Race 1

ENJOY LIFE (10) won his maiden but not very convincingly 2 starts back, but lived up to his previous Melton trial last week by smashing the clock, after being 3 wide early after not being in position at the start. Starts ODM because of that, but if he goes similar here, he will be winning again. LOUGLE (3) is first up for Conor Crook, a 5yo having his 3rd start and hasn’t been seen at trials or races for 6 months, but did win on debut in Victoria, market will be worth watching on him. CUZZY JUNIOR (2) gets back to a nice draw and gets his chance to get to the pegs which will enhance his chances, whilst I would suspect ROCKY STRIDE (6) would come out hard looking for the front, with all his runs of late being very encouraging and looks the danger to the favourite if there was one. SPORTZSILK (4), POST KEG (7) and MUZZAME MATE (8) look the other chances to run into the top 4.

Selections ENJOY LIFE (10), ROCKY STRIDE (6), LOUGLE (3), MUZZAME MATE (8)

Staking Strategy:  No value with the expected favourite winning, but Rocky Stride is going super and can run into a place again. 2 unit place – ROCKY STRIDE (6)

Race 2

A very even maiden, where there is obviously a lot of placings form. The front row has no obvious leader, so VOODOO RANGER (1) may be able to kick through and hold out HAMMERING SEAS (3) who possess some gate speed, and will be suited better back to the bigger track. WHAT A WOMAN (4) was a good 3rd last start against horses that would be favourite here, whilst LEFT ONE HANGIN (10) didn’t get much luck on debut, and has since had a stable change. The Laugher pair in MY FATAL CHARM (9) and JUST LIKA DREAM (11) are 19 and 17 start maidens respectively,  but are always thereabouts in the finish. ALBY PRIDDY (2) and FANCY ANOTHER (5) both misbehaved at Burnie, but get their chance to be in the finish again here with a good run in transit.

Selections HAMMERING SEAS (3), WHAT A WOMAN (4), LEFT ONE HANGIN (10), VOODOO RANGER (1)

Staking Strategy:  WHAT A WOMAN is improving each start, so if she can sit midfield with cover then she can be looming late at some value. 1 unit win – WHAT A WOMAN (4)

Race 3

Looks to be good speed on early over the mile distance, with a lot of gate speed off the front row, led by TALK IS CHEAP (7) who has launched the gate a few times of late with Liam aboard. RAGING ON (2) form has been below par, but has sharp gate speed. But he’s developed a bad habit of racing ungenerously of late, so a hot tempo is anticipated. So with that being said, our old friend in JEREMY WELLS (10) will again get his chance to loom up to them as a winner from the nice trailing back row draw, and looks as good as chance as ever to get back in the winners circle after a 2 year absence. FIVE STAR SHARK (6) had no luck last start and may be the improver, whilst NO NUKES SKIPPER (8) has an awkward gate, but may take some holding out if he saw some daylight at the end of the race.

Selections JEREMY WELLS (10), FIVE STAR SHARK (6), TALK IS CHEAP (7), NO NUKES SKIPPER (8)

Staking Strategy:  JEREMY WELLS  gets his last chance with me to be first past the post in a long time. 2 unit win – JEREMY WELLS (10)

Race 4

Would expect BEACH DANCER (6) to open a short price favourite again, and whilst his wins haven’t been super impressive, he looks as though he’s still learning and only does what he needs to do. Theres a bit of gate speed inside but expect him to push forward and take beating. PHOTO FIRST (10) is shooting for 5 straight and looks the danger although from the back row, but would be suited if there’s some solid speed on throughout.  An even field after that, headed by REPETITIVE (2) who may be first to the pegs and is racing consistently, whilst MR BONDI (4) has had a small break and is capable of being in the finish at his best. DAT LOU (1) has misbehaved since arriving in the state but gets his chance to improve here from the draw, off the back of a quiet trial since his last run.

Selections BEACH DANCER (6), PHOTO FIRST (10), REPETITIVE (2), DAT LOU (1)

Staking Strategy:  I had Beach Dancer much shorter than the current $1.7, and that somewhat looks value, but he only does what he has to when winning. 8 unit win – BEACH DANCER (6)

Race 5

CELEBRITY ROYAL (5) led and was defeated as a $1.18 favourite last week in the Free For All, by Maebee who has been very consistent in many features since arriving in the state. However I think he pushes forward from the draw here, and shows his class and will ensure it’s an even tempo throughout, as he may have just been beaten by more point to point speed last start. ANOTHER NIEN (4) gets back to a front row draw over his preferred mile distance, and will attempt to get to the pegs first, although there is some gate speed inside him. CUSTOM HARLEY (6) drops back in grade, but an awkward draw will make it extremely hard for him to get up on speed as he prefers. CUZZY BRO (9) gets the nice trailing draw, and would expect improvement from his first up run, whilst most other runners in the field could run into the top 3-4 with a good run in transit.

Selections CELEBRITY ROYAL (5), ANOTHER NIEN (4), CUZZY BRO (9), CUSTOM HARLEY (6)

Staking Strategy:  Think Celebrity Royal returns to his winning ways, and simply cant find what beats him. 5 unit win – CELEBRITY ROYAL (5)

Race 6                     

 A competitive field where FAMILY REASONS (1) will be looking to hold up and replicate his Carrick win 2 starts back. Whilst he isn’t blessed with huge gate speed, neither are the others on the front row.  DEFENCE ATTOREY (2) last 2 runs have been very good, and again looks to get another nice run in transit to give him his chance, whilst SIR NIPPA (3) didn’t see daylight till late last start, and would expect him to go close if he brought his best form and behaviour. PUNTARNO STRIDE (6) drops slightly in grade with the concession claim for Ethan Arnott, and with the any luck in running, would expect him to be running home well. DAZZLE ME (7) and KENYA (8) are next best but will be relying on some solid tempo throughout to get in the finish.

