Big track and wide straight generally plays fair on a true rail, although with extra big fields on Gold Cup Day, expect the winners to come from further out as the day wears on.
Race 1 Maiden Plate (1000m)
Tough start, with any number of chances, but really like the effort of Narromine first starter 13. Water Union in a recent trial. Should settle right behind the speed and finish off in the straight.
Dangers: There's plenty headed by 14. Special Surprise whose trialled extensively for strong Mudgee stable. Locally trained 4. Go Charlie Go hasn't cracked it for a place yet from five starts, but most recent effort at was good and gets 2kg claim in a suitable race, while 1. Court In Camera returned from a long break in good style closing off nicely on this track in heavy ground and should progress further. Another Mudgee visitor 10. The Black Widow was ordinary first-up in that same race, but will improve back on firmer ground.
How to play it: Water Union WIN
Race 2 Cl2 Showcase Plate (1100m)
Gold: Racing returns to the central west today for the Dubbo Cup meeting.
Another open affair at set weights, although 7. Get To The Chopper can return to the winner's stall 4th-up. Terrific wet-track effort here last start when he was slow to jump, but careered around and dashed away in the straight, only to be run down in the last few strides. Drawn to get a nice run.
Dangers: They'll be queuing up, but Scone-trained 5. Don Franco comes in with consistent form, including a strong win two starts back before a spell, while Yass visitor 10. Bay Of Modena was scratched from a recent race to be saved for this after winning a slightly weaker race at Wagga 1st-up. Keep a big watch too on locally trained 13. Sissie's Choice who has won her last two over shorter trips but this is stronger, while the stablemate 9. Sons Of Bourke won last start and is also capable of charging into the finish.
How to play it: Get To The Chopper E/Way and Box 7-5-10-13 in TRI
Race 3 Cl1 Showcase Hcp (1300m)
Former Victorian 2. The Rouseabout's effort at Wellington on Monday closing for 3rd under 60.5kg was strong and love the quick back-up here with weight relief. Way over the odds!
Dangers: Nyngan-trained 3YO 13. Supreme Attraction has made a promising start to his career and is a big threat on the limit weight. Coonamble-trained 5. Little Bertie hit the line nicely in a BM 58 at Dubbo and will be even better suited back on top of the ground, while locally trained 6. Skullharderson broke his maiden that day in good style from off the pace and is suited by the extra trip. Wagga raider 9. Jaytee's The Fox won last start on his home track and in well at the weights and also suited by the bigger track.
How to play it: The Rouseabout E/Way
Race 4 Showcase Maiden Hcp (1400m)
Randwick-trained 2. Song And A Prayer is set to break her maiden after putting all sorts of writing on the wall around the state. Found the line okay as a beaten favourite at Goulburn last start after solid efforts at Newcastle and Kembla Grange. Don't be concerned by the wide gate, just wants some early cover before launching down the middle late.
Dangers: Mudgee-trained 4. All Accomplished returned in fair style at Dubbo, but will improve 2nd-up and "maps" really well from the draw, while I'm expecting big improvement from 12. Hammoon Ballad who was well beaten at Moree last start, but is out of a strong stable and much better suited 3rd-up on this track.
How to play it: Song And A Prayer WIN
Race 5 Showcase Flying Hcp (1100m)
There'll be no loafing here, and one of my favourite country sprinters is 1. Joey's Destiny who careered away to win a lead-up race on this track three weeks back. Actually prefer him drawn wider and outside horses and carries weight well. Just needs to jump with them to be the one to beat!
Dangers: Muswellbrook-trained 3. Art D'Amour was terrific 1st-up in the Lightning at Muswellbrook hitting the line strongly from a mile back, while Forbes-trained 4. Molasses is consistent enough and should close off from midfield. Consistent 6. Johnny Roo Boy has a tonne of speed and must be included in exotics, while keep a big watch on Albury visitor Vinne Vega at big odds who is drawn wide but bolted in a recent trial and comes to hand quickly.
How to play it: Joey's Destiny WIN
Race 6 BM 58 Showcase Hcp (1300m)
All sorts of chances in another open race, but two gallopers take my fancy in a wide market. Newcastle mare 7. Dreamnomore was only plain first-up at home, but that was stronger and she normally improves lengths into her 2nd-up run, while locally-trained 13. Eyesaw has been finding the line in good fashion in similar races and I like where he gets on the map.
Dangers: Canberra visitor 2. Jar Of Hearts will be glad to see the back of the ACT synthetic and back on the turf and is drawn to get a lovely smother, 14. Eva Jean ran well at Bathurst last start and should be in the finish, while 6. Western Parade draws inside and form is good enough to launch into the action late.
How to play it: Dreamnomore E/Way
Race 7 Showcase Picnic C'ship (1400m)
Obviously none of these are going to any heights, and under the picnic weight scale a tea-towel might cover most of them on the line, but 5. Rusty Motorbike is over the odds after conquering the Louth and Picnic cups. Four starts back he was close-up as a $3 shot in a BM 63 which is good enough for this.
Dangers: 10. Rehanaat has won three of her last five and carried the grandstand last start at Cobar, while Canberra-trained 3. Diamond Charlie won back-to-back picnics before outclassed in BM races and is back now in his right company.
How to play it: Rusty Motorbike E/Way and Box 1-3-5-10 in TRI
Race 8 Gold Cup (1600m)
Another good edition and by this stage the pattern will be pivotal. Scone-trained 6. Red Knot is on top at big odds despite the wide draw. After just edged out in the Cup Prelude under 59.5kg, he's ready to win fifth run back, but will obviously need luck from the gate. Across the other side of the big field drawn near the inside Coonamble star 3. A Magic Zariz has been smashing the line in good quality races and is primed to be in the finish!
Dangers: Randwick-trained 1. Gaugin is the obvious class and has won two of his last three in BM 74s at Canterbury. Will carry the weight and run the trip but the widest barrier is a concern. I'm expecting improvement from another city runner 7. Makeadane whose form is only fair but jumping from tight Warwick Farm to the open stretch of Dubbo will be to his liking, while one of the clear lighter-weighted hopes is Mudgee-trained 12. Wild Cavalier who charged home to win the Cup Prelude but also comes up with a very wide barrier.
How to play it: Red Knot E/Way
Race 9 Cl3 Showcase Hcp (1660m)
Really keen on Hawkesbury visitor 3. Shadow Flight stepping to the mile! Got home nicely last start in a BM 67 behind the smart Laszlo and previous efforts were also strong from off the speed. Gets a 3kg claim and parks midfield with plenty of cover.
Dangers: Canberra-trained 1. Athonis is a nice type but has to carry a huge weight, while now that 6. Not For Export has finally broken back into the winner's stall, he could go on with it back on his home track. Another Canberra visitor 7. True Worth is building a nice record and suited 4th-up at the mile.
How to play it: Shadow Flight E/Way
For more information, head to www.racingnsw.com.au.
Tips supplied by Brad Gray, courtesy of Racing NSW
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