Only six of the eleven confirmed starters in Race 1 have previous experience and a lot of horses towards the top of the market are on debut.
Happy to watch this lot go around and wait for another day.
No Bet
It’s actually a similar equation for Race 2, but I thought that there was a bit to like about the debut effort of Concealed and he’ll take good improvement into this race.
The Deep Field colt showed ability at the trials and was settled off the pace at Kembla Grange a couple of weeks ago; mustering a smart turn of foot to finish within a couple of lengths of the winner.
Happy to have a small each-way play at the price and from the good gate ($13 at publish).
1 Unit E/W Concealed
Papal Warrior will take winning form into the third at Canterbury on Wednesday and looks well placed to make it two in a row.
The Waller-trained three-year-old returned some competitive efforts while under the care of Peter & Paul Snowden last time in and resumed this time for a lovely win at this track and distance earlier this month.
He’s another horse that will enjoy good improvement for that effort and while this race is harder, it is the next logical step.
2 Units Papal Warrior
This is a tougher assignment for Maui Girl, but she could hardly have been more impressive back from a spell and she can continue her rise through the grades.
The Jason Coyle-trained mare won a couple of handy trials in the lead-up to her first run this time in and franked that form with a lovely win in Class 2 company at Warwick Farm.
She has since recorded another reasonably soft win over 1500m at Kembla Grange and with even luck, she can fight out the finish again today.
2 Unit Maui Girl
Continuation is a horse that tends to enjoy sharp improvement with a run under his belt and he looms as a live chance of winning at Canterbury on Wednesday at odds ($12 at publish).
The Fiorente gelding was a strong and consistent performer last time in and found form around some classy types.
He didn’t figure in a pretty good race when resuming this time at Newcastle, but this is a drop in class from that contest and he is yet to miss a place at this point of his preparation.
2 Units E/W Continuation
Heaven On Earth hasn’t shown her best form this time, but she’s stripped fitter for three starts and is ready to do something at Canterbury on Wednesday.
To be fair, the Statue Of Liberty mare has run into some decent, fit horses this time in and there was a lot to like about the way she hit the line to finish around a length from the winner at Canberra two back.
She’s drawn well, weighted to win and Keith Dryden’s horses are absolutely flying. Happy to have a small each-way place.
1 Unit E/W Heaven On Earth
Bigboyroy has made a habit of finishing second or third throughout his career, but he is always in the finish and this race does look a very winnable one for him.
The Dissident gelding has recorded two wins and a further ten minors from his thirteen career starts so far and as the record would suggest, he was a model of consistency last time in.
He’s sure to enjoy good improvement from a decent first-up run for second here and he’ll get a relief in the weights on Wednesday with Louise Day aboard.
3 Units Bigboyroy