1 BREATHING FIRE 13
2 LOLA BROMAC NZ 4.5
3 BAJARDO RIVER 11
4 JET BLACK FLYER 4.5
5 THABELA BRIOSO 21
6 BLACKTIE AFFAIR 2.5
7 HELVIK 21
---------- Second Row ----------
8 DOVES PATCH NZ 17
The mares start the night over the mile trip and whilst its not usually a good practice tipping sit/sprint horses in mile races, I have settled on #6 Blacktie Affair to come out on top. Thought the drive left a bit to be desired last time and the small field really helps. There also looks to be plenty of speed so given even luck she should be able to reel them in. Spotted #2 Lola Bromac run a very cheeky race last time where she was the sole survivor of the early speed burn and if she led here could give plenty of cheek (the worry with her is that the pole has plenty of early toe so might not get there and she lacks the speed to come wide and win). #4 Jet Black Flyer continues to race well and whilst not as well drawn here is still a chance. #3 Bajardo River ran a bottler at huge odds in a similar field and should get a good trip from this draw so don't dismiss. Of the rest, #1 Breathing Fire was well supported first up when led and found nothing but draws to lead again and the shorter trip may help, #5 Thabela Brioso hasn't enjoyed much luck of late but this is tougher, #7 Helvik resumes and has ability but the draw makes it extremely tough and #8 Doves Patch also has ability but simply does too much wrong to be a betting proposition
Ratings 6/2/4/3/1,5,7,8
Race 2
1 RED RIVER GEE GEE 13
2 TITLED 34
3 CRASH CART 4
4 LIVIN N HEAVEN NZ 13
5 CULLENS COUNT NZ 13
6 IDEN JUSTASMYRK 1.8
7 SAMMYDREW 21
---------- Second Row ----------
8 PADDY MY BOY 51
9 THE BULLIONAIRE 21
#6 Iden Justasmyrk has won well at past 2 starts and looks a clear top pick again, he has been driven off the speed at past couple but would be very surprised if he didn't go forward here as can certainly work in his races. #3 Crash Cart is screaming Out to win a race and is a definite danger but does need things run to suit. One of the duo should definitely win but both #4 Livin In Heaven and #5 Cullens Count are very honest and if the favs don't get it there way may capitalise.
Ratings 6/3/4,5/1/7,9
Race 3
1 BIDE YOUR TIME 3
2 MURPHYS ROCKET 3
3 LISKENS GIFT 13
4 RISENSHINE 51
5 MOST HAPPY JASPER 11
6 MISTER GUNADOO 8
7 MOUNTAIN MOMMA 34
---------- Second Row ----------
8 LOCKDOWN 8
9 FLYING JASPER 17
Really struggling with this race I have to admit, settled on #1 Bide Your Time who went okay at first start back from a long spell and from this draw will get every chance, #2 Murphys Rocket has been going okay in Victoria and whilst down on his best form he would beat these at his best but its impossible to assess him at first start in the state. #6 Mister Gunadoo was well backed and well driven to score when resuming and despite the draw making it tougher here still comes into the mix and #8 Lockdown had no luck at all first up and may improve with a cold run from the draw. #3 Liskens Gift is an honest one paced type who gets his best draw in a while and #5 Most Happy Jasper also ran a cheeky race last time
Ratings 1/2/6,8/3,5/9/7
Race 4
1 ANOPTOMIST 8
3 LINE THE POCKET NZ 13
4 BRIAN BUSTER BROWN 2.5
5 ROYAL ALCHEMIST 11
6 MELMAN 13
7 IMA BLISSFUL BELL 34
---------- Second Row ----------
8 KING OF JEWELS 11
9 ITS A HOOT 15
10 STRATEGIC MISS 51
11 SCARLETT BLAZE 8
12 LOOK LOOK 51
13 BRO TOWN NZ 34
Pretty keen on #4 Brian Buster Brown here, he enjoyed a good run in transit first up but despite being beaten he did make ground in a 28.2 closing split and beat the 3rd horse clearly so reckon he would towel these up with a repeat of that. #11 Scarlett Blaze is very honest and despite the draw making things tough won't be too far away. #1 Anoptomist finally draws a gate and despite his form not looking too flash on paper he has actually been going okay so don't discard. Of the remainder there are a few with question marks around them, #3 Line The Pocket is a well bred first starter who has been okay at the trials, #5 Royal Alchemist raced against some superstars as a young horse and was well backed when resuming from a 3 year break but did absolutely nothing but must have been showing something, #6 Melman is no star but will whack away, #8 King Of Jewels was gassed in front last time and should get a cheap run from here and might be the blowout and #9 Its A Hoot resumes but is a decent sit/sprint type at his best
Ratings 4/11/1/8/3,5,6,9
Race 5
1 EARL HICKEY 26
2 BIGGERNBETTERMAX 1.6
3 AN EYE FOR AN EYE NZ 21
4 IM LE FREAK NZ 34
5 GUERRERO 51
6 TOUCHWOOD TEEKSTA 51
7 PRINCE PLANET NZ 51
---------- Second Row ----------
8 DENVERS BOY 9
9 NEW YORK FELLA 26
10 MICKEY DELAHEY 26
11 BAYFIELD HIGH 34
12 TOUCHWOOD BUCKSTA 9
