RACE 4 – 2PM: PETALUMA HANDICAP (1250m)

5. The Great Houdini represents value, and he is ready to peak third-up with the step back in distance suiting. The gelding was solid first-up in the Wyong Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1350m) and then had genuine excuses last start at this track. He wasn’t suited to the sit/sprint race shape and then was checked/blocked at key stages, but once clear he found the line well. Additionally, his sectional breakdown confirms the 1250m will be to his benefit. He is proven on the rain-affected ground and has the closing speed to run over the top of his rivals. Each-way.
Dangers: 2. Bill The Boxer is an interesting runner who failed first-up but can bounce back with a much more favourable set-up. He maps to control the speed, Nash Rawiller rides, he’s proven on wet ground and the blinkers come off. Key late market watch. 1. Mars Mission must carry a hefty weight, but he hit the line hard first-up at Canterbury and ran fast closing splits. The late market trade suggested he would improve from the run and the bigger track suits. 3. Rebel Shadow revels in the conditions, and James McDonald rides.
How to play it: The Great Houdini each-way.

RACE 5 – 2.35PM: OLE KIRK FIRST YEARLINGS HANDICAP (1250m)

7. Star Impact was racing in career-best form before spelling last prep, and she’ll still have residual fitness from that campaign after less than 10 weeks off the scene. She looks primed to sprint fresh here and gets conditions to suit her, as well as the benefit of a gear change. The mare has had the one trial leading at Wyong, where she wasn’t extended and went through the line full of energy under a tight grip. In addition, all her peak figures have come on rain-affected ground, and she maps to roll forward and control the speed. Each-way.
Dangers: 5. Oh Golly Gosh is another runner at odds who can improve sharply here out to a more suitable trip. She ran hidden closing splits first-up at her home track, and expecting her to be ridden like she did when winning second-up last prep. 9. Silent Raindrops sprinted hard first-up at Wyong in testing conditions and peaked on her run late. She will come on from that and will be savaging the line. 2. Ningaloo Star runs to a consistent figure that puts her in the finish and maps well. The claim suits for 3. Smart Little Miss and add 13. Proud Image to wider exotics.
How to play it: Star Impact each-way.

RACE 6 – 3.10PM: HITOTSU @ ARROWFIELD HANDICAP (1800m)

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3. Jacob’s Time drops significantly here in grade and is racing much better than the form guide reads. He was the victim of circumstances two starts back in the group 3 Carbine Club (1600m) and ran on well from an impossible position. The gelding then battled on OK after always facing the breeze in a high-rating group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m). His figures line up well on heavy ground; the step back to 1800m is ideal and he can bounce back into the winner’s stall here.
Dangers: 4. Cable Express is lightly raced and on an upwards ratings spiral this preparation. He kept trying to the line last start at Wagga and deserves his chance at the metropolitan level. 7. Frankly Elegant finally gets out to a more suitable distance and can peak third-up. 6. Condrieu is a consistent enough type, and 11. She’s Got Veuve is another runner suited back in trip.
How to play it: Jacob’s Time to win.

RACE 7 – 3.45PM TAB HANDICAP (1800m)

8. Zerkhan represents value here and can bounce back with a much more favourable set-up. The colt won in style first-up at Hawkesbury and smashed the clock going through the line full of energy. Happy to forgive his second-up run at Wyong, where he started odds-on but didn’t handle the tight-turning track and raced flat. The blinkers go back on, and the rise to 1800m is ideal. Expect him to be ridden with cover, allowing him to be more explosive over the concluding stages. Good each-way.
Dangers: 3. Naval Commission was too strong for his opposition last start at Scone and produced a high-rating last sectional after adjustments. Nash Rawiller takes over riding duties, and he is unbeaten on heavy surfaces. Respecting the late market support that 1. Yet He Moves attracted last start at Canterbury, but the gelding performed below expectations after pulling up lame. He can bounce back here and has a solid record at this track. 4. Victory At Omaha can give a sight and add 7. Wild Calm, who is over the odds, to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Zerkhan each-way.

RACE 8 – 4.20PM: HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP (1400m)

4. Rhythm Of Love brings strong formlines/figures into this event and a solid SP profile. The three-year-old tried hard in defeat two starts ago in the listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) when running third and then was honest in defeat last start. He gets a much more suitable race shape in this assignment, where he produces his peak performances in high-pressure tempos. The John O’Shea galloper will need some luck from the draw, but Nash Rawiller sticks, and he may get the track pattern to suit. 13. Franz Josef (see race 3) goes on top if he gains a start.
Dangers: 7. Naiconi sprinted fast closing splits to score first-up at Sandown, and her win had style. The mare was then flat second-up after a long break, and she can bounce back here with the winkers going on. 11. Super Chilled had multiple excuses first-up last prep, and her run was full of merit. James McDonald rides, and she will be savaging the line. 5. Bunker Hut is rock-hard fit and market watch on import 8. Space Age.
How to play it: Rhythm Of Love to win.

Best Bets
Race 1: (3) Megastar Heart
Race 7: (8) Zerkhan
Best Value
Race 4: (5) The Great Houdini

Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au

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