Race by race preview and tips for Newcastle
Track rated a Good 4, with the rail true, so should play fairly even.
Race 1 BM 64 HCP (2300m)
Can be tricky, these staying races in small fields where tempo and timing play a huge role, although Victorian-reared 3. Quality Approach looks supremely placed. Just got home as a well backed favourite at Hawkesbury last start after an even run in stronger BM70 grade at Randwick. Stalks the
speed all the way from a good gate and should finish over the top.
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Dangers: The form of Muswellbrook mare 2. Love None is strong enough for this calibre race. Finished hard in a BM 74 at home before finding the line again in a strong Country Classic at Randwick. Extra trip is in her favour. Wauchope 7YO 1. Allzin is the best of the rest but doubt he can win at the weights.
How to play it: Quality Approach to win; quinella 2 and 3; & in-order trifecta 3-1-2
Race 2 F & M CL2 HCP (1400m)
Keen on Randwick filly 6. Loved One who fought hard to win her maiden at her fourth start this track, beating Everlasting Love who bolted in at Wyong on Thursday. Looks the ideal journey fourth-up.
Dangers: Randwick mare 1. Maid Marilyn continues to improve and fought hard behind smart galloper With Purpose at Goulburn last start, although she's up sharply in weight, while Warwick Farm staying mare 2. Seababe competed in stronger company through the winter on wet tracks and has been given two trials ahead of her return. Watch her finishing on late.
How to play it: Loved One to win and quinella 1 and 6
Race 3 PROV & CNTRY MAIDEN PLATE (1300m)
Tricky and modest affair at set weights, but if 3YO Hawkesbury colt 5. Sizzled gets any luck from the wide gate, he's a near good thing. Wasn't far away in three runs over his first prep, and trialled okay earlier this month. Stable very good at placing them early.
Dangers: Most of these have shown very little so far, although 3YO Gosford filly 12. Tainted Affair was reasonable on debut at Dubbo despite being unwanted in the betting and will improve second-up down in weight.
How to play it: Sizzled to win
Race 4 MAX LEES CLASSIC (900m)
Speed contest for the 2YOs and impressed with local colt and well-bred first starter 4. Snowzone (Snitzel x Snowdrift by Polish Precedent), which improved to win his second trial from the front under a fair hold and hails from top Newcastle yard.
Dangers: Stablemate filly 8. Vinrose (I Am Invincible x Rosecutter by Redoubte's Choice) also looked good winning her trial from off the speed that same morning in similar time, while Include debutant colt 5. Strasbourg, who has had two trials and draws the fence in the exotics.
How to play it: Snowzone to win and box trifecta 4-5-8
Race 5 C, G & E CL2 HCP (1400m)
Plenty of good 4YOs resuming here so could be a nice form race into the summer. Wyong-trained 4. Fuchu returned in good style finishing hard in a BM 64 this track and this suits second-up. Form back in the autumn in stronger company was solid.
Dangers: Like the Randwick-trained 2. Toroso – by one of my favourite sires in Pierro – resuming over this trip. Won two of four in his first real prep mid-year and has had two quiet trials in preparation. Local 1. Pickelhaube was also consistently around the placings last prep and tuned up for his return with a good trial effort over 1200m this track.
How to play it: Fuchu to win and box exacta 1-2-4
Race 6 3YO & UP MAIDEN HCP (900m)
Another short-course dash, and 3. Sparks looks a strong natural runner from the Godolphin camp off his trial work and will go very close at good odds.
Dangers: Godolphin filly 6. Skagerrak is smart and also trialled nicely but has drawn a wide gate, while Warwick Farm-trained 2. Full Of Fire also trialled well behind Antonio, who was close up at Canterbury on Friday night.
How to play it: Sparks To win
Race 7 MAIDEN HCP (1300m)
Race of good depth! Like Rosehill-trained 2. The Bald Eagle resuming over this trip. Wasn't far off the mark in both Victoria and NSW last prep and has been given two forward trials, winning the most recent. Firm surface suits being by All American and maps to get a good run off the fence midfield.
Dangers: Rosehill-trained 1. Given Time also resumes out of that same trial. Has been given plenty of weight and wide barrier, but likes to settle back and finish hard so this track will suit. Randwick 3YO 4. Charretera resumed in good style at Hawkesbury and should improve into his second-up run. Big watch on un-raced Godolphin 3YO 5. Distracted who has had two quiet trials, while Warwick farm filly 12. Age Of War was given a solid hit-out winning her latest trial over 1200m and should be strong to the line.
How to play it: The Bald Eagle each-way and box first four 1-2-4-5-12
Race 8 BM 64 HCP (1200m)
Open and tough one to finish, although Scone mare 10. Don't Doubt Her looks very well placed down in the weights from a good draw. Could easily have won two of her last three screaming home from a mile back, and again gets a lovely smother back in the field before being produced late.
Dangers: Randwick-trained 4. November Man looks suited. Has hit the line nicely last couple in stronger races, and while up in weight, is hard fit. Locally-trained 1. Tabrobane comes back from a stronger grade and is a reliable weight carrier over this trip, while Warwick Farm mare 8. Zabeel's Choice is back in trip but crucially back on firmer footing after flopping in the wet last start in town.
How to play it: Don't Doubt Her each-way
Supplied by Racing NSW.
Full form and race replays at racingnsw.com.au
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