Race 1 – Berry Park Village Midway 5YO & Up Benchmark 64 Handicap 2010m
Brynner has the best form, but he is an unlikely runner as he is expected to run at Canterbury on Friday night. Jack Duggan, in the absence of Brynner, is the one to beat. Second up at Hawkesbury on November 23 he was only beaten a half length over 1600m when a heavily backed favourite. He has won over this longer trip and from the good barrier he will be in a forward position.
Reliable Dude has the blinkers back on and is fitter now while Iverson has a chance.
Selections: 4- Jack Duggan 8- Reliable Dude 12- Iverson
Race 2 – Spillane Property F&M Maiden Handicap 1200m
Imposant hasn’t raced since her debut fourth at Coffs Harbour on a soft track in July. The filly has had two trials recently and is going well enough and has a nice barrier.
Stablemate Bestower won a trial at Scone recently and is on debut from a good barrier.
Exceed The Sky was placed at Kembla and on the Beaumont track recently, and again has drawn an inside barrier.
Selections: 4- Imposant 2- Bestower 5- Exceed The Sky
Race 3 – Metric Power Super 4YO & Up Maiden Plate 1350m
Botanica has promise and after a nine-month spell was only beaten 1.29 lengths at Canterbury on November 24. He should have finished closer as he was held up for a short time in the straight. He will be fitter, the barriers okay and the stable quickly snapped up top jockey Mitchell Bell.
Sovereign Dane is in two races and he will be hard to beat in either race. He hasn’t raced since June when placed at Hawkesbury, but his recent trials have been good.
Community has a place chance.
Selections: 1- Botanica 7- Sovereign Dane 2- Community
Race 4 – Allied The Careful Movers Provincial Maiden Plate 1350m
Sovereign Dane hasn’t drawn as well here, but this race is not as strong. He led until the last bit when beaten 2.28 lengths at Hawkesbury in June. He has only had the one start for Doyle.
Colours Of Autumn made up good ground first up on the Kensington track and she comes in well at the weights.
Irish Accolade has the blinkers off and can improve.
Selections: 4- Sovereign Dane 11- Colours Of Autumn 6- Irish Accolade
Race 5 – QMF Construction Christmas Plate CG&E Maiden Handicap 1200m
Chartwell and Listentozou look the best chances. Chartwell had two starts earlier this year and he was runner up at Wyong and on the Kensington track. In both starts he has attacked the line and he was impressive winning a recent Rosehill trial.
Listentozou has only raced three times in the winter, and two starts back in July was only beaten 1.87 lengths on the Kensington track.
Costner showed speed in his only start at Newcastle and he is a well bred colt.
Selections: 1- Chartwell 3-Listentozou 9- Costner
Race 6 – HBT Group 5YO & Up Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap 1150m
It is an open race, but the speedy Cecilia has found a suitable race. The mare finished fifth in a stronger race on the Newcastle course proper on December 2, and she was only 1.6 lengths from the winner on the same track two starts back. She has a luxury weight with apprentice Ben Osmond’s 3kg allowance.
Toro Toro has been out of form, but it is a huge drop in class and in his last two runs he hasn’t been far away.
Magnitudo has speed and can fill a place.
Selections: 6- Cecilia 1- Toro Toro 2- Magnitudo
Race 7 – Loan Market Direct Benchmark 64 Handicap 1250m
Chilli Filly is quick and should lead from barrier one. She blitzed a weak field on debut at Tuncurry, and at her only other start stepped up in class when placed at Wyong. She could be hard to run down.
Skylight Song has been placed in his past four starts during the winter and he has had a couple of trials.
King’s Duty raced well below his best last preparation, but he is capable nice and fresh.
Selections: 10- Chilli Filly 3- Skylight Song 4- King’s Duty