Track Good 4 and rail True
RACE 1
5. Cellarmaster, by top sprinter Bivouac, can return for just his second start with a bang. Hasn’t raced since a fair debut at Newcastle in winter, but reportedly has come on well. Liked the sharp improvement in his second trial, and looks ready to go. 1. Ichiban Koji is a lightly raced improver by Blue Point in the leading stable, and big market watch second-up after being scratched from Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting to run here. 2. Lancelot Du Lac is a colt by Flying Artie on debut for the Waterhouse-Bott stable from the inside draw behind two steady trials. 9. Valentiago resumes for a second prep behind two trials for a leading city stable; while 8. Viva Mauricio second-up and one of four Chris Waller-trained runners, goes into all trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Cellarmaster to win
Randwick hosts an eight-race card on the Kensington track on Friday.Credit: Getty Images
RACE 2
1. Balmoral Castle is an emerging and well bred filly who is primed to peak second-up and four weeks between runs. Worked home well in a handy maiden for the girls on debut, but although there’s a shade less quality here, it’s a wide field with plenty of chances. Late market moves will be pivotal. 8. Champere is over the odds from a handy trailing draw after finishing close-up on debut when solid in the market. 2. Daphnes is drawn wide, but with more than enough ability to run into the finish after copping a poorly timed ride first-up at Canterbury when hard in the market. 11. Wootton Way can improve sharply second-up having been preferred here to Warwick Farm on Wednesday. 4. Movie Night, a filly by Tivaci on debut at home behind two progressive trials, and at big odds 7. Sunsprite another first starter kicking off after two trials; can both figure in minor money.
How to play it: Balmoral Castle to win
RACE 3
2. Contaldo is bursting to snap a long wait for a second career win third-up over a furlong further. Covered ground early in a plain first-up effort at Hawkesbury before taken to the front at Gosford and was collared in the final strides. Senior jockey goes on, yearning for the longer trip, and can dictate from an ideal draw. 1. Lennox swamped the top selection last start and meets him the same at the weights, but has a tougher draw here. 6. Winning Point is each way value from the inside coming back a shade in trip third-up; while 7. Wandjad is an honest country galloper who has continued to improve through three straight Saturday Highway runs.
How to play: Contaldo to win
RACE 4
7. Written Scandal is a tough and improving home track mare who represents terrific value second-up behind a month-long freshen. Wasn’t far away in two deeper races through early spring before hitting the line into a place at Canterbury three weeks ago. Less depth here, and drawn to get an ideal trail. 6. Calga Power showed tactical speed to lead all-the-way first-up at Gosford, and won his only previous second-up run. Hard to stop, although a small query over this longer trip. 3. Cross Tasman is lightly raced and progressive, and although he normally takes a run to find his gears, has been fitted with two trials over 1050m, and can run a big race fresh. 2. Sociable is hard fit deep into the prep and can finish in the money. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Written Scandal to win
RACE 5
14. Virgil’s Gift is a lightly raced and promising filly from the Waterhouse-Bott camp who rates on top heading into her third start in a wide race. Pulled off a big betting move when sweeping home to win at Kembla on debut before missing as a favourite in metropolitan BM 64 company. Comes back 100m in trip for the 23-day break between runs, and has the tactical speed to take a forward position off the fence. 9. Emery steps up from a dominant provincial maiden win, but has the ability and is on the rise. 5. Emballee has been running home late in and around the money all prep, and comes through the same race as the top selection. 12. Fast Track is another over the odds third-up; while 8. Elivina draws to get a soft run second-up.
How to play it: Virgil’s Gift to win
RACE 6
2. Rolling Magic is well-placed to pounce second-up since late winter. Charged home from well back to miss by a neck in similar company nearly four weeks ago, and being drawn to settle back inside and do little work, just needs to get out rolling and have a clear crack from the top of the straight. 8. Starman has been running in tougher BM 78 Saturday fields, and wasn’t in the right part on a poor Kembla surface second-up. 9. Frontex was right behind the former at Rosehill at double figure odds last start, and blinkers come off. 5. Mirra Impact is over the odds second-up with blinkers on. 6. Dashing Rupert will relish the extra furlong fourth-up; while 10. How Much Better is a trifecta and first four chance second-up.
How to play it: Rolling Magic to win
RACE 7
6. Laurel Hill is a big-finishing Canberra mare who has never raced better. Should have won a feature country sprint two starts back when badly held up before charging late; then flew home from near last to beat a handy BM 68 field at Newcastle. Drawn to get cover, and carries the same weight after the jockey’s 3kg claim. 2. Hydrometer has hit the line impressively in two runs back, and draws to get a soft passage inside. 3. Heuristic gets a timely class drop fourth-up, with blinkers on. 11. Scopics draws to get a soft run well back, and is another one who can hit the line at big odds if he gets a run. Watch the betting on another Canberra visitor 4. Loose Love resuming.
How to play it: Laurel Hill to win
RACE 8
3. Starboard is a talented and lightly raced gelding who can explode home first-up since early May. Mixed his form after a powerful finishing BM 64 win at Hawkesbury last campaign, but comes to hand quickly, and has been fitted with two trials. 9. Me Me is a big threat third-up from a low draw. 2. Off The Press is consistent and tough, and from the same stable as Loose Love in the previous. Won two straight up to country BM 74 level before missing narrowly in a BM 72 at Canterbury, and draws to get a soft run. Gap to the rest head by 1. Equilibrist resuming off two progressive trials.
How to play it: Starboard to win
BEST BETS: R3 2. CONTALDOR6 2. ROLLING MAGIC
BEST VALUE: R8 3. STARBOARD
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
