Race-by-race tips and preview for Tuncurry on Friday
Track around soft 7 and rail true, with likely rain, so expect an even pattern early before a late trend wider.
RACE 1 - 1PM: CLUB FORSTER/SPORTIES MAIDEN HANDICAP (1000m)
We kick off Gold Cup day with a good maiden sprint, and there's a stack of chances. Debutant Gosford three-year-old 5. Intole Rant (Smart Missile x Thousand Veils by Zabeel) trained by Luke Hilton looks ready to go off a recent home trial win.
An eight-race card is programmed for Gold Cup day at Tuncurry.Credit:Jenny Evans
Dangers: Wyong four-year-old 3. Buckin' Rippa resumes, and has natural early speed. Was around the mark without breaking through in a long last prep, and will give a sight here from an ideal on speed draw. Newcastle filly 11. Shootforthestar did it tough in front first-up at home, and weakened, but with more fitness can settle just off the speed here and be stronger late. Another three-year-old first-starter, 9. Foxy Xenia (Foxwedge x Swiss Vault by Secret Savings), was given a quiet trial behind some handy sprinters, and just needs to find some cover from an awkward draw.
How to play it: Intole Rant to win and box trifecta 3,5,9,11.
Odds and Evens: Odds a special.
RACE 2 - 1.35PM: CANADIAN CLUB MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
Like the preparation and value about four-year-old Wyong mare 10. Toguchi from the Kim Waugh stable resuming for only her second prep. Has had two controlled trials, and well suited on rain affected going, with an important off-side blinker applied. Will likely drift back from the outside barrier and be very strong late.
Dangers: Progressive four-year-old mare 7. Pizzly was well backed when riding the speed first-up in a strong maiden at Scone before puncturing late. Form out of that race is already proven, and she's a natural improver. Newcastle five-year-old 4. Prospero hasn't raced for 11 months, and draws a tricky gate, but has early speed and enough ability. Trialled well for a stable renowned for striking fresh. Big watch on four-year-old mare 5. Legato Feeling resuming off a long break for only her second run for a leading country stable. Newcastle filly 12. Soho Peggy off a freshen-up, and Wyong five-year-old 3. Mister Ripley second-up, are best of the rest.
How to play it: Toguchi each way.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 3 - 2.10PM: TUNCURRY BEACH BOWLING CLUB CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2100m)
Out in distance we go, and that augurs well for four-year-old Kempsey mare 6. Neptune's Wink from the Barry Ratcliff yard who is screaming for more ground deep into the prep. Has been finding the line late in and around the mile across deeper races, and this looks ideal.
Dangers: Progressive Taree three-year-old 4. Casirina has more ability than anything else in the field, but will need to slot in early from a wide draw. Led all the way for a dominant maiden win at Muswellbrook before ridden quieter at home and thundering to the line late. Connections cheered when six-year-old 2. Guest finally landed his maiden at 26th attempt charging home at Grafton. Extra ground and wet track are right up his alley, but drawing the inside doesn't do his natural pattern any favours. Port four-year-old 1. Apache Cove looks over the odds after winning his maiden last start, although taking on some much smarter ones here.
How to play it: Neptune's Wink to win and quinella 4 and 6.
Odds and Evens: Evens.
RACE 4 - 2.45PM: TUNCURRY BEACH BOWLING CLUB MAIDEN HANDICAP (1400m)
Even battle in this one. Sticking with improving Newcastle three-year-old 7. Son Of Sampson from the Paul Perry yard who got home OK in a stronger maiden at Scone, despite doing a few things ungenerously in the straight. Had previously hit the line hard in two runs, and the extra trip looks ideal. Senior rider gets back on.
Dangers: Promising three-year-old filly 5. Pelgrave was heavily backed and should have won at second start when hitting the line late after losing his spot badly on the turn. Draws to get an economical run a few lengths off the speed, and will be charging into the finish.
How to play it: Son Of Sampson to win and quinella 5 and 7.
Odds and Evens: Odds a special.
