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ROYAL RANDWICK – BEST BET: Race 5 No.1 – BUENOS NOCHES
This is a big race for Buenos Noches and a chance for him to announce himself as a potential Everest contender. If he wins he'll still have a way to go to entice a slot holder but it's an important step. He has the form on the board from his three-year-old year, with placings behind Giga Kick and In Secret, and he is more than capable with the sting out of the ground. There was plenty to like about his recent trials and from a middle gate he'll be able to position wherever he needs to be to put himself in the finish given there's a chance it will be a slowly run race.
ROYAL RANDWICK – BEST VALUE: Race 8 No.9 – LINDERMANN
Barrier draws can be significant at some starting points but the Randwick 1400m isn't one of them and that's why it's puzzling that a horse with Lindermann's early speed and virtually only a dogleg to the home turn has been ignored in the market. He's been set up to fire with two trials, the latest an excellent one, and a race day exhibition gallop last week and he's proven on rain affected ground. It's possible the middle is where they'll want to be come race eight and that'd be to his advantage. Has the platform and racing style to transition to weight-for-age and surprised he's not single figures.
ROYAL RANDWICK – SECTIONAL STAR: Race 4 No.15 – FOR VICTORY
Put the writing on the wall with a big finish to run third at his Sydney debut behind Wategos at Rosehill a couple of weeks ago. He was back from a mile to 1350m and stepped away slowly so he was always chasing in a race where the winner led and ran them along. He clocked 34.06 for his last 600m, two lengths superior to anything else in the race, and his last 200m of 11.55 was also a stand out being about 1-1/2 lengths quicker. Heads back to a mile which will suit him and his French form on soft suggests he handles it. If he backs up that last run he's in the finish.
NEWCASTLE – PROVINCIAL PICK: Race 5 No.2 – STATE OF AMERICA
David Payne threw this gelding in a deeper pool than he needed to first-up and he went super. The form guide says he ran sixth behind Ivan's Hero in a Benchmark 72 at Rosehill but sectionally it was one of the runs of the race. He ran the fastest 200m for every split from the 1000m to the post in the 1400m event. There was some specking to say he'd run well, which he did, and he steps up to a mile and right back in grade to a Class 1. His maiden win was second-up last campaign at a mile and he's city placed on a heavy track. If he runs up to his fresh effort he'll be going close.
SUNDAY COUNTRY BEST - NARROMINE: Race 5 No.5 - DEELBREAKA
A new addition to the Clint Lundholm stable, this gelding brings some very nice provincial form into a country grade Class 1 & Maiden Plate. Two runs back he was edged out by Enotis at Kembla Grange, that horse then went to Kensington midweek and won, before breaking through in a maiden at Newcastle three weeks ago. Both placegetters have since been placed so the form isn't bad. A mile shouldn't worry him and from barrier one he can be right on the back of the speed. One of the better placed horses going around this weekend.
