Race-by-race preview and tips for Corowa on Monday
By Neil Evans
Track likely Soft 6 and rail True.
Race 1 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1600m)
Testing opener over the mile, but keen to back honest and hard fit five-year-old 2. Nic’s Hero from a softer trailing draw. Has been placed in three of his last four in this grade on rain-affected tracks, generally working home from well back, but drawn to park closer this time, and just needs cleair air from the 500m. Gets an edge too at the weights after the jockey’s 3kg claim in his preferred rain-affected ground.
Corowra hosts a seven-race card on Monday.Credit: Getty
Dangers: Respect for 6. Aphrodoti who doesn’t win often, but upset the market surging home to win a CL2 here at big odds in heavy ground 23 days ago; while 3. Let’s Get Animal wasn’t far behind the top selection when resuming off a month’s break.
How to play it: Nic’s Hero to win
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1000m)
Bigger field of maiden sprinters, and the market will be a key indicator with several Albury visitors either on debut or resuming. Confident one of the first starters, two-year-old 5. Canny Hell can hit the ground running as a gelding. Liked his recent heavy track trial win; travelling on the bridle from barrier-to-box and holding the chasers with ease. By Hellbent so should thrive in the ground, and further suited around a tighter turning track.
Dangers: With good speed on, four-year-old 2. Freakshake can figure on a nine day back-up. Came across to sit just behind the speed last time before being beaten under a half length, but hits peak fitness now. Big market watch on resuming filly 6. Oke Moon who hasn’t publicly trialled, but the stable is renowned for bringing them to hand quickly, and she did jump as favourite at Wagga on debut. Watch the betting on both debutant Press Statement filly 9. Persister behind a heavy track trial; and 11. Stella Siren improving second-up.
How to play it: Canny Hell to win
Race 3 CLASS 1 HCP (1000m)
Improving three-year-old 2. Cassimir can win again stepping up from a dominant maiden win in heavy ground 16 days ago as a hot favourite. Similarly can roll forward and park right behind the speed, and also being a son of Hellbent, thrives on rain-affected ground.
Dangers: Big watch on Press Statement filly 6. Rumours Abound who resumes for a second prep with no official trials, but has plenty of ability and expected to come to hand. Improving 1. Black Tahitian is well-placed third-up dropping back in class, but a query under 62kg from the inside draw. Consistent 5. Blount County can again figure fourth-up off a nice maiden win when finishing hard from midfield, while keeping safe resuming 3. Barn Zee who hops the border for only his second start after an easy debut win in very weak company.
How to play it: Cassimir to win
Race 4 MAIDEN PLATE (1300m)
Open and weaker affair here, and that augurs well for Wodonga four-year-old 1. Fleet Destination first-up for 23 weeks at big odds. Hit the line from well back in his last two at home before spelling, and the yard normally gets them to react on the fresh side. Drawn wide, but that may be an advantage in this going, and jockey booking is significant.
Dangers: Victorian three-year-old 17. Quinlan is a big watch, resuming off a 28-week break.The betting will tell a story with 3. Luna’s Image who didn’t fire a shot at bigger odds on debut, but this is a much thinner race.Expect 7. Tudor Cathedrals to improve further third-up with winkers off, and coming through a better maiden than this; while 2. Grisbi’s Pal who is hard fit; 6. Reward In Time who rolls forward; and 12. Social Revolution with a key gear change; can all run into the money.
How to play it: Fleet Destination to win
Race 5 CLASS 1 HCP (1400m)
A bit more depth in this, and no better value than improving four-year-old 12. Daly Heads who can pounce off a quick turnaround, and down sharply in weight. Did his best work late at Wagga in a weaker grade last time, and carries 5.5kg less here in a race that isn’t much tougher.
Dangers: Improving 8. My Bo Mo is a clear threat after finishing hard to miss by a head in lesser grade. Drops in weight with a much stronger rider taking over. Similarly 9. Winchester Rifle is well-placed third-up coming off a fast-finishing Malden win, but doubt the inside draw will do him any favours around a much tighter track. Watch the betting on 4. Southern Highlands resuming from a handy draw off a very quiet trial.
How to play it: Daly Heads to win
Race 6 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1000m)
In a race of several chances, Victorian six-year-old 2. Northernero rates on top second-up. Loved the fresh run at Narrandera in similar grade, flashing home from a mile back after covering plenty of ground. Normally improves again into the next run, and can park a little closer here from a middle barrier.
Dangers: Plenty of them, starting with another big finisher in 3. Chairman’s Choice who has won his last two, finishing hard to claim the most recent, although won’t get the same favours early this time from a wider draw. Watch for 4. Brenlyn’s Trooper to finish strongly first-up with blinkers back on, while 5. Galaxy Force second-up and improving 6. Mojo Music fourth-up from a softer draw with gear changes can both pump value into exotic returns.
How to play it: Northernero to win
Race 7 CLASS 2 HCP (1200m)
Another one from just over the border bridge, progressive 6. Free Market can make it two straight wins off a five-week freshen-up. Stalked the speed before going home best in a moderate BM 58 over the border, but his sectional form previously in deeper races around the Riverina holds him in good stead for this.
Dangers: Keep safe 7. Kung Fu Fighting who roared home from last fourth-up to win a CL1 in his first outing since switching from Victoria. Improving filly 8. Magical Slipper is an each-way chance from a softer draw. Last-start NSW maiden winner 9. Intense Effort gets a 3.5kg drop in weight for this higher grade, while 11. Add Milk had no luck at Narrandera fourth-up and also drops significantly in weight. Watch for any money around 5. Snap Book resuming, normally takes a run to hit his straps, and trialled very quietly.
How to play it: Free Market each way
BEST BETS: R2 5. CANNY HELL, R5 12. DALY HEADS
BEST VALUE: R6 2. NORTHERNERO
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au