#2 Biggernbettermax grows a leg when he leads and looks like that will be the case here, he is more tough than brilliant but on the pegs in front he will run home in the 57s and therefore make it impossible for anything in this class to run him down. The only half query is that there is plenty of gatespeed around him but he has plenty himself so should lead as should keep the ones outside him out early and the pole would surely hand up. #12 Touchwood Bucksta is simply flying and on ability could possibly beat the fav but from its draw will probably be giving him a 30-40m head start so hard to see him winning but is still the main danger, #8 Denvers Boy has really stepped it up this time in and whilst he also gets an average draw will be in the placings with average luck. The rest are all quite even to be honest but minor place prospects only
Ratings 2/12/8/field
Race 6
1 RIKKISU 26
2 DELTA DEE DEE 21
4 CHERYL MARY 21
5 NOELSGIRL 3.8
6 BREZHNEV LEIS 3.8
7 DUSTY KALENA 8
---------- Second Row ----------
8 SMOKIN MUSTARD 11
9 ODINS DRAGON RIDER 6
10 IDEN NOSHOT 8
Tricky little race but #6 Brezhnev Leis looks the safe option here, probably doesn't have the ability of a couple of its rivals but is honest and does things right, should press forward from the gate and won't be far away at the finish. #5 Noelsgirl has plenty of ability but its hard to back considering she has galloped in all of her starts bar one but has to be respected as probably wins with a foolproof display, #7 Dusty Kalena is another with plenty of tricks but also has a big motor so despite the draw may surprise if on best behaviour. #9 Odins Dragon Rider had its chance to win last time after getting a soft lead but the thing that may get overlooked here is that it still beat home nearly all the main danger today so might be over the odds, #10 Iden Noshot was disappointing in that race after having a good trip but is too good to dismiss completely and I thought #8 Smokin Mustard ran very well leading up the 3 wide line and battling on well in a sub 59 closing half. Even the other 3 aren't totally hopeless but the winner should come from the top 6 in the market
Ratings 6/5/9/7/8,10
Race 7
1 TOPUP 11
3 JUMPIN JACK JASPER 5
4 THE MUSICS OVER NZ 9
5 RAMBLIN CULLEN 11
6 MAJESTIC EMPEROR 6
7 ULOS 7
8 RONNIE RAT 17
9 ANGUS MCGREGOR 21
10 COSMIC UNDER FIRE NZ 4
Very difficult race to end the Quaddie, at first glimpse it appears #10 Cosmic Under Fire has found another good race for him but the conditions of this race make this a heap tougher than previous few as he meets most rivals 20-30 metres worse off than in past couple so you don't want to be taking silly odds. He still goes on top though. #3 Jumpin Jack Jasper is always a chance in a stand with his manners, #7 Ulos has returned to his best of late and went okay behind #10 a couple of runs back and #6 Majestic Emperor looks quite well placed on the handicaps. Also have plenty of respect for any runner off the front in a stand with ability and all of #1 Topup, #4 The Musics Over and #5 Ramblin Cullen fit that bill as if the step an
d get a soft run its hard to see anything giving them 40 metres and beating them
Ratings 10/3/7/6/1,4,5
Race 8
1 HELLO NOT BAD 15
2 KOIZORA 3
3 LITTLE ELF 2.2
4 OUR LAST KNIGHT 8
5 TIME TO PRAY 13
6 DEEJAY BROMAC 17
7 DREAMON DONNY 51
---------- Second Row ----------
8 GIRLS IN PINK 21
9 GUNBOWER JACK 51
This is a reverse points order race so the form of all runners is awful and doesn't instil a ton of confidence betting wise. Really think the 2 ex Victorians look better than the rest but still a bit of an educated guess. #3 Little Elf has raced against some very good horses and been competitive at times so whilst his previous form has been average at best you simply have to respect what he can do. #2 Koizora is pretty similar to #3 in that raced against decent horses in Victoria and form tapered off dramatically of late but you must respect. Of the rest, #4 Our Last Knight ran a cheeky race last time in a leader dominated event and might appreciate the drop in class. Going to leave it at that as hard to provide a supportive argument for any of them to be honest
Ratings 3/2/4/field
Race 9
1 COSTA SMERALDA ($5,000) 6
2 WAYNE ROONEY NZ ($4,000) 17
3 THE CHEROKEE CHIEF NZ ($5,000) 8
4 WATERLOO BAY ($5,000) 3.5
5 PENNYS DRAGON ($5,000) 5
6 THE APPRENTICE ($5,000) 13
7 BONNY WEE LADDIE ($6,000) 3.5
The Claimer finishes the night and reckon #7 Bonnie Wee Laddie will atone for a luckless run last time at first start for the Hillier camp, plenty of tough types off the front should ensure a decent tempo and the small field also assists his sit/sprint style, #4 Waterloo Bay has been almost unbeatable in these stand start claimers for a while but think the gap has narrowed now and they are pretty even but he does things right so will always be a hope. #1 Costa Smerelda ran a terrific race last time death seating and finishing close up and if stepped to the front would be the one to beat and there is also a watch on #5 Pennys Dragon who is having first start in this grade. Haven't mentioned #3 The Cherokee Chief as yet either and he was only beaten a metre last time against a similar field and the other 2 runners aren't completely hopeless either. Just a typical stand start claimer
Ratings 7/4/1/5/3/2,6
