Race 3 – 2:00PM EVEREST CARNIVAL HANDICAP (1100 METRES)

After a luckless defeat last week 5. Gentle Persuasion has a very good chance to atone though
unfortunately the price isn’t as appealing. She was held up at a vital stage trying to get to the outside while the winner gained a run through along the fence. Drawn nicely here and it wouldn’t shock to see her settle closer and take luck out of the equation.

Dangers: 1. Pembroke Castle has mixed it with the likes of The Autumn Sun and not been disgraced and he resumes with blinkers first time after a quiet trial a week ago. Keep an eye on tactics announcements from the barrier, but with even luck he can feature in the finish. 4. Happy Bubbles lived up to the strong support on debut at Newcastle by posting a fairly easy win over the 900m scamper. I can see him getting a nice run again and he could easily measure up. 3. Aperitif caused an upset when beating stablemates Press Box and So Taken (who race earlier in the program) two weeks ago. She gets Hugh Bowman on board here and if that win was no fluke she’s in the mix again.
How to play it: Gentle Persuasion WIN

Race 4 – 2.35PM ANZ BLOODSTOCK NEWS HANDICAP (1580 METRES)

Came back to 3. Scream Park, though he has some convictions, after a much improved effort in a
similar race two weeks ago where he was just outgunned by Gauguin. Drawn ideally to have a similar
run in transit, that little bit of give in the track is ideal and, while he’s not a horse you’d pin your
hopes on, he’s entitled to go close.
Dangers: 2. Moondancer had excuses for his defeat at a mile at Wyong, where he raced wide, then
proved a bit too strong back to 1400m at Newcastle. Consistent type and he’s struck a very winnable
race if he gets the right sort of run. 10. Plagiarist has been kept fresh since a narrow maiden win at
Kembla back in mid-August. Ticked over nicely in a trial at Rosehill last week and it’s interesting that Hugh Bowman rode Scream Park last start and has switched to this fellow. This is the type of race a lightly raced up-and-comer could take out, so he has to be respected. 5. Follow On fits that bill too with only five starts to his name, and he won on debut at a mile before stretching out to staying trips. Won a 1200m trial leading into this and if he lands on the pace he could give a sight.
How to play it: Scream Park WIN; Box Trifecta 2,3,5,10 

Race 5 – 3.10PM TAB REWARDS HANDICAP (1900 METRES)

I’m sure had 9. Corinth drawn better than the outside alley we’d be asked to take a shorter price
than the each-way odds available, so banking on a bit of luck in running going his way this time. He
did a lot of the donkey work last start at Warwick Farm in the race won by Cormac and was game
previously in a similar race to this one. You’re backing Kerrin McEvoy to produce a gun ride here and, if he does, then Corinth goes very close.
Dangers: 3. Fantastic Man has a habit of finding one or two better but his racing style might be
suited to this event. He likes to park just off the speed and roll into the race. He doesn’t appear to
have a great turn of foot but he keeps coming. He’s sure to give another good account. 7. Makdanife
has simply found himself too far back at his last couple of starts and it’ll be interesting to see if he
can take up more of a position having drawn an inside gate this time around. If he can then he’s right in the mix and he’ll appreciate that bit of give in the track as well. Don’t leave him out. 8. Scratches was on the speed in the same race as Makdanife last start and she stayed on well to run second. She may have to work a bit to get on the pace again here. Whether that’s a negative remains to be seen but she’s racing too well of late to knock.
How to play it: Corinth E/WAY

Race 6 - 3:45PM THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
This race looks to set up well for 5. Excellent Design to have her chance to win first-up. She’s been
ready to race for a while and was a late scratching at the gates from a race at Warwick Farm last
month. Trialled again since that mishap and performed strongly. Drawn ideally, should settle just off
them or could lead if necessary, and I’d be disappointed if she’s not right in the finish.

Dangers: 4. Deity trialled impressively prior to a much narrower first-up win than most expected but she did fight when challenged over the concluding stages. Fitter for that and with the inside alley she has her chance to prove herself beyond 1000m. 2. Ellie’s Encore is a little over the odds for mine.  She was outclassed in a group 2 before a spell but she was showing ability, albeit in easier races, prior to that. She’s won two trials and looked good in the latest, so don’t be surprised if she is able to measure up. 9. Social is very lightly raced for a six-year-old and she’d had over a year off prior to a comfortable win at Tamworth a couple of weeks ago. On pacer who is fitter for the run and has a top apprentice on board. She could give some cheek.
How to play it: Excellent Design WIN 

Race 7 - 4:20PM ON TOP OF THE WORLD SPRINT (1100 METRES)

I can’t see any way that 2. Za Zi Ba doesn’t get a perfect run in this race and that being the case she’s incredibly hard to beat and over the odds. Granted she was a shade disappointing first-up but that race was won by the leader on an on-pace biased track. She then romped in at Rosehill in similar grade to this but with more depth. With the claim and the draw she’s entitled to hold form and if she does then she’s the one to stop.
Dangers: 7. Warranty is a market watch first-up from a spell off an even trial where she narrowly beat Tip Top (who had her measure) a couple of weeks back. She won fresh last time in but probably has to go back from the wide gate. If they are running on then she can take holding out. 4. Coruscate overcame a wide gate to win first-up but it’s much easier to do that at Warwick Farm, where there’s basically a straight run to the home turn, than Canterbury so he’s going to need some luck. Honest type though and if he does find some luck in running he can be in the finish. 1. Piracy will appreciate a class drop on his second-up effort where he led but was no match for the likes of Don’t Give A Damn and Trekking at Rosehill. Big weight rise but has a nice enough draw and Hugh Bowman to ride so he’ll have his chance.
How to play it: Za Zi Ba WIN; Trifecta 2/1,4,7/1,4,7 

Race 8 - 4:55PM AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB HANDICAP (1250 METRES)
5. Metamorphic has transformed into a very consistent performer of late and with the improving
track I’d expect him to keep up the good work and be right in the thick of it again. Found himself
some five lengths off the lead on the turn last start and only failed narrowly. Punters Intel shows he
ran the fastest last 600m of 35.43 and was the only horse to break 12 seconds for the last 200m
(11.83). In a race that looks to have a bit of speed on paper he can stalk and I’d be surprised if he
doesn’t hit the front at some stage in the straight. Good chance.
Dangers: 12. Wagner had a gun run and was never threatened at any stage in breaking through for
his maiden win first-up two weeks ago. He’s always shown promise and if he’s starting to live up to
that he should handle the class rise. He will need luck though from the wide barrier. 15. Desert Lord is one to keep very safe if he gains a start. While the trip is a bit short of his best he hasn’t run a bad race yet and I thought he trialled quite nicely last week against some handy sprinters. Racing in blinkers first time and while he will improve on whatever he does I can’t let him go around without including him. 9. Eawase couldn’t have been more impressive in her two wins last preparation culminating in a listed win in Brisbane. Not   asked for a lot in her trial but she’s a get-back horse who could charge over the top without surprising. 13. Common Purpose tracked wide very and toughed it out to win a Highway at Rosehill last time to make it three straight. He must go forward from the wide gate and if he gets there cheaply he can run a race.

How to play it: Metamorphic E/WAY; Quinella 5/12

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Tips supplied by Ray Hickson, courtesy of Racing NSW