Track Good 3/4 and Rail True so pattern should play fairly even.
Race 1 – C, G & E MAIDEN PLATE (1100m):
Gold Coast colt 6. Heritage Sash was a good thing beaten when heavily-backed first start after going bush on the turn. From the good draw, looks a good thing.
Dangers: Doubt there are any, but Port Macquarie first starter 8. Sebago looks a nice type by Pluck; while Casino-trained 3. Moringa's Hiemie has found the line nicely in his last two and from an inside draw can run the quinella
How to play it: Heritage Sash to win and trifecta 6-3/8.
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There are eight races on the schedule at Grafton.Credit:AAP
Race 2 – F & M MAIDEN PLATE (1100m):
Tricky little race, but keen on the debutant filly 4. Brazen Belle from leading stable. Looked good in a dominant recent trial win at Deagon and was scratched from Ballina on Monday to be saved for this.
Dangers: Port Macquarie filly 6. Eurogem was solid on debut in a decent maiden way back in February and her lead-up trial work has been sound. Include local mare 2. Gratuitous who was close up last start at Lismore and will park right on the speed from a nice draw.
How to play it: Brazen Belle to win.
Race 3 – CL1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2100m):
Ballina-trained 2. Queachy who got home nicely behind the capable Indian Rocks this track last start, and will be even better suited at the longer trip. Looks way over the odds.
Dangers: Lismore-trained 6. Bring Euro has continued finding the line despite still being a maiden after 14 runs; while Coffs Harbour-trained 1. Delacroix has finished second at his last three moving up in trip. Should be at his peak now and from a good gate will either park in front or right behind the speed. Gold Coast mare 3. Azarose charged home to win her maiden at Pt Macquarie last start, and while up sharply in weight, looks headed for better races.
How to play it: Queachy each-way and boxed trifecta 1-2-3-6.
Race 4 – F & M BM 58 HCP (1600m):
Very keen here on the Ballina mare 2. Mackellar who has been scratched from her last two to be saved for the right race. Up sharply in weight, but last start win this track from off the speed was impressive and she's destined for much better races. This is weaker so watch for her steaming over the top.
Dangers: Local mare 6. Youngstown has a poor strike rate having won only one from 21, but she's been continually finding the line from well back this prep and can park a little closer here from the good gate. Another local mare 9. Madam Kate is going better than her modest record suggests. Has been fair against stronger in her last few runs, but well treated at the weights against most of these.
How to play it: Mackellar to win.
Race 5 – BM 66 HCP (1400m):
Competitive battle, but locally-trained 2. Nothingforthepress looks beautifully placed from the draw and gets his chance to return to the winner stall. Was totally luckless last start when never out of trouble under a big weight, and not surprisingly stable has made a positive riding switch. Will settle midfield and get home.
Dangers: Another local 6. Caro Cavallo won three straight before not quite finishing off last start this track after covering ground. Will get a cheap run back in the field from the inside draw and be flying home over his pet trip. Muswellbrook visitor 5. Magic Beneteau has won his last two from well off the speed and is up to this better grade; while 7. Cool Prince is another consistent local galloper with solid form around some decent horses.
How to play it: Nothingforthepress to win and boxed trifecta 3-5-6-7.
Race 6 – MAIDEN HCP (1700m):
Very open race with threadbare form-lines, so Gold Coast mare 2. Miss Fraser gets a real chance to break through at her fourth start. Wasn't beaten far when specked at huge odds at Muswellbrook last start after an even effort from the back at Cessnock. Looks the one.
Dangers: Port Macquarie mare 3. Veganza put two very nice runs together before flopping last start when sharply up in trip. Comes back to the right distance here for strong country stable and can finally break through at 10th career start.
How to play it: Miss Fraser to win and quinella 2 & 3.
Race 7 – JACARANDA CUP (1100m):
Feature race and sprint of the day! The old marvel 1. Lucky Meteor was terrific in the Prelude carrying a big weight from a wide gate off a six week break and only just went under. Draws the fence this time and is a proven weight carrier.
Dangers: Casino-trained 3. Landmarks is very consistent and thundered home to win the Prelude, but goes up 2kgs here; while Gold Coast-trained 4. Impregnable comes back from a good closing effort in stronger grade at Doomben and will go close.
How to play it: Lucky Meteor each-way.
Race 8 – BM 58 HCP (1200m):
Tough one to finish, but sticking with 7YO mare 7. Ilia despite a disappointing finish when fading late this track last start. In better here at the weights from a good draw, so will be right there to strike at the business end again.
Dangers: Any number headed by Muswellbrook-trained 3. Big Reg who beat a nice horse in a CL1 at home last start and looks well placed; while big watch on Casino-trained 5. Crooked Gent who flew home to win a CL2 this track last start but goes up significantly in weight. Another local 8. Hashtag Hero took 19 runs to win his maiden but was then strong to the line in a CL2 last start and should be getting home hard again from a decent draw.
How to play it: Ilia each-way and quinella 3 and 7.