Selections  SIR NIPPA (3), FAMILY REASONS (1), DEFENCE ATTORNEY (2), PUNTARNO STRIDE (6)

Staking Strategy:  PUNTARNO STRIDE drops in class with the claim, and looks the each way play of the race 1 unit win & 2 unit place – PUNTARNO STRIDE (6)

Race 7                     

Handicaps from the stand start normally evens out the fields, and this Devonport Cup is no different. HORATIUS SPECULO (4) couldn’t have been more impressive in recent months chalking up consecutive wins, and going through his classes with ease. This is another step up in class, but he clearly has the talent to take this out.  Only query is he has led most races, and got away with a somewhat pedestrian first half of the races recently in the country cups, which id be surprised if he got the same here. MAEBEE (7) has raced in similar races, but his manners have let him down slightly, but wouldn’t be surprised to see him turn the tables and looks the main danger from the front row. DALTON SHARD (13) comes in 1st up off one trial in Victoria, and has competed against the best in previous years in NZ. He will need a few favours to go his way to get in the finish off 30m, as will MAGICIAN (11) and STAR MAJOR (10) off the 20m. Most others in race will be relying on a good run in transit, led by the Heath Woods trio in THE SHALLOWS (8) and STEPPING STONES (9), whilst ROCKANDAHARDPLACE (1) will be on speed and flies the tape, and looks the obvious one who would hold the lead against other fancied front row horses.

Selections HORATIUS SPECULO (4), MAEBEE (6), THE SHALLOWS (8), STEPPING STONES (9)

Staking Strategy:  Having small plays on stablemates The Shallows & Stepping Stones, where although both will need luck in running, but appear touch of overs currently. 0.5 unit win & 1 unit place – THE SHALLOWS (8) & STEPPING STONES (9)

Race 8                     

OUR WILLOW (1) showed good gate speed to lead last week, as did OUR SWEET TRIXIE (2), so would expect them to battle early for the lead over the mile distance. HAY MIKI (3) had no luck in running his past start, but the handy draw and a nice run in transit, would expect him to take some holding out late. Not a whole lot of other gate speed off the front row bar MODERN JIVE (7) who can fly out, but he hasn’t been finishing off as well of late, so he may be driven more quietly this time. GOBSMACKED (10) is always running home well from the back row, whilst LOYOLA TRIOS (9) will be driven for luck, and hope gaps appear unlike his last start when held up.

Selections HAY MIKI (3),  OUR WILLOW (1), OUR SWEET TRIXIE (2), LOYOLA TRIOS (9)

Staking Strategy:  Somehow again, they’ve open CAMBRO FLASH $1.8, where he’s a $26 pop for mine,  so there’s value everywhere, but targeting OUR WILLOW (1) who can lead over the mile, and LOYOLA TRIOS (9), who just needs clear running to be in the finish. 1 unit win – OUR WILLOW (1) & LOYOLA TRIOS (9)

Race 9

KEAYANG GALLIANO (3) has been racing well from outside back row draws, and finally gets a decent gate here. She had very good gate speed previously in Victoria, but haven’t had the chance to use it in Tas yet. Think she can be the first to the pegs here, and may hand up to KOSTYUK LEIS (4), who has good speed, but also known to get pulling, so Conor may be happy to follow it knowing it will be a truly run race. GLENVIEW LANIKAI (2) looked disappointing last start but was reported she had a flat tyre, so would expect her to bounce back here from the nice draw. ANGELSHAVTIME (5) and GYPSY AMOUR (6) both have good gate speed but expect them to be driven quieter this time, whilst YARECKON IM SWEET (7) will be driven dead cold, and will be flying home if the leaders do go too hard.  

Selections KEAYANG GALLIANO (3), KOSTYUK LEIS (4), GLENVIEW LANIKAI (2), YARECKON IM SWEET (7)

Staking Strategy:  KEAYANG GALLIANO gets back to a better draw in a small field and looks a good chance on speed. 2 unit win – KEAYANG GALLIANO

Race 10                  

 A hard race to round out the night over the mile for the lowly assessed horses, where SWEET AMOUR (3) brings the most consistent form, and will be suited on speed from the handy draw. CINOCAL JAMANE (1) gets a nice draw for the first time in a while, and will be suited by the short distance, and may even look to hold the front. NORBET (4) ran a good 2nd 2 starts back, before striking trouble after the start last week, whilst IDEN KAMIKAZE (5) is hard to catch, but if behaved and there was some tempo on during race, he could be looming late. SMOOTH DEAL (8) looks to get a nice pegs run and will be hoping for gaps late, and ROYAL CADENCE (6) has made advantage of decent draws of late and would expect her to be running home strong.

Selections SWEET AMOUR (3), CINOCAL JAMANE (1), NORBET (4), IDEN KAMIKAZE (5)

Staking Strategy:  Small bet on NORBET, as he’ll be running home strong if he can slot in early and settle midfield. 1 unit win – NORBET (4)