Track Soft 5 and rail out 5m:

RACE 1
2. Barracks is a colt by fashionable Home Affairs, and has trialled nicely for the Ciaron Maher stable, the latest carrying the field up behind a tearaway winner and was strong through the line. Bred to handle rain-affected ground too, being out of a Manhattan Rain mare, especially if it tumbles well into soft or even heavy range. 10. The Wildling returns for her second start after a sound closing debut in Group 3 company last spring for the Waterhouse-Bott stable. Fitted with two trials, although has to negotiate a wide barrier. 1. Euripedes is a big market watch, resuming for his second start behind two progressive trials, and with blinkers on. Two other first starters, 8. Universe, a colt by Pierro in the Chris Waller yard drawn inside, and Pinatubo filly 12. Promenade, drawn wide but has trialled strongly for the Michael Freedman stable; can both add value into exotic plays. 15. Avengers, a Victorian-based colt by Snitzel, can also run a race on debut in blinkers behind two improving trials.
How to play it: Barracks to win.

RACE 2
4. Rajwa is an emerging filly who was held up at a vital stage second-up at this level after winning her maiden fresh here on a Soft 6. Can strike back at good odds, and the breeding suggests any number of downgrades is a big plus. 8. Lighthouse Lass hit the line hard from well back at Gosford in her first outing for the new stable, and should be suited by the extra 100m, with some weight relief. Big watch on 3. Penpel. A lightly raced filly resuming. Won the second of two trials, and bolted in her second start on a Soft 7 in early winter. 1. Melanite gets out over a bit more ground third-up. 6. Beverly Hills, resuming for the leading stable behind two quiet trials.
How to play it: Rajwa to win.

RACE 3
9. Savvy Spy is a lightly raced three-year-old by Savabeel with plenty of upside in what is an open race. Has had two runs in his first full preparation, the latest tracking the speed but couldn’t overhaul the leader. Fitter and better suited getting out to this longer distance, and has enough tactical speed to off-set the wide draw. 3. Throttle Response beat the former seven days ago digging in from the front, although on-speed was a big advantage. Trickier gate in a bigger field. 1. Dollars is over the odds third-up from a sound draw after thrashing weaker country opposition second-up. 4. Defendant won his maiden here third-up, although drawn off the track; while stablemate 7. Velaris can run into minor money.
How to play it: Savvy Spy to win.

RACE 4
5. Kenmare Bay is well placed to pounce on rain-affected ground. Powered home from the back to a win BM 72 here just before Christmas, then wasn’t suited being drawn inside on the Kensington track when coming off a four-week break. Given another freshen-up, he launched home to miss by a long neck behind a smart winner. Can be ridden quiet from this wider draw, and launch down the middle late. 7. Powerhouse is a progressive colt that went home best to win a weaker provincial class 13 days ago. Gets a big weight drop coming back to metropolitan opposition, and is already a heavy track winner. 2. Pleasure Artist can improve second-up, and did win a weaker grade at this track late last year. 3. One Step Closer back to a thinner race second-up, and 4. Saint Emilion, suited at the longer trip third-up; both go in all exotics.
How to play it: Kenmare Bay to win

RACE 5
6. Caesar is a promising three-year-old ready to go back-to-back. Let down strongly to win a BM 64 here a fortnight ago, and the 2.5kg weight drop more than off-sets the rise in grade. Drawn the outside barrier, but this is not a big field, and he’s best suited staying off the fence regardless. The one to beat. 2. Diddle Dumpling is a smart mare, and returned off a lengthy break with a fast-finishing effort in a better race at Randwick. Normally progresses early in any campaign, and she’s right at home in soft ground. Only query is drifting back from the inside draw on a tighter circuit. 1. Sacred Rocks handles the wet, and can run a race fresh off two easy trials. 7. Slinky also loves rain-affected ground, and can improve sharply.
How to play it: Caesar to win.

RACE 6
2. Southern Heiress is a smart filly returning off a seven-week break for the Michael Freedman stable behind a trial win. Finished close up either side of Near Year in a deeper race at Randwick, and at the Gold Coast over the carnival. Generally fires when on the fresher side, and best form is on wet tracks. 3. Maybe Moet is also on the way up, and natural rival reloading two weeks after a sweeping off-speed win in BM 64 mares company. Drawn to get a soft run inside, and will be storming late. Gap to the rest headed by 8. Mercy Me, a promising provincial-based filly shooting for three straight wins, and coming to town for the first time. 10. Manaajem is over the odds second-up on a significant weight drop.
How to play it: Southern Heiress to win.

RACE 7
8. Jaegers is a talented filly by emerging star sire Bivouac, and primed to return with a bang off a 10-week spell despite rising in grade. Trialled quietly, reportedly been working well, and will come to hand in a heartbeat. Bolted in her maiden at this track in late spring. 1. Bev’s Nine is a talented on-speed four-year-old yet to be beaten in four starts, including a first-up win six weeks ago in BM 72 grade on a heavy surface. Was scratched ahead of BM 78 at Rosehill on Saturday after being found to be lame, and from an awkward gate here, looms a shade under the odds. 4. Kimberley Secrets snapped a run of near misses to score an overdue tough win here last Friday night. The quick back-up is a strong pointer she’s done well since, and draws to dictate. Gap to the rest headed by 7. Iron Will resuming, and 9. Jambalaya is honest.
How to play it: Jaegers to win.

RACE 8
9. Piperita is a progressive provincial mare representing terrific value. Had been knocking on the door in a couple of close-up runs against deeper opposition before putting it all together at Wyong 17 days ago; charging home to win by a big margin. Gets in well as the weights after the jockey’s claim, and she has a real liking for rain-affected ground. Scratched from Rosehill on Wednesday to be saved for this. 14. Cellarmaster will need scratchings to get a run, but is a lightly raced improver, beating all but Powerhouse last start. 5. Ivan’s Hero is fit and well over the odds, having built a tidy record around this course in similar company. 12. Copacabana has been around the money, although a query is in these conditions. 4. Taipan Legend comes to town after thrashing his opposition in the last two outings at Tamworth. Will try to control this, although all his form is on dry tracks. 7. Mornington Pier is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Piperita to win

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