Race 1- Sage Painting Class 1 and Maiden Plate 2325m
Imported stayer Alakahan is in great form and will be at short odds. The Irish four-year-old has had three Australian starts and has caught the eye of his last two. He ran on strong when a closing second over 1850 metres on this track two starts back before making up 10 lengths when a length second over 2100 at Wyong last start.
Highjacker could fill a place and Inside Trader likewise.
Selections:
2- Alakahan
1 – Highjacker
7 – Inside Trader
Race 2 – Hunter Valley Premium Meats Maiden Handicap 1600m
Costa Zou has been placed in nine of fifteen starts and he has a great chance to break through. He has been runner up in his only two starts on this track. In the two Newcastle runs he was beaten less than a length in much stronger fields than this. He will appreciate the dry track.
Jazirat was narrowly beaten at Wyong last start and that was her best run.
Hit The High Note has a place chance.
Selections:
1 – Costa Zou
4 – Jazirat
3 – Hit The High Note
Race 3 – Advanced Pest Control Maiden Plate 1400m
California August has good city form and he is well weighted under the conditions. He was beaten 1½ lengths when placed at Canterbury on June 10. Three starts back at Warwick Farm in January he stormed home to finish second, less than a length from the winner. He races well second up and finished close up in his only Newcastle run in December.
Individualist is trialling well and was placed at Canterbury in January while Debasement has a chance.
Selections:
1 – California August
3 – Individualist
10 – Debasement
Race 4- Rarity Wholesale 2YO Maiden Plate 900m
Whatyoulookingat is bred for speed and she confirmed that when placed on debut on this track on June 6. She hit the ground running and she led to well in the straight only to be beaten 1.8 lengths. She has drawn well and has a two-kilogram claim.
Kaufusi was run down late when beaten half a length at Kembla last start.
Can’t Duch Dis was an easy Warwick Farm trial winner recently.
Selections:
12 – Whatyoulookingat
3 – Kaufusi
1 – Can’t Duch Dis
Race 5 – Hungerford Hill Wines Class 2 Handicap 1400m
Madam Legend is unbeaten in two starts on this track and has drawn perfectly. She was narrowly beaten when runner up on the Kensington track on June 3. She will probably box-seat over the shorter trip and is strong late.
Mercury has never raced better and has raced three times at Newcastle for a win and two placings.
Avion Fury is a winner on the track and has a chance.
Selections:
2 – Madam Legend
1 – Mercury
4 – Avion Fury
Race 6 – Greenway Turf Solutions Maiden Handicap 1200m
Aeecee Beau resumes from a spell after a close second in a recent Randwick barrier trial. He has only had three starts and in two of them in May 2019. He was narrowly beaten at Canterbury and on the Kensington track. He has class on these but has to overcome an adverse barrier.
Bondi Blue resumes on the back of a trial win and was placed on the Kensington track in October.
Honey Go Lightly has a place chance.
Selections:
1 – Aeecee Beau
3 – Bondi Blue
6 – Honey Go Lightly
Race 7 – Guardian Safety Solutions Benchmark 64 Handicap 1200m
Luga Lad is unbeaten this prep and he steps up in class here. He won at Taree first up and the stormed home to win impressively last start on the same track. He will appreciate this spacious track.
Catapult has the rails barrier, the claim and he is in good form.
Exceltic first up run at Gosford was a ripper coming from last to go down by half a length.
Selections:
10 – Luga Lad
1 – Catapult
2 – Exceltic
Race 8 – TAB – Long May We Play Port Stephens Cup Conditional Benchmark 70 Handicap 1600m
Ulysses has had three starts at Newcastle for two wins and he is more comfortable over this trip rather than the 1800 last start. He was narrowly beaten on the Kensington track two starts back and he won first up at Newcastle on April 23.
Manabar is in good form winning the Gundagai Cup last start and he was a Newcastle winner three starts back.
Peace Of Mind was heavily backed when he won on this track last start.
Selections:
3- Ulysses
2 – Manabar
5 – Peace Of Mind