Race-by-race preview and tips for Gosford on Saturday

Race 1 — 11.15AM GOSFORD IT MIDWAY BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

7. Duck Egg Blue is back in trip, but to offset that she is four weeks between runs and back from listed company in The Championships. The lightly raced filly was racing out of her grade in the South Pacific Classic, yet overachieved, finishing a close-up fifth. She was held up in the straight, too. Confident all she has to do is get the start right to win this. She jumped half a length in front two starts ago, which should give her the inside draw. Third from the fence is perfect. A pair further back and things get problematic. 5. Don’t Doubt Merlin looks the likely leader. The gamble is how vulnerable he’ll be late first up over 1200m. Hasn’t won beyond 1100m. Has only raced over 1200m once, and he knocked up to be well beaten, albeit the heavy track took the brunt of the blame. Has trialled well on two occasions. 3. Monte Kate looks well paired with Adam Hyeronimus again. Was posted wide throughout last start and that perhaps told at the finish.
How to play it: Duck Egg Blue to win.

Accredited (green and black silks) won three of his five starts last campaign, and the Takeover Target Stakes looks a real opportunity for the Joe Pride-trained sprinter.Credit: Getty Images

Race 2 – 11.50AM ORTUS FINANCIAL 2YO HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

1. Sequsita found herself posted three wide outside the leaders in the Percy Sykes Stakes before sticking on well to run fourth. That was behind Tempted, which proved to be one of the standout two-year-olds of the season. She tackles this four weeks between runs and has been tasked with carrying 58kg under the handicap conditions, but she has the best CV. How the first 400m plays out will be critical to her chances. She perhaps has the most natural speed of any runner here, but there will be pressure kicking up underneath her in the early stages. If he can cross without doing too much work, they will be doing well to chase her down. 6. Hidden Achievement will need to get the start right, too. Had he shown any early speed in his trials or on debut he would be on top here. Some chance he ends up buried away worse than midfield in the run. Like the way he closed off at Canterbury on debut, giving away race experience.
How to play it: Sequsita to win

Race 3 – 12.25PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

4. Joiselle jumps 1000m to 1200m but has raced well in the past off the same preparation. The last time the four-year-old tackled this trip was in Highway company at Randwick in January. She led, kicked like the winner only to be run down late by Clear Thinking and Highway Strip. One of the deepest Highways we’ve seen in some time. Two weeks ago, she ran in Highway company over 1000m and kept closing when third behind Massira. There is a lot of 1000m and 1100m form in this race. Joiselle runs a strong 1200m at this level. There is evidence of that already. Looks a clever claim taking 2kg off with Anna Roper. 1. Jolly Good Fellow made it two wins from three starts for Dean Mirfin when too classy at Bathurst last start. Draws wide but has gate speed and a recent 1400m win under his belt. Was only three lengths off Engine Room first up in town. 8. Ritzsun has been solid recently without winning. Didn’t look to have any excuses at Mudgee last start having settled outside the leader.
How to play it: Joiselle to win.

Race 4 – 1PM POLVIN FENCING SYSTEMS 3&4YO BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

1. Yankee One used barrier one to stalk the speed at Randwick last start before running out a dominant winner. Drawing the same gate here should give her a similar run in transit, and let her settle in front of her main dangers. The four-year-old finds herself in career-best form having won three from four for Bjorn Baker. At her past two starts she’s improved again, which coincided with getting out to 1400m for the first time and the blinkers going back on. A tearaway leader a fortnight ago made it a testing 1400m. The official last 600m split was 37.47s. That’ll toughen her up for her first try at the mile. No argument that 4. Engine Room is likely to end up the best horse in the field. He might already be. However, the draw and his racing pattern make things a touch problematic around a tight Gosford track. He’ll need a clever ride from Alysha Collett, who takes over from Zac Lloyd. 5. Last Command appears to have lost his early speed, but has been great in two runs back.
How to play it: Yankee One to win.

Race 5 – 1.35PM TOOHEYS BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (2100 METRES)

2. So Dazzling hasn’t won for 137 weeks. Let’s get that out of the way first. There is a pattern in her form that her second-up runs are among her best. That included last time in when second to Saltcoats, where Tavi Time ran third, in BM88 grade. Thereafter, she was kept to that grade and better, finishing the summer in listed company. As her rating continues to tumble, she now finds herself back in BM78 company. She found the line well first up behind Know Thyself, which is the favourite for The Coast. There’s depth to her form that none of these can match. 9. Cormac T kept closing first up over 1550m when third to Our Empress Zoe, which has since run second again in midweek company. Steps straight out to 2100m second up. Can settle in the first couple. That looks a big advantage given how evenly matched this field is on paper. 14. Mr Buster could have done a touch more at Caulfield last start, but he was only second up after a year-long lay-off.
How to play it: So Dazzling each way.

