Race 4 BENCHMARK 74 HCP (1200m)
5. Love Shuck has blinkers replacing winkers. Was ridden too close when resuming in deeper grade finishing just out of the placings, but the extra furlong suits here, and he’s been kept ticking over via a smart trial win. Won his only previous start at this track at class 2 level back in spring, and can take his winning strike rate to 50 per cent from eight starts by saluting in what is now a weakened race.
Dangers: 6. King Gutho boasts a strong fresh record, and tuned up for this with a dominant trial win at home. 11. Watch Me Rumble is well over the odds after hitting the line late behind a smart winner of the Wellington Town Plate, while 13. Chasing A Quid is hunting his third win from the last four rising sharply in grade, and is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Love Shuck to win.
Race 5 QUEEN OF THE SOUTH FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1400m)
1. Justela zipped home from well back to win a BM66 when fresh before settling much closer and only beaten narrowly in deeper provincial company. That reads well for this, despite having to cart a big weight, and she thrives over this distance.
Dangers: 2. Stormy Witness was less than four lengths from the winner despite finishing at the back in a Rosehill BM78 when coming off a four-week break. Gets in OK after the jockeys claim, and this is also the pet trip. Last start BM58 winner here 7. Communication looks up to this level but will need plenty of breaks early from the awkward barrier.
How to play it: Justela to win.
Race 6 MTC GUINEAS BENCHMARK 74 HCP (1400m)
2. Invincible Spy won his first two starts up to the mile in provincial company, and did enough resuming off a five-month spell at Kembla. Well placed from the draw under the same weight in this field, and he’s a mile over the odds.
Dangers: 11. It’s A Wonder swept home to thrash her maiden rivals before tackling Saturday group 3 company and failing to run home in heavy ground. Back against her own age and on dry ground she’s right in this. 1. Fiddlers Green only has to get across from the wide draw to be right in the finish after a dominant BM64 provincial win. Big gap to the rest headed by a stablemate of the former 5. Mickey’s Medal who reloads via a soft trial six weeks after an unplaced effort in the Canberra Guineas.
How to play it: Invincible Spy each-way.
Race 7 WAGGA GOLD CUP (2000m)
11. Cliff House can defy a swarm of metro raiders and make it three wins on the bounce. Powered home from the back to claim the Albury Mile before ploughing through the mud to romp home in the weaker Gundagai Cup 25 days ago. He’s seemingly getting better the more the distances rise. Has a cracking 50-per-cent win rate from 14 starts, and gets a 5kg weight drop to the minimum tackling this class.
Dangers: 7. Fawkner Park yearns for dry ground and has been given nearly six weeks and a trial since making a mess of his opponents in the Albury Cup. Tougher here, but if he finds the right sort of trail from the wide draw, will again be charging late. 1. Knights Order resumes for the Waterhouse-Bott stable off two trials, and 3. Renaissance Woman finished only two lengths from the winner in the group 1 Coolmore. Victorian 5. Makram with an important gear change can finish in the minor money.
How to play it: Cliff House each-way.
Race 8 CLASS 3 HCP (1000m)
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2. Cruizingdafield resumes for only her third start for the new Scott Collings stable at Goulburn. Broke through at second start in metropolitan company back mid-winter last year before being sidelined, but given plenty of time since, she looked ready to go winning a Canberra trial last month.
Dangers: 5. Best Intent is the immediate threat having only missed a place once in eight starts. 11. Outback Angel is on the next line down sharply in weight fourth-up.
How to play it: Cruizingdafield to win.
BEST BETS: Race 3 (1) JOEY D’OR; Race 8 (2) CRUIZINGDAFIELD
BEST VALUE: Race 4 (5) LOVE SHUCK
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
