Track likely Good 4, with the Rail out 2m from the 1200m, but into a Cut/Away at the 350m means closer to the middle likely to become the best ground in the straight.
Race 1 – 3YO Maiden Hcp (1108m)
Tricky race, with form-lines coming from everywhere and a couple of debutants. City-trained 4. Catia held on nicely after leading at his Gosford debut and improves again getting on to firmer ground. 5. D'oro Rain looks primed for a big debut off two forward trials in town.
Dangers: Expect improvement 3rd-up from the local hope 1. Alcatran after two solid efforts at Wyong and Gosford; while Mudgee-trained 3. Trojan must be included in exotics.
How to play it: Back Catia to win and Quinella with D'oro Rain.
They’re off and racing in Bathurst on Monday, with two class 1 runs on the seven-start card.
Race 2 – BM58 Hcp (1408m)
A modest group here, but looks a nice race for Warwick Farm-trained 1. Tony's Reward, who has to lump a big weight, but SCR from a later race. Won here three starts back, and closed off nicely in his last two at Goulburn and Mudgee. Extra trip suits.
Dangers: Local mare 6. Winterconi finished off nicely in a decent Class 1 at Dubbo and gets a lovely run with cover back in the field. 3. Kormaddie makes the long trip from Moruya but has won three of his last five and has the early speed to offset a wide gate.
How to play it: Back Tony's Reward to win.
Race 3 – Maiden Hcp (1408m)
Another plain bunch, but 1. Battle Fury from a strong Hawkesbury stable only needs to progress naturally into his 2nd-up run to win this. Wasn't far from the mark in better quality Maidens in the autumn and just needs some cover from a wider gate to finish over the top.
Dangers: Former Victorian 3. The Flying Scot made a sound debut for his new Dubbo trainer at home and gets the fence draw here. 5. Ellie Beach is first-up for nine months but has some good Mile form under her belt.
How to play it: Back Battle Fury to win and Quinella with The Flying Scot.
Race 4 – Class 1 Hcp (1808m)
Sticking firm with lightly-raced 4YO city raider 1. Garros up in trip. Ran to his market drift in a stronger race at Goulburn last start, but was through inferior inside ground. Two starts back swept home along the inside to win his maiden at Mudgee and the form around that race is solid.
Dangers: 3. Shadow Of Mordor is still a Maiden after 14 runs but does hit the line hard from off the speed and this isn't strong while the rest are just doing their best.
How to play it: Back Garros to win.
Race 5 – Maiden Plate (1208m)
Intriguing race, but 11. Baaed off a solid debut as favourite at Hawkesbury almost has this at his mercy. Draws the fence for the Baker/Ryan combination and hardly needs to improve much from his opening third when the leaders had it easy to take care of these.
Dangers: Another Warwick Farm youngster 7. Maid In Milan trialled twice and then ran a solid long-priced second on debut at Gosford. 2. Don't Judge Me has useful form for a race like this and should be included in exotics.
How to play it: Back Baaed to win.
Race 6 – BM58 Hcp (1208m)
Randwick-trained mare 7. Takahashi is set to resume off a solid trial when forced to sit wide, although could well start in the following race. Her only win was this time last year on debut at Muswellbrook when heavily backed, and had solid form up to the mile in better races before going out for a spell.
Dangers: Warwick-Farm-trained 8. Not A Sound won second up at Orange earlier this year and is fit enough off a recent trial. Another fresh runner 6. Sweet Fella will get back and finish on under a 1.5kg claim. The widely-travelled 3. Panuara is consistent enough and will enjoy a lovely run right behind the speed.
How to play it: Back Takahashi E/Way, but if he's SCR box 3-6-8 in exacta.
Race 7 – Class 1 Hcp (1108m)
Takahashi also accepts here and more likely to go this way with Mitchell Bell booked. Again, suited big time fresh, parking midfield and finishing hard. But if he does revert to R6, Mudgee-trained 1. Meraki Miss should lump the big weight and win first up.
Dangers: Hard to get a real gauge with so many resuming but like the home trial of Hawkesbury-trained 3. Kingston, and looms as a threat with 3kg claim. Also expecting 5. See Me Out to be prominent fresh from the good draw. 4. Arctic Warrior broke his Maiden first up at Wellington last start and has come back an improved galloper.
How to play it: Back Takahashi to win. If he's SCR back Meraki Miss to win and box 1-3-4-5 in trifecta.
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