five weeks between runs since hitting the line hard over the same trip in a deeper race at Muswellbrook, and expect him to be motoring late. Bolted in his only previous start at home. Promising and speedy Scone three-year-old 5. The Wayfarer was a dominant all-the-way maiden winner here first up, and draws to give them something to chase. Was scratched from Dubbo last Friday to be saved for this. Consistent filly and stablemate to Rubic Honour, 6. Mischief Managed is also well placed, resuming from a soft draw and with a significant 4kg claim.
Likely Tempo: Good to Strong
My Betting Attack: DIXIE CAN to WIN & Trifecta: 2,3,6/2,3,5,6/2,3,5,6
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R3 1. FRENCH RESPONSE** Expect: $4.00 - $4.50; My Early Rating: $2.50
R4 1. TRUMPED UP* Expect: $4.00 - $4.25; My Early Rating: $2.78
R6 5. DEMEURER** Expect: $3.45 - $3.60; My Early Rating: $2.20
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R5 5. POET LAD** Expect: $4.65 - $5.00; My Early Rating: $3.18
**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R5: Trifecta: 2,5/2,3,5,6,9/2,3,5,6,9
**TRAINERS TO FOLLOW:
Craig Martin***
Cody Morgan*
**JOCKEYS TO FOLLOW:
Andrew Gibbons**
Next Meeting: Friday Jun 25, 2021