Race 6 – 2.10PM TRIPLE M THUNDER THOUSAND BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1000 METRES)

12. Rantan raced her way back into form at the back end of last campaign. The three-year-old filly looks well set up to resume where she left off. Don’t think it’s any coincidence that her three wins to date have come over 900m and 1000m. The I Am Invincible sprinter carries just 51kg after the claim of Maddie Owen. She has trialled well and maps to get the drop on the leaders, which are likely to ensure a truly run race. Should be in the stalking position to get last look. The best of 1. Mogo Magic would beat these. He didn’t show up in two runs last campaign, most recently in group 3 company. Scott Collings didn’t press on, instead electing to freshen up with eight weeks between runs. Has a great 1000m record and has won a Goulburn trial since. Imagine the tactics will be handlebars down on a hard fit 4. One Destiny, on the seven-day turnaround and 1100m back to 1000m. Any rain would be a bonus for him.
How to play it: Rantan to win.

Race 7 – 2.45PM GUARDIAN SAFETY SOLUTIONS GOSFORD GOLD CUP *BIG DANCE ELIGIBILITY* (2100 METRES)

3. Hezashocka won this race 12 months ago, and he looks to be going just as well now. He carries an extra 3.5kg, but his preparation is the same, tackling this fourth up after runs in the Ajax, Sellwood and JRA Plate. He has even improved at the same rate in the three lead-in races. Last start in the JRA he suggested that another win is close. Gosford is unlikely to be a heavy track, as it was this time last year at Newcastle (the meeting was moved), but as long as there is some cut in the ground, which should be a given, the Mick Price and Michael Kent jnr-trained gelding will get his chance. Like the map, too, having drawn barrier one. 2. New Endeavour also comes through the JRA Plate. Had no excuses, but respect that he jumped $3.90 and was firm late. Am starting to wonder whether he would be more effective over the mile. Gets the chance to prove otherwise on Saturday. 9. Les Vampires ticked off the 1800m box last start. Now he needs to answer the 2100m question.
How to play it: Hezashocka to win.

Race 8 – 3.20PM THE COAST 3&4YO QUALITY (1600 METRES)

Expecting 3. Townsend to improve sharply second up out to the mile. He was the first horse beaten first up at Randwick having settled outside the leader. He didn’t appear to appreciate being dictated to by Sandpaper, which ran along at a genuine clip. Cool Jakey and Punch Lane have both won since that race. Keep going back to what he did second up last campaign, producing a career-best effort where he took no prisoners from in front and ran his rivals ragged. It’s a leap of faith to suggest that he can find that form again off what we saw three weeks ago, but we’re getting the right price to find out. The Corstens yard won this race last year with Magnaspin and are represented by 1. Lady In Pink this time. A benchmark rating of 102 tells you that she is a classy mare. Was touched off late in Adelaide last start, giving 3.5kg to the winner. Winning has become a habit for 10. Know Thyself. The prospect of a soft track suits. This is harder again and the barrier does him no favours.
How to play it: Townsend each way.

Race 9 – 4PM DE BORTOLI WINES TAKEOVER TARGET STAKES (1200 METRES)

15. Accredited progressed quickly through the grades last campaign, winning three of his five starts. This looks a real target race for the Joe Pride-trained sprinter. Pride has won this Gosford sprint feature five times. Most recently it was with Think About It, which two starts later won a Stradbroke as favourite. Pride’s other winners are Kuro, Ball Of Muscle, See The World and Title. This five-year-old fits that profile. Accredited gets in on the minimum, given where he is at in his career. He draws perfectly and has trialled well. 9. Pereille is dangerous fresh. His first-up record is 6:2-2-1. He has form around the right horses from last campaign and the prospect of a soft track suits. He, too, has caught the eye in two trials. 8. Infancy set her sights on Commemorative four weeks ago and ran her down. That fourth win had proven elusive. Has been kept fresh since then. Her lack of early speed makes her a risk at Gosford. Love the inside gate for 7. Xidaki. He’ll settle closer. Might want 1400m now.
How to play it: Accredited to win.

Race 10 – 4.40PM RAILWAY HOTEL GOSFORD BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

10. Raikkonen was on a sharp upward spiral in his first preparation. His midweek win at his third start was impressive, putting four lengths on his rivals, having settled outside the leader. He than started favourite in the group 3 Vo Rogue in Queensland. He made a mess of the start, blundering badly, and it was race over. The three-year-old has trialled twice ahead of his return, asked to do more in the most recent at Warwick Farm. That was over 1207m, which suggests he’s forward for this first up. Would respect any market confidence around for mare 3. Gumdrops, having her first run for Chris Waller. Was a group 2 winner in Melbourne over 1200m in March last year. Hard to get much of a read on her two trials. 4. Memoria maps to lead, having drawn inside 2. Deprivation, and continues to hold her form. Must respect that she has never raced better. 6. Crafty Eagle has won four races; three of them have come first up. Needs the breaks at the right time.
How to play it: Raikkonen to win.

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Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au