Well last week was a shit show, nothing more, nothing less, certainly didn’t brighten the Christmas weekend up. We need to bounce back today in order to try and bring some joy to the New Years celebrations. It has been a fun year with these previews and we have come to the end of 2023, so for one last time, let’s crack in!
Track Report: The torrential downpour that Christmas weekend brought will likely ensure the track has at least a touch of juice in it – Soft 5/6 minimum you would think. The rail is out 3 metres which is on the brink of when the leaders start to get a slight advantage over backmarkers.
Race 1 – 1200M Precise Air Hcp
Another day, another almost impossible to work out 2YO Handicap.
Vianarra will be the one I am backing. Comes out of the same race as Parkour when both of them chased home the very talented Arabian Summer in the Ballarat Magic Millions race. Vianarra will be likely pushing forward and Rachel King is flying at the moment, while Parkour will likely get a bit of the ways back coming from the widest alley. They’ll be the two to beat, as the market suggests, but I will go with Rachel King’s mount.
Pierant looks to be one of the few horses that will likely push right to the front and prove hard to rundown if the track plays similarly to last week. The camp isn’t well represented at the Magic Millions meeting this year so they will want him to try and win to get into the field for Gold Coast in a couple of weeks time.
Dark Arts can have the same things said about him. Needs the win to try and get a sniff at Gold Coast and considering his price tag, the camp will want him in the big race, expect a strong intent to win.
Selections: 2-1-5-4
Suggested Bet: Vianarra Each Way
Race 2 – 1200M Tab Highway Hcp (C3)
I have a rule against backing favourites in a Highway race but Gallant Star is a horse that I have great respect for and hopefully, I don’t regret breaking my rule. Was super unlucky not to win first up when only beaten narrowly. Will be fitter for that outing and will love the fact the track is still soggy. The only issue is the very wide barrier. If he doesn’t burn petrol to get to the front from the 15th barrier, he will be very hard to beat.
Bomarea is the one they will have to chase down as she is drawn very close to the rails and loves to push forward and dictate the race. Lightly raced, 3/4 record, full of potential, one more win and she breaks out of the Highway grade you would think. Very dangerous.
King Rupert comes out of the same race as Gallant Star which I would consider to be strong form for a race like this. Came up short in the next start at Scone as well and now gets to jump up in distance to potentially get over the top of them this time. Great each way chance.
Discreet Miss rounds out selections here. Flying this prep and has managed to snag all 3 career wins at the 1200m distance. Will ride the pace and try and run over the top of the leaders late.
Selections: 2-7-14-12
Suggested Bet: Gallant Star Win
Race 3 – 1400M Midway (Bm72)
Runwiththetide is the straight bat option here. Bottom weight, will sit in the box seat, coming off a super run in a march harder field, he ticks just about every box. Well placed here and should be winning.
Toronomica has had a very solid prep without running a place. He has constantly been surrounded by better horses such as Sweet Mercy, With Your Blessing and the very talented Terra Mater. That form could take him a long way and he should be strong late.
Your Not The Boss figures into this one purely from a weight point of view in my mind. He’s flying, having found winning form in the Country, he can go on with it now that he joins this class with a 6kg swing on the top weight and versatility in all conditions.
Tavs will likely get pretty far back, but if he can stay within striking distance he can find his way into the money.
Selections: 12-13-4-11
Suggested Bet: Runwiththetide Win
Race 4 – 1300M James Squire (Bm72)
Happy to take a stab at Hyde Park. He is Waterhouse and Bott trained and should be right at the front from a soft draw. His one run when 2nd up had him win on a rain affected track and he returned very solidly at Canterbury first up. Bigger track and longer distance puts him in good stead here at odds.
Keenan is the stablemate, who will have very similar tactics has to jump from the widest gate. 1/1 at this distance and hasn’t run a bad race on wet ground. His 2 trials in the lead up to this have been solid enough to warrant belief he will put in a strong run.
Miss Emma is coming off a win at Canterbury where she absolutely smashed them by 5 lengths no less. Can go on with it now with a patient enough steer.
Sydney Bowler is lightly raced and undefeated. The old saying goes, beware the unbeaten horse and I will make sure I don’t leave him out of my numbers.
Selections: 7-3-9-4
Suggested Bet: Hyde Park Each Way
Race 5 – 2000M Petaluma (Bm88)
Touristic is an old favourite of mine in races like this. He is a son of Frankel and I always respect those horses, as they are just so consistent. He does his best work on rain affected tracks as well. Well placed and should be somewhere in the finish.
Deficit has had a frustrating prep for those who have constantly backed him. I thank my lucky stars I haven’t been one of those people. But to his credit, he does always present as a strong chance. Finally gets that jump in distance he has been crying out for and that just might be the making of him.
Miss You Ella is an American import for the Maher and Eustace team, who presents as a very interesting prospect. Ran really well first up at Kembla before the conditioning just gave out a touch, fitter for that and can certainly play a role at odds.
