Due to the postponement of Warwick Farm, Newcastle will now adopt their race times. Schedule as follows: R1 – 1:30pm R2 – 2:05pm R3 – 2:40pm R4 – 3:15pm R5 – 3:50pm R6 – 4:30pm R7 – 5:10pm R8 – 5:50pm
Race 1- Australian Bloodstock Class 2 Handicap 1600m
Sciconic finished midfield first up on this track on January 25. The longer trip is ideal, and he was six lengths away in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes in October. He was an easy winner of a 1600 metre Kembla Maiden before a spell.
Hamogany has good wet track form and he had a win and three placings before a spell.
Doctor Manhattan can mix his form but has a chance in this field.
Selections:
3- Sciconic
1- Hamogany
4- Doctor Manhattan
Race 2- The Burwood Inn Maiden Plate 900m
Covert Ops was a smart two-year-old, but his form tapered off before a spell in July. During the spell he was gelded, and he trialled impressively at Rosehill recently. He was beaten a head in the Group 3 Breeders Plate at Randwick in September 2018.
Buckin’ Rippa resumes without a trial but his second placing in a strong field on this track last start.
Zemdegs has won two trials recently.
Selectiosn:
3- Covert Ops
2- Buckin Rippa
6- Zemdegs
Race 3- Specialeyes By Susan Walton Optometrist Maiden Handicap 1200m
Ranges was narrowly beaten at Warwick Farm a couple of weeks back. Two starts back he was runner up in record time at Gosford and he is bred to handle the wet track.
Oakfield Navajo’s first up run was an eye catcher and the longer trip is more suitable.
Pioneer has never been out of a place and has wet track form.
Selections:
3- Ranges
2- Oakfield Navajo
1- Pioneer
Race 4- Cuppa Joes Class 1 & Maiden Plate 1885m
Parry Sound is a promising stayer which had no luck second up at Wyong recently. He was slow out and at the tail of the field to near the turn where he was set alight four and five wide. Despite the tough run he finished fourth. Parry Sound was only beaten a head over a shorter trip at Kembla and he is a winner over 1800.
Tombstone is crying out for this trip after two runs from a spell and his only win was on this track.
Colette has been runner up in her past two starts and she will appreciate the longer trip
Selections:
2- Parry Sound
4- Tombstone
11- Colette
Race 5- HM Conveyancing Benchmark 64 Handicap 900m
Vivaro resumes here after a good prep during the winter and early spring. She was an easy Hawkesbury Maiden winner on a wet track in July and she was narrowly beaten in a strong Newcastle Maiden in August. The filly is ready to go after a recent Rosehill trial.
Lagarde is a speedy mare with good wet track form and she will appreciate the short course.
Hildalgo resumes without a trial but has good first up record and races well on wet tracks.
Selections:
10- Vivaro
8- Lagarde
1- Hildalgo
Race 6- Construction Link Maiden Handicap 1400m
Bellarine came from a long way back when placed in a classy Maiden field on this track two weeks ago. She will appreciate the longer trip and the wide barrier may not be such a negative on the wet track.
Chanting hasn’t raced for five weeks however she was kept up to the mark with a recent Rosehill trial. She was narrowly beaten on the Beaumont track four days before Christmas.
Contango has a place chance
Selections:
5- Bellarine
6- Chanting
7- Contango
Race 7- Tradie Network Class 2 Handicap 1200m
Anethole was very impressive in a fast finishing win on this track two weeks ago. He was held up in the straight but raced away in the closing stages. He was placed in record time at Gosford two starts back.
On The White Turf is a stayer resuming but she loves a wet track and she has had two recent trials.
Enchanted Heart’s first up run at Gosford was full of merit.
Selections:
3- Anethole
1- On The White Turf
9- Enchanted Heart
Race 8- Allied Pickfords Benchmark 64 Handicap 1500m
Classic Gaming was impressive winning first up on the Beaumont track on Boxing Day before an unplaced run at Kembla he has good form on wet tracks and the 1500 is more suitable.
Da Power is unbeaten on wet tracks and he has a good second up record.
Watching has an outstanding wet track record and he races well on this track
Selections:
2- Classic Gaming
1- Da Power
6- Watching