Race 4 - 2.40pm: MAIDEN PLATE (1400m)

Very hard to go past Godolphin three-year-old 5. Shipshape who is bursting to win third-up, and will likely stifle the market. Finished off well fresh in a good quality provincial maiden before charging late again to miss narrowly in heavy ground against metro opposition. That reads well for this and gets a smooth run on the inside just off the speed.
Dangers: Improving filly 8. I Am Jade looms as the quinella runner third-up, while progressive 4. Man Of Valor went under narrowly here at his second start, and goes in all exotic bets.
How to play it: Shipshape to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Race 5 - 3.15pm: CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2000m)

Progressive Irish-bred provincial mare 5. Lyrical Lady is ready to peak third-up in her first NSW prep over more ground. Finished off okay in a country CL1 before very stiff not winning at Scone when thundering home late from a wider draw, and drawn to get good cover.
Dangers: Big watch on 4. Mindspace fourth-up off an impressive maiden win; and 6. Sunchaser who missed by a whisker fourth-up in deeper grade, and gets winkers added; while 3. Makadeel fourth-up; and 9. Premierro drops back sharply from Group 3 company where she was beaten out of sight; are both capable of running into the placings.
How to play it: Lyrical Lady to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Race 6 - 3.50pm: PROVINCIAL CLASS 1 HCP (1500m)

This shapes nicely for progressive four-year-old 1. Hedge Fund to make it two straight. Put the writing on the wall when finishing hard two runs back before giving nothing else a chance from the front at Kembla in heavy ground when well backed.
Dangers: Keep very safe home-track mare 3. Artie’s Aura peaking third-up coming back from deeper metro midway company. Honest four-year-old 4. Critical Time improves third-up and is also trained on the track. 6. So You Battle, second-up with blinkers added, heads the rest.
How to play it: Hedge Fund to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Race 7 - 4.25pm: BENCHMARK 68 HCP (1000m)

Most open race of the day in a sprint with very handy depth. Promising Godolphin three-year-old 9. Selous took on group company in his first prep last spring, and returns now as a gelding behind two steady trials.
Dangers: Big watch on 11. Chief Conductor who has been close-up in two runs back, and reboots from the inside draw having missed out when his race at Canberra last Friday was abandoned. Expecting a big first-up run from talented and sparingly raced 2. Yiska behind two solid city trials; while both 3. Lascars fourth-up with important gear changes and a month between runs; and 4. Fast Response resuming behind two trials; are in each-way contention.
How to play it: Selous to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Race 8 - 5.05pm: BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1300m)

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Improving metro four-year-old 5. Strombus can land a long-overdue second win fourth-up. Has chased home some smart ones in deeper grades this prep, and the more rain the better. Another one preferred here to Newcastle on Wednesday.
Dangers: Big finishing 1. Damaged has hit the line late from well back in all three runs this prep against generally deeper opposition. Keep safe 4. London third-up off a midway CL1 win; while 3. Buillt five weeks after a first-up metro maiden win; and 12. Justina fifth-up and down in weight with gear changes; can both run into the minor end of the prize.
How to play it: Strombus to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

BEST BETS
R3 1. BLACK IRIS
R5 5. LYRICAL LADY

BEST VALUE
R1 3. SUBARCTIC