RACE 5 - 3.25PM: BELLEVUE HOTEL TUNCURRY BM58 HANDICAP (1500m)
Tough and open race. Wyong five-year-old 5. Hubble, trained by Kristen Buchanan, has a poor winning strike-rate, although placed at nearly 50 per cent from 30 starts and drops back from a tougher BM64 at home. Drawn to find a trail around midfield, and advantaged back on rain-affected going.
Dangers: Gosford five-year-old 3. New Tycoon fought hard to win a similar race first-up at Scone, and normally holds his form. That came off two forward trials so fit enough for the extra journey. Bolted in his only previous start at this track. Improving mare 4. Delchuzy is another who can improve into a second-up run over more ground, while Wyong mare 8. Rockness Angel (accepted for Race 6 as well) also prefers the sting out of the ground, and better suited here after dropping out in a class 1 at home.
How to play it: Hubble each-way and trifecta 3,5/3,4,5,8/3,4,5,8.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 6 - 4.05PM: HAWKESBURY RACECLUB AND MOTEL CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1400m)
Improving Scone four-year-old 1. Saint Ambrose can go close after three encouraging runs back, and big weight offset by rider's 2kg claim.
Dangers: Newcastle five-year-old 5. Swordsman is the likely leader from a good barrier, and boxed on OK resuming at Muswellbrook.
How to play it: Saint Ambrose to win.
Odds and Evens: Odds.
RACE 7 - 4.40PM: TUNCURRY-FORSTER XXXX GOLD CUP (2100m)
Feature race of the day is typically wide open, with a stack of each way chances. Tamworth five-year old 8. Kacper Boy from the Jane Clement stable has been consistently in the money all prep winning two of his last four. Draws to get a soft run back in the field, and looks well in at the weights on 55kg considering he comes off a fast-finishing BM64 win at Gosford.
Dangers: Newcastle six-year-old 4. Nothing Too Hard looks ready for the extra trip fourth-up after working home steadily in his last couple in metro BM72 grade. Coffs six-year-old 5. Ambitious Prince has been up for a while, with a little advantage in fitness after fighting hard to win a CL3 at Grafton last start over further. Lightly-raced eight-year-old 1. Invictus Prince is having only his second start for the Melanie O'Gorman stable at Tamworth after doing little at a huge price in a much stronger race at Randwick. Is used to mixing it in tougher company, and steps out sharply in trip, but trainer is adept at turning their form around quickly. Include Tamworth five-year-old 6. Tavion Prince who was plain in that same race as the top selection, but was a Highway winner in heavy ground at Rosehill the previous start. Expect improvement too from Far North Coast seven-year-old 2. Ready For Danger who can peak over this distance fourth-up. Include both five-year-olds 9. Arabolini and 10. Tom's Knight if you're playing the wider exotics.
How to play it: Kacper Boy each-way and first four 1,4,5,8/1,4,5,8/1,2,4,5,6,8,9,10/1,2,4,5,6,8,9,10.
Odds and Evens: Split.
RACE 8 - 5.15PM: THE EVERMORE PEARL SPONSORED BY BROKEN BAY PEARLS - BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1200m)
We finish with a competitive sprint. Tough Taree five-year-old 3. Fair Dinkum is searching for this trip after charging home to win a BM58, and then just missed behind a smart sprinter in the feature Lightning. Drawn out suits his pattern, and weight rise offset by jockey's claim.
Dangers: Promising four-year-old 6. Star Raider swept home to win a class 1 second-up at Taree, and is headed for better races, although a query back on wet ground. Talented Newcastle mare 11. Dreaming Of Gold resumes off a quiet trial, and normally comes to hand quickly so watch for her late, while improving mare 10. Xiaoli's Ying stuck on OK resuming in a strong class 2 at Scone, and carries 3kg less here.
How to play it: Fair Dinkum each way and box exacta 3,6,11.
Odds and Evens: Split.
BEST BETS:
R1 5. INTOLE RANT
R6 1. SAINT AMBROSE
BEST VALUE:
R2 10. TOGUCHI
Tips supplied by Racing NSW.
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au