Six of the ten juveniles confirmed for a start in the first at Warwick Farm on Wednesday are on debut and there is just too much that can happen in races like these for my liking, so I’m happy to wait for Race 2.
No Bet
Astralis couldn’t have gone closer without winning in two starts since resuming and will get her chance at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. As that suggests, the Team Hawkes filly has finished second in two similar races to this at Canterbury, including a short nose second to Liara a couple of weeks ago. She’ll enjoy good improvement from that hit-out and I am reasonably confident in her chances here but if she doesn’t salute, she’ll be going in the never again pile.
2 Units Astralis
Badia is easily the most experienced runner in this maiden and she probably won’t be offered a better opportunity to record her first race win in the city. The Godolphin-trained three-year-old has run into a couple of good ones through her four starts this time and finished within a couple of lengths of stable mate Katalin at this track and distance, most notably. She looks to be at peak fitness and is up to winning.
1 Unit E/W Badia
Peaceful will have her first start for Chris Waller in this Benchmark 76 sprint and her previous form on rain-affected tracks suggests that she’s going to take a power of beating. The Savabeel mare has recorded two wins and five minors form her fourteen competitive starts to date and has returned two pleasing trials in the lead-up to this. Nash Rawiller is a bonus, as is the ideal barrier 5.
2 Unit E/W Peaceful
High Low Bet has found career-best form this time and looks tough to beat again at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, even with topweight. The High Chaparral mare has continued to improve with each start since resuming this time and has won each of her last two races in impressive fashion. Kerrin McEvoy retains the ride and importantly, High Low Bet has raced well on soft tracks previously.
1 Unit E/W High Low Bet
Camp Rifle will enjoy good improvement into his second campaign start on Wednesday and is primed to win. The Godolphin-trained three-year-old stamped himself as a horse to follow during his debut prep; recording two wins and a place from only four starts, and there was a lot to like about the way he hit the line to finish fourth behind the smart Splintex in a harder race at Rosehill. McEvoy has options from the rails draw and with even luck, I can’t find a reason why Camp Rifle won’t be in the finish.
2 Units E/W Camp Rifle
Destiny’s Own could hardly have been more impressive at Canterbury a couple of Fridays ago and he looks well placed to record another win in the last at Warwick Farm this week. The Sepoy gelding raced well through summer but appears to have relished a switch to Matt Smith’s yard this time; running fourth in BM78 company at Randwick two back before his impressive last start win. He harbours further improvement and will be hard to hold out.
1 Unit E/W Destiny’s Own