Race-by-race preview and tips for Gosford on Thursday
By Nick Berney
Selections based on a good to soft track with showers forecast.
Race 1 - 1:15PM ADVANCE BUILDING SERVICES BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (2100 METRES)
3. Domingo has been well beaten in both campaign runs but has a much-improved setup in this event. The four-year-old now has a solid platform and gets out to a preferred distance with conditions to suit where he produces his peak figures. Third-up last prep he stepped significantly to score, and repeating that performance will put him in the finish. Expect him to settle closer from the softer gate and race well.
Gosford hosts an eight-race card on Thursday.Credit: Getty
Dangers: 7. Sian got too far back last start at Kensington but ran on well and clocked solid closing splits. He drops in grade and maps to have all favours. 2. Viadelamore started a short-price favourite last start at Murwillumbah and fended off the late challenge to score. Market watch on 4. Thornycroft, who can bounce back here and add 1. Vadamos Queen who can control the pace.
How to play it: Domingo WIN.
Race 2 - 1:50PM DAHLSENS MAIDEN PLATE (1600 METRES)
11. Kirikan had excuses first-up and was honest last start when running second at Warwick Farm to subsequent placegetter Kaizaid. Further, that race rated well relative to the day, and his ratings profile suggests he is ready to peak third-up over more ground. He maps to have all favours from the inside draw, brings a solid SP profile and is suited dropping back to the provincial circuit.
Dangers: 10. Jurisprudence was rising sharply in distance last start, 1250m-1600m, and his run had merit after chasing a fast pace. Moreover, he tried hard in defeat and will now be at optimal fitness. Expect him to roll forward and take some catching. 5. Wild Calm has been racing well but hasn’t had the race shape to suit in her past two outings. Add 2. Stand Guard, who comes through the same race as Kirikan to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Kirikan WIN.
Race 3 - 2:25PM HUME DOORS & TIMBER CG&E CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
2. Pharoah Magic returned as a gelding a fortnight ago at Hawkesbury and bolted in. The four-year-old was heavily backed late in the trade, led all the way and reeled off some of the meeting’s fastest closing splits to easily win. He has come in on a strong base figure and can step again with a positive race setup here. Further, he can roll forward from the soft draw and Sam Clipperton rides.
Dangers: 1. Let’s Try is racing well/consistently this campaign and is rock-hard fit. He led at a fast pace last start and was only narrowly beaten. The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou galloper is coming out of time/sectional merit races and will be hard to catch again. 10. Tavs returns as a gelding and he tried hard in defeat, running second to Ravello before spelling last prep. 5. Mad Deel brings strong form lines to this event and 9. Noble Attack is a knockout chance if the rain arrives.
How to play it: Pharoah Magic WIN.
Race 4 - 3:05PM PINEWOOD PRODUCTS F&M CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
1. Eau De Vie, who resumes, represents value and has trialled well in preparation for this assignment. She went through the line full of energy in a recent heat at Rosehill and is ready to run well here. The mare can be within striking distance from the soft draw with jockey Adam Hyeroniums to steer, and she is suited to all conditions. In addition, she has multiple winning figures for this event.
Dangers: 9. Smashing Dancer is improving each run this campaign, and she hit the line well last start to finish third behind Midnight Opal. 5. Always In, who resumes, led all the way to win a recent trial at this track, and she won first-up last prep. 3. There There is rock-hard fit and will give a sight.
How to play it: Eau De Vie WIN.
Race 5 - 3:40PM SHAMROCK JOINERY MIDWAY MAIDEN HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
Debutant 2. Brokerage was ridden up in a recent trial but showed speed and was strong to the line, finishing second. Further, he was in a duel over the concluding stages with the subsequent winner, Influential, and they ran solid time relative to the morning. He must contend with a tricky draw, but he is well-educated and looks to have ability.
Dangers: 1. Close Encounter was checked/blocked at a critical stage, but he picked up well and clocked some of the meeting’s fattest closing splits once clear. He will be fitter for that effort, and a rise in trip is ideal. First-starter 3. Narcissist is a nice type and has shown a turn of foot in his two trials. He is also drawn wide and will need luck, but if able to find cover, expect him to hit the line hard. 8. Estephania has a favourable race setup and is a key late market watch.
How to play it: Brokerage WIN.
Race 6 - 4:15PM DCORP CONSTRUCTIONS & RENOVATIONS SUPER MAIDEN PLATE (1100 METRES)
Leaning towards 4. Joey Dor who represents value and brings a fitness/race experience edge over some of his key rivals here. The three-year-old resumed as a gelding at Kembla Grange 14 days ago and ran an honest third. He sat outside the leader at a fast pace and never shirked his task to the line with the other on-pace runners fading. That race rated exceptionally well relative to the day, and the margins confirmed the quality. The Bjorn Baker runner will have improved from that outing and will roll forward. Each-way.
Dangers: 13. Waterski profiles well for this event, and her debut run last campaign at Warwick Farm was solid after being backed into favouritism. She was caught three-wide out on a limb working and battled on well to finish fifth in a high-rating race behind subsequent winners Taormina and Arctic Glamour. The Godolphin filly is still learning but will be hard to hold out here. Debutant 3. Invader Zim has trialled impressively and looks wound up for this event. He has hit the line hard, going through the line full of energy in two recent heats, and can undoubtedly measure up. 5. Marchesi was well-backed first-up but was wide throughout and tried hard to run second. He’ll improve with race experience and a rise in trip suits.
How to play it: Joey Dor E/W.
Race 7 - 4:50PM WEATHERTEX BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
2. Roma Avenue is ready to peak third-up, and his ratings/sectional profile supports this. The five-year-old sat outside the leader in a genuine tempo last start at Kembla 14 days ago and was honest running third in a fast-time race. He kept trying to the line, and all key indicators suggest a rise in trip is ideal. The galloper handles all surfaces, has a favourable map, and jockey Tommy Berry sticks. He has a ratings edge over his rivals, the tight turning track suits, and expect him to be hard to hold out. It’s worth noting Sara Ryan continues to perform above market expectations, with the trainer having 13 winners out of her past 100 runners for a profit on turnover of 26.9 per cent.
Dangers: 5. Belleistic Kids is in career-best form and is coming off back-to-back wins. The gelding can make the step-in grade and gets in well at the weights after the claim for Jake Barrett. 10. Tip Top Timing was well-backed last start at Hawkesbury but got too far back. He is rock-hard fit and on a quick backup. 3. Socrates and 7. Miss Lenorr bring metropolitan form lines.
How to play it: Roma Avenue WIN.
Race 8 - 5:30PM MBA CENTRAL COAST DIVISION PROVINCIAL BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
Forget 1. Lucky Variety’s first-up run, where the jockey fell shortly after the gates opened. She had trialled well enough before her resumption, and she can bounce back here. The four-year-old brings strong formlines/figures to this event, and she drops sharply in grade here. Jockey Tommy Berry rides from an awkward gate, which may be an advantage in the final event. She is a key market watch, and if she is solid in the late betting, expect her to be hard to hold out.
Dangers: 5. Border Control resumes and has trialled well leading into this event. He brings a strong 1000m specialist profile, and he’ll be surging to the line with even luck. 2. Shotmaker raced well without luck last prep and will appreciate the drop back to provincial grade. 3. Florida Sky brings a fitness edge, and a senior rider, Aaron Bullock, goes on.
How to play it: Lucky Variety WIN.
Best Bet: Race 7 No.2 – Roma Avenue
Next Best: Race 3 No.2 – Pharoah Magic
Best Value: Race 6 No.4 – Joey D’Or
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au