Saturday night at The Creek brings eight races to unpack, with Oli Cownie sorting through the form to find his best chances and plays.
ALWAYS B COOL (6) is a very smart horse who has been extremely impressive in his seven-start career, scoring four wins and three placings and never missing the top three. He comes into this race first-up and draws wide, but he has brilliant high speed and should be able to win this race a number of ways.
SHADES OF MIKI (12) was able to work to the front last time out and proved too good when beating Kiki Meister. He draws outside the back row this time, which looks quite awkward on paper.
OUR ROCKY (2) has good gate speed and should be able to find the front early in this race. He has been impressive in his three wins over the 1660m at this track, but could be tested stepping up in class and racing over 2138m this time.
GREASED LIGHTNIN (7) was very impressive in a recent stand-start win, leading throughout to score by a big margin and run a very slick last half. He draws wide this time and may need to use his speed late to get into the race.
SELECTIONS: ALWAYS B COOL (6), SHADES OF MIKI (12), OUR ROCKY (2), GREASED LIGHTNIN (7)
SUGGESTED BET: ALWAYS B COOL (6) to win.
| 6. Always B Cool Nz (5) 1213x |
MOSTERT (5) was able to work to the lead last time out and scored a dominant all-the-way win, beating TARGARYEN (4). He draws the best of the main chances in this race and can look to press forward and find the lead again.
WILLIAMS (9) was able to lead last time out when beating smart Dixon-trained horse Fire And Passion over 2138m at this track in a race run at a very slick last 1200m. He draws to do no work early and could be suited if there’s a genuine early tempo.
TARGARYEN (4) secured a good run last time out after being shuffled back a touch early, then ran on strongly late into second behind MOSTERT (5). He seems best suited when driven sit-sprint at this stage of his career and can be running on late again if the race is run to suit.
LILSTREPO (1) will be doing her best to hold a position early in a race with an abundance of early speed. She was suited last time out when getting a good run off the speed and was able to run over the top and beat Shes Crunchy.
SELECTIONS: MOSTERT (5), WILLIAMS (9), TARGARYEN (4), LILSTREPO (1)
SUGGESTED BET: MOSTERT (5) to win.
| 5. Mostert Nz (5) 13211 |
FATE AWAITS (5) was very impressive last time out, starting off a 20m handicap in a stand-start race at this track and winning impressively over Regazzo Di Tilly. He should be able to press forward and find a prominent position.
RUBY RULES (4) secured the right run early last time out while Sally Bigtime and Cool And Classy took each other on. She was able to blend into the race nicely when Cool And Classy rolled to the top, then proved a bit too good late. She meets her smart stablemate in this race but looks to have strong place claims.
EXCLUSIVE HUSTLER (1) has good gate speed and may be able to drive through and lead before having options from there. He was crossed recently when drawn in barrier one by the very fast Rakasandy, but may be able to drive through and lead this time.
AIR EXPRESS (8) should get a good run through early in this race behind the speed. He followed an excellent third with a good win last time out, sitting without cover and proving too good for them.
SELECTIONS: FATE AWAITS (5), RUBY RULES (4), EXCLUSIVE HUSTLER (1), AIR EXPRESS (8)
SUGGESTED BET: FATE AWAITS (5) to win.
| 5. Fate Awaits (5) 21121 |
LEAP TO FAME (2) led and won with relative ease last time out after finding the front and controlling things to suit, beating Dashing. It was his first win with Trista Dixon driving the champion. He meets an even weaker field here, where he should find the front and can win by as far as he wants, depending on how strong a hit-out Grant would like to give him.
CATSEYE BEACH (1) has good gate speed and should be able to hold his position early before handing over to Leap To Fame. He was able to lead last time out and proved too good, scoring a nice win after leading all the way and beating Air Express.
COSMIC FLYER (3) was very impressive last time out, flashing into second behind Air Express in a very quick last half. He should secure a good run on the pegs in this race and looks a strong chance for the placings again.
SMARTER THAN YOU (5) has been excellent this time in and ran another good race last time out, running on strongly late into fourth in a race taken out by Captain Shuffles. He should get a good run on the pegs off the speed and be running on late again.
