Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Thursdays meeting at Wyong. Selections based on a soft to heavy track.
Race 1 – 1:05PM TAB.COM.AU PLATE (1350 METRES)
Theres not a lot of wet track form here. 7. Segalas made a promising debut at Wyong a few weeks back, showing gate speed to race on the pace before dashing for home and being reeled in. She beat the rest comfortably there and should be fitter. Shes a bit short but sure shell give a sight and if she handles the conditions will be hard to beat.
Dangers: 2. Frascati Miss wasnt asked for a big effort working home into fourth in her trial at Rosehill recently. Shes bred to appreciate a bit of distance but is a complete unknown in the wet. Some of the Jimmy Chouxs handle it, if she does shes right in it. 3. Oakfield Romance was well below par at Newcastle last time, while only beaten three lengths she didnt do a whole lot. Previous form was sound and shes placed on a heavy track at her only attempt so worth another chance. 6. Merlinite showed improvement in her second trial this time in, wasnt a factor at her only race start and not known in the wet but no surprise to see her run well if she does.
How to play it: Segalas WIN; Trifecta 7/2,3,6/2,3,6.
A soft to heavy track is expected today at Wyong.Credit:Jenny Evans
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Race 2 – 1:45PM GO ELECTRICAL TUGGERAH HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
1. Coterie only has to get through the wet track to break through first-up. She was placed behind The Autumn Sun back in April and ran a game fourth to Royal Celebration in May. Two trials back have been sound, not known in the wet of course but on class looks to have her rivals covered.
Dangers: 2. Bravo Del Campos has been getting ready to race for a while with some well spaced trials but certainly on trial performances he could run a race. Another with no real exposure to wet ground and the pedigree doesnt help out much. Keep safe. 3. Taj is a very well bred gelding but its hard to get a line on him through his trials. Bred to handle the wet so if theres some support around he will probably be competitive. 4. California Laestar was well backed first-up at Kembla and was all over the place in the run so the blinkers might be a plus for him. He did trial up well prior to that last run hence the support, probably, so improvement wouldnt shock.
How to play it: Coterie WIN.
Race 3 – 2:20PM AUSTRALIAN BLOODSTOCK PLATE (1600 METRES)
3. Jarhead is yet another with no exposed wet track form but as far as pedigree goes hes some chance. Couldnt have missed his first-up effort at this track where he rushed home late to miss by a head or so. Crying out for the mile and with the proviso he gets a grip on the track he will take beating.
Dangers: 7. Ulusaba is the likely leader and while he had his chance first-up on a soft 7 at Hawkesbury he will be fitter and a track like this one will suit his style. Will give them something to run down. 1. Costa Zou is an improver who while safely held by the winner performed pleasingly at his second start at Hawkesbury. Dropping to the mile here wont worry and he should run another nice race. 2. Hadrian has been right in the market at his last couple of starts and disappointed. A lot of the Sebrings seem to handle the wet and if he has a liking for it then he could jump out of the ground.
How to play it: Jarhead WIN; Trifecta 3/1,2,7/1,2,7.
Race 4 – 2.55PM WYONG CHRISTMAS @ THE RACES NOV 29/DEC 19 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
Itd be a surprise if 2. Everlasting Love doesnt relish a wet track being by Your Song and if she does then shes in a race she can win. Competitive in all four starts to date and fitter for two trials leading into a first-up run, drawn well and theres plenty to like about her chances.
Dangers: 1. Prahaar hasnt seen a wet track but his sire Smart Missile seems to be producing horses who can largely handle it. Closed off his race well first-up at Hawkesbury and sure to be fitter so has strong claims. 4. Admissable is a very well bred filly who showed some promise in her first preparation earlier this year. A couple of quiet trials, which isnt unusual for the stable and has blinkers on. Should be okay in the wet on breeding, so long as its not very heavy. 3. Another Shadow ran a bottler two starts back to be narrowly beaten then wasnt disgraced finishing midfield on a soft 7 at Hawkesbury a couple of weeks ago. Each-way claims if she can run up to the previous effort.
