Track likely Soft 6 and rail out 6m
Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (1000m)
Expecting Capitalist three-year-old 1. Russian Standard to return a much stronger and more mature galloper for his fifth start. Hasn’t raced since missing narrowly as a hot favourite here mid October, but tuned up with a dominant trial win, clocking a slick 33.45 secs for his final 600m in Soft 7 ground.
Racing returns to Kembla Grange on Tuesday.Credit:Getty
Dangers: Home-track four-year-old 5. Mentalism has been given four weeks between runs since a fair first-up effort here in heavy ground, and draws to get a softer run. Big market watch on resuming Redoute’s Choice filly 8. Bahama, who has also trialled in smart fashion.
How to play it: Russian Standard to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 2 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1000m)
Same journey for the more experienced sprinters, and while Canberra eight-year-old 7. Rafha’s Choice can mix his form, he’s hard fit and ready to strike, dropping sharply in weight. Led for a long way in a stronger Federal at home a month ago before failing to run on under a big weight in a BM 65. Well treated under 56kg in this grade.
Dangers: Promising filly 2. Sebrenco resumes from a seven month spell without publicly trialling. Hasn’t finished further back than second in four starts, and was scratched from a very winnable race atTamworth on Monday to be saved for this. Home track four-year-old 3. Don Luigi is not a renowned fresh performer and hasn’t raced for 10 weeks, but stretched out nicely to win a recent open class trial here. Included in exotics metro mare 6. Tudor Music and local mare 9. Comeback Star first-up after trailing home Don Luigi in that trial.
How to play it: Rafha’s Choice to win and first four 2,7/2,3,6,7,9/2,3,6,7,9/2,3,6,7,9.
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1300m)
Tricky and open contest for mainly three-year-olds at set weights. Progressive filly 8. Dalchini was very good late first-up off a 23-week break at Warwick Farm, finishing so hard she ran out of room in the last 50m. Suited even better getting to the bigger track, and she can set up a big prep by winning this.
Dangers: Expecting Godolphin filly 12. Stalking to return in strong fashion, first run since finishing less than four lengths from the winner in the group 2 Wakeful at Flemington late October. Was close-up in a provincial trial, and showed plenty when fresh last time before being pushed out over longer trips. Big watch on resuming filly 11. Poetic Drama who returns off a five-month break and forward trial for her first run in NSW after two fair efforts at Bendigo last spring. Improving 1. Baranof with blinkers back on third-up; 2. Champions League fresh behind two trials; and Real Impact debutant 4. Global Encounter are all knock-out hopes at bigger odds, and can be put through all exotics.
How to play it: Dalchini to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race-by-race preview and tips for Kembla Grange on Tuesday
Source: Philippines Alive
