Race 7 – Hygain Winners Choice BM62 Handicap (1200m)
6 WHAT YOU WILL – $6 Led throughout and gave nothing else a look last start in similar grade. Maps to find the front again from the soft draw and drops 1.5kg with the claim. Handles all surfaces and looks rock-hard fit now fourth-up. Won’t know herself in this class and gets every chance to go back-to-back.
9 SWIFT CIRCLE – $8.5 Forget he went around last start when posted deep and never got in. Blinkers go on and has jumped out well since. Won here fresh and maps to stalk the speed from a softer draw. If he gets cover and rhythm early, he’s a genuine winning hope.
13 SECRETDREAM – $11 Progressive type resuming off a sharp jumpout. Took care of a handy maiden field two back and then didn’t disgrace herself in much stronger grade. Wide draw may suit if they’re coming down the outside. Can launch late if tempo is genuine.
Race 8 – Sportsbet Gold Nugget (1600m)
3 HARD TO CROSS – $4.6 Drawn to get a sweet trail just behind the speed and brings consistent metro form. Dominant winner over the mile at The Valley and has since raced well in harder company. Handles all conditions and this sets up perfectly third-up. Looks ready to strike.
4 RUNNING BY – $5.5 Back to country grade after taking on black-type races and has the figures to win this. Hit the line well at Flemington two back and comes through much stronger form lines. If she sees daylight from the inside, she’ll be right in the finish.
6 SEA WHAT I SEE – $8 Forgive last start when wide and never comfortable. Prior form stacks up strongly for this, and gets Williams back aboard which is a tick. Maps for a midfield run and if the race opens up late, she’s one of the strongest closers here.
Race 9 – Hygain Winners Choice BM62 Handicap (1500m)
1 HERE THE CROWD – $4.4 Flying this prep and gets a big weight drop thanks to the claim. Wide gate forces them to roll forward which could suit if the pattern leans that way. Fit, in form, and finds a race without much depth. Hard to knock.
2 DEELING ACES – $4.8 Solid return and looks suited stepping to 1500m second-up. Has shown a good turn of foot when right and maps to box seat from the draw. Will relish any sting out of the ground. Looks a genuine threat.
4 PASSENGER – $26 Unbeaten at the trip since arriving in Australia and resumes off two sharp jumpouts. Flies fresh and while the map is tricky, she’s capable of sprinting past them if they overdo it up front. Overs.
Rusty’s Plays:
Best Bet: WHAT YOU WILL – Race 7 – Strong win last start and maps to repeat the dose. Looks primed and ready again.
Value: SECRETDREAM – Race 7 – Fresh with upside. Can charge late if the tempo is strong.
Each-Way: PASSENGER – Race 9 – Resumes in a winnable race and unbeaten at the trip. Big watch fresh.