How to play it: Everlasting Love E/W .
Race 5 – 3.35PM CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES PLATE (2100 METRES)
3. Fast Train appears a promising type on the way up and he made a mess of his rivals at his first start over a middle distance at Hawkesbury recently, coasting home by over six lengths. Extra ground wont be any worry and doubt a wet track will concern him. Hard to go past.
Dangers: 4. Fideles Choice romped in on a soft 7 two starts back at Gosford, last time not disgraced back onto a good track at Kembla despite being hard in the market. Wet track brings her right into contention as a big threat. 11. Heartlet is an eight start maiden but she could still be on the way up with three even performances this time in. Beaten favourite but ran on at Queanbeyan last time and seemed to handle a soft 6 a few runs back. Each-way claims. 10. Northern Voyage probably leads them as he did here last time over a mile where he boxed on okay to run third. No guide on a wet track but these front-running Waterhouse/Bott horses usually handle it and he could take running down.
How to play it: Fast Train WIN; Quinella 3 & 4.
Race 6 – 4:10PM DE BORTOLI WINES HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
Again no exposed wet form but taking the punt that 4. Lucky Helmet will be okay, his pedigree suggests 50-50. Ran right up to an excellent first-up placing to score a strong win at Newcastle a month ago, wont have any issue with the mile and has the upside in the race. Good chance.
Dangers: 2. Godunov drops sharply in class on his fair first-up effort on a deteriorating track when sent out favourite at Rosehill in midweek city grade. Fitter, a mile suits and is entitled to another chance. 3. Noble Truth has been freshened up since an ordinary effort at Newcastle back in August but did win well over the mile twice prior to that. Has placed on a heavy track and is well worth including in the chances. 1. Devils Lair has only had one start on a heavy for a win so if were dealing with that sort of ground hes a big threat here first-up given that win was fresh last time in. Safely held in two trials but thats no guide for a miler/middle distance horse.
How to play it: Lucky Helmet WIN.
Race 7 – 4:45PM ONE STELLA SUNDAY OCTOBER 21 HANDICAP (1350 METRES)
1. Watchdog gave a good sight when he resumed with a close second at Kembla recently. While beaten favourite he was far from disgraced and youd expect him to roll forward onto the speed here. He probably doesnt want a very heavy track but otherwise he should be right in the finish with the run under her belt.
Dangers: 2. Soir De Lune led all the way and just held on to beat Jarhead over this course when resuming. Fitter for that, sire loved a wet track and has an on pace style so should give a good account. 4. Neruda has been around the mark lately and backed up an upset win at Newcastle a month ago with a close up fifth after leading. Has handled soft ground okay so is worth keeping in mind. 5. Salerno hasnt done a lot in recent starts but three of his five wins have been on wet tracks so a sharp improvement could be on the cards from him.
How to play it: Watchdog WIN; Quinella 1 & 2.
Race 8 – 5:25PM WYONG MAGIC MILLIONS HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
8. Celer did more than enough first-up in a handy Class 1 at this track to suggest he should be a bit harder to beat this time with the extra 100m. He has trialled very well in the wet so that doesnt seem a concern and hell be hitting the line strongly again.
Dangers:
1. Southern Lad has shown plenty of ability but obviously has some issues with only two starts to his name. Hasnt raced since an easy win at Canterbury back in February and admittedly hasnt shown a lot in two recent trials. But on race form hes hard to beat. 6. Sophiella won her first two starts in good style then not disgraced when up in class at Rosehill back in April. Trialling very well and if she handles the going shed be right in the finish. 3. Il Bandito went under as a $1.75 favourite when resuming from a nine-month break so hell be much fitter. Only wet track attempt was on a soft 6 and won well so he shouldnt be left out of the chances.
How to play it: Celer E/W.
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