Naval College is a solid favourite who will have little excuse to not put in challenging run. Pet distance and never missing the placings on a soft deck has him well placed.
Selections: 5-7-4-2
Suggested Bet: Touristic Win
Race 6 – 1600M Chandon Garden Spritz (Bm78)
Miracle Spin usually does his best work over a longer distance than this but you have to be wary of him always, especially because he is used to running against much better horses than this. His first up run was alright without setting the world on fire, but he will appreciate the rise in distance.
Louisville has to be running well here you would think. 2 very strong runs at 1400m so far this prep and both of which had him crying out for a mile. Finds it here and maps well to slot in with cover before swinging wide and putting in a strong run late.
Crafty Eagle has had a rough prep so far, but finds himself excellently placed here. Finds his pet track, pet distance and pet conditions. Will have little excuse to be out of the finish.
Hide Your Heart rounds out selections at odds after running super last start with a barnstorming run home, the jump in distance will only help her.
Selections: 2-7-3-9
Suggested Bet: Miracle Spin Win
Race 7 – 1600M Drinkwise Maroubra Mile (Bm100)
Grebeni is just a benchmark winning machine. His trainer has high hopes for him next year, potentially targeting a Five Diamonds type race. That isn’t out of the question, but he has 10 months to get out of the Benchmark territory if he is any hope. That charge starts now and with another strong win here he can punch his way firmly into the Group race only class for the Autumn Carnival.
Charterhouse wasn’t terrible in The Ingham and should be respected off that run. This distance is where he does his best work and he is proven on wet tracks. Respect.
Skylab and The Fortune Teller are the only other horses I could potentially entertain.
Selections: 4-1-2-6
Suggested Bet: Grebeni Win (BEST BET)
Race 8 – 1100M Schweppes (Bm78)
Dollar Magic for me. You already knew it didn’t you? I have back her just about every start this prep and I constantly cry at the fact that she constantly comes up short by a lip. Surely she can finish off the year here with a win, right? Maps to get the perfect run and if he isn’t winning this, she might never win!
Afterlight has had a fantastic prep to date with 3 wins from 4 starts to graduate from Midweek grade. 1 of those wins was against the boys as well, proving too strong for them, which puts her in good stead against her own sex here.
Acappella Sun and Spirit Queen should both be respected as the measures of consistency that they are. Both will sit in similar positions and do their best work late, watch for them down the outside.
Selections: 2-4-8-9
Suggested Bet: Dollar Magic Win
Race 9 – 1400M Tab (Bm78)
I am a big Step Aside guy. Been following him keenly throughout his career and he is yet to really put a wrong foot forward. He has only finished out of the placings twice in his career and even then he wasn’t too far away from the finish. He loves the distance and he does his best work when peaking 3rd up. I struggle to see him out of the money.
Gracilistyla ran only fairly when first up, but to be fair, it was at an unsuitable distance. He will improve up to 1400m here and Waller horses always tend to fire 2nd up as well. Always thereabouts usually, so don’t be surprised if he pops his head up.
Testator Silens had a run last start that screamed back me next start, a really strong run that just came too late to really have a chance at winning, but boy did he look good. Gets a jump in distance now and should get a cushy run in transit, watch for him late.
Lady Of Luxury has been wanting a wet track for a while now and should get it here. This could bring her right back into contention.
Selections: 11-7-9-2
Suggested Bet: Step Aside Win
Race 10 – 1200M Toyota Forklifts (Bm78)
Contemporary is so hard to catch, but I am confident he can get the job done here. He is always around the finish and just is unlucky he hasn’t won more races. Last start was the most infuriating when he managed to lose by a whisker in a photo finish. Jamie Kah on board, if she puts him in striking distance at the 400, watch out!
Plundering is another consistent character that arguably should have a few more wins to his name than he does. Always there/thereabouts come the finish, never missed the trifecta when on a wet track, and never missed the trifecta at this track, all signs point to a strong run.
Shalailed was once a hard luck John O’Shea story, could Bjorn Baker have turned him around to become a winner? We will find out here, but his recent trial certainly points in the positive direction.
Shohei finished very close behind Contemporary in that photo finish, which is some good form to go off. Rarely puts a foot wrong at this distance. A respectable chance.
Selections: 6-4-7-8
Suggested Bet: Contemporary Win
Top Selections For The Card
Race 1: Vianarra
Race 2: Gallant Star
Race 3: Runwiththetide
Race 4: Hyde Park
Race 5: Touristic
Race 6: Miracle Spin
Race 7: Grebeni (BEST BET)
Race 8: Dollar Magic
Race 9: Step Aside
Race 10: Contemporary
Quaddie
Race 7: 4
Race 8: 2,4,8
Race 9: 7,9,11
Race 10: 4,6,7,8,11
$50 gets you 111%
GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. CHANCES ARE YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOSE. SET A DEPOSIT LIMIT.
![](https://themocksports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-1024x576.png)