SELECTIONS: LEAP TO FAME (2), CATSEYE BEACH (1), COSMIC FLYER (3), SMARTER THAN YOU (5)
SUGGESTED BET: CATSEYE BEACH (1) to place.
| 1. Catseye Beach (1) 63541 |
TIZZY LIZZIE (4) was shuffled back on debut in Queensland and ran on late into sixth. She is likely to have derived a lot of benefit from the outing and should be able to press forward and find a prominent position in this race.
DOLLY ROCKET (2) gets back into the draw in this race and draws much better as a result. She should settle close and is never far away when the race is run to suit.
ROSTOVA (1) is a capable sit-sprinter returning in this race. She has good gate speed and should hold a prominent position before having options from there. She can be running on late.
OUR ULTIMATE JESSY (8) should get a good run through early behind a gate-speed horse. If she can find gaps at the right time, she should be hard to hold out late. She was running on well two starts ago, finishing second behind Fear The Pain in a race the winner rated good time.
SELECTIONS: TIZZY LIZZIE (4), DOLLY ROCKET (2), ROSTOVA (1), OUR ULTIMATE JESSY (8)
SUGGESTED BET: TIZZY LIZZIE (4) to win.
| 4. Tizzy Lizzie (4) 451×6 |
GOODOLDBOYSANDBEER (4) secured a good run off the speed and was running on strongly late into second behind Cosmic Flyer in a race the winner rated fast time. He looks likely to get a good run again and will be hard to beat with a repeat of his latest effort.
ZAC DANIELS (8) should get a good run through behind the speed and settle close in the run. He was impressive last time out in a stronger race when not beaten far by King Bling.
ARKIN WICKED (1) should have the speed to drive through and lead in the early stages of this race. He ran well the last time he led in a similar race over the mile, which was taken out by Studleigh Mark. A similar effort should see him hard to beat.
GETAGRIP (5) was a month between runs last time out when caught wide, then shuffled back and well beaten at this track and trip. He is likely to be better for the outing and can run well in this company.
SELECTIONS: GOODOLDBOYSANDBEER (4), ZAC DANIELS (8), ARKIN WICKED (1), GETAGRIP (5)
SUGGESTED BET: GETAGRIP (5) each way.
| 5. Getagrip (5) 79350 |
BLACKJACK SAM (3) put in a good run first-up, leading and winning at this track. He may have let the leader get away with too much last time out when sitting outside Sweet Times and being unable to reel that horse in late in a race that became a dash up the straight. He draws well here and should be hard to beat again.
BETTER ONE (6) looked one of the top two-year-olds earlier in the year, running a number of excellent races, including a good third in the Paleface Adios behind Jacwill Kid and Birdsong. He has shown he is capable of doing work in his races and, despite the wide draw, should be hard to beat.
FIT AND READY (2) secured a good run behind the leader last time out and just couldn’t quite reel in the leader, finishing a close-up third in a race that became a dash up the straight. She should get a good run just behind the speed and can run well again.
CHERRY SURPRISE (1) showed good gate speed last time out and was able to control things in the lead before dashing for home and proving too good. She looks likely to get a good run on the pegs in this race and shouldn’t be too far away in the finish.
SELECTIONS: BLACKJACK SAM (3), BETTER ONE (6), FIT AND READY (2), CHERRY SURPRISE (1)
SUGGESTED BET: BLACKJACK SAM (3) to win.
| 3. Blackjack Sam (3) 54812 |
SHES CRUNCHY (4) was forced to do plenty of work first-up from a spell last time out, sitting without cover, and battled on well for second. She looks likely to be forced to do some work again, but is likely to have derived good benefit from her recent outing.
BETTORS MOON (2) was able to burn to the lead last time out and scored a comfortable win over Shes In Line at this track and trip. She looks likely to lead again, and a similar effort should see her hard to run down.
QUEEN LILIBET (1) has good gate speed and should be able to lead before having options from there. She got back last time out at Marburg and was running on nicely into second behind Barracuda.
GOLDEN SHOOZ (6) led three starts ago and scored a dominant win over 2138m at Albion Park. She draws wide this time and will likely need a few things to go her way in the run.
SELECTIONS: SHES CRUNCHY (4), BETTORS MOON (2), QUEEN LILIBET (1), GOLDEN SHOOZ (6)
SUGGESTED BET: SHES CRUNCHY (4) to win.
| 4. Shes Crunchy Nz (4) 224×2 |