Race 1
Race Summary: PLUMBAGO PARK finished a career-best second on her Highveld debut for the new yard and won't need to improve much on that effort to go one better in her peak outing. AQUARIUS didn't go unnoticed when finishing fourth on debut against male opposition and should, with natural improvement, play a leading role against female-only rivals. WINTER WEDDING has the form and experience to make her presence felt, while newcomer RUSSIAN NOBILITY won't need to be special to get involved.
Selections:
#1 Plumbago Park, #4 Aquarius, #2 Winter Wedding, #6 Russian Nobility
Race 2
Race Summary: Filly POWER OF PEARLS made a highly regarded male rival work for victory over this trip last time and a repeat of that effort, with the benefit of a sex allowance, should suffice in this line-up. UBERMENSCH, ECHOES OF WAR and ROYALE JACKET concede weight to the selection but have the ability to make life difficult for her. Any market support for newcomers CONTINENTAL KING and SCENTED PATH will need to be taken seriously.
Selections:
#10 Power Of Pearls, #7 Continental King, #4 Echoes Of War, #1 Ubermensch
Race 3
Race Summary: LAVA LAMP has flattered to deceive at a higher level recently, but should fare better in calmer waters, especially with the benefit of her rider's 4kg allowance. Veterans DAMOVA and TRIDENT KING are proven stayers with the form and experience to threaten the selection. Both NUCLEAR FORCE and THE MERCIFUL fit a similar profile so could have a say in the outcome too. ITSNOWORNEVER, COPPER PLATE and MOUNT ETNA can play minor roles.
Selections:
#1 Lava Lamp, #2 Damova, #4 Copper Plate, #7 Trident King
Race 4
Race Summary: DELAWARE RIVER made up a lot of ground when finishing a close-up fourth on this track over 1450m last time and, with any improvement over this extended trip, she will be hard to beat under a 4kg claimer from a favourable inside barrier. JABARI THIMBA, WAR TALK and COMIC ARTIST have more scope than most, so they could improve to have a say. JABBERWOCKY and stablemate FRANKIE FAHRENHEIT won't be far off the action either.
Selections:
#2 Delaware River, #3 Jabari Thimba, #4 Jabberwocky, #8 Frankie Fahrenheit
Race 5
Race Summary: SPUMANTE DOLCE made an underwhelming reappearance in a recent Grade 2 but did have legitimate excuses. She will strip fitter and be more competitive on these terms, especially with a tongue-tie refitted. However, it could pay to side with joint best-weighted rival MINOGUE who should play a leading role if repeating the performance of her last-start fourth in a course-and-distance Grade 2. Last-start winner JUNIPER GREEN, stablemate MISS HANNIGAN and hat-trick seeking FAMOUS LADY are also capable of staking a claim.
Selections:
#3 Minogue, #1 Spumante Dolce, #6 Miss Hannigan, #4 Famous Lady
Race 6
Race Summary: Veteran AFTER HOURS showed his form and well-being when winning a similar course-and-distance race a fortnight ago and a 4-point penalty is unlikely to prevent him from making another bold bid in his 100th appearance. Class-droppers ZIP CODE, SUTHERLAND and EIFFEL TOWER are competitive at this level and will pose a threat if reproducing their most recent performances. BLOOMINGTON and CLARKSON appeal most of the remainder.
Selections:
#2 After Hours, #1 Zip Code, #6 Eiffel Tower, #3 Sutherland
Race 7
Race Summary: Lightly raced UNIVERSAL GIRL confirmed the improvement of her maiden victory by finishing second in a stronger handicap last time, albeit against female-only opposition. She is open to further progress so should capitalise on this ease in grade. Hard-knockers CALIDA, SUNSHINE DAY, CAN'T CATCH ME have the form and experience at this level to challenge for race honours. MATTIAZO and VAVA VEGAS fit a similar profile but they have wide draws to overcome.
Selections:
#4 Universal Girl, #1 Calida, #7 Can'T Catch Me, #2 Sunshine Day
Race 8
Race Summary: RACHEL WALL justified strong betting support when winning cosily on her reappearance and a 3-point penalty isn't likely to halt her progress or prevent her from following up. Stablemate BLIZZARD SNOW, last-start scorer HONG KONG and returning SISTER GOLDEN HAIR have shown enough to suggest that they will acquit themselves competitively. STARS AND BRA'S and MYSTICAL MISS, closely matched on the form of a recent meeting, complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#1 Rachel Wall, #2 Blizzard Snow, #5 Stars And Bra's, #6 Mystical Miss
Race 9
Race Summary: Improving SEASON'S GREETINGS beat older rivals when winning as a 2yo. She's open to any amount of progress on her reappearance so it could pay to side with her ahead of MAVERICK QUEEN who has found form and consistency recently after dropping in the ratings. Returning veteran mare THERE SHE GOES and honest hard-knocker PRINCESS LOLA aren't taken lightly either. WINDSOR SILK and FAIR PROPOSAL are other 3yo fillies with scope for improvement, so they have earning potential too.
Selections:
#1 Season's Greetings, #6 Maverick Queen, #7 There She Goes, #9 Princess Lola
Best Win: #2 DELAWARE RIVER
Best Value Bet: #2 AFTER HOURS
Best Longshot: #2 AFTER HOURS
