Gold Coast Race 7 Tip #5 Pinaacle Star $2.90
This first-up specialist (3:2-1-0) looks ready to produce a big run fresh again, after a nice trial where he finished second to The Sinner.
In that hit-out, Gin 'N' Bitters finished behind him before coming out and winning as our best bet last Saturday. That form links in well here.
David Vandyke saddles up this Starspangledbanner gelding and currently has an incredible strike rate of 32% the win and 69% the place from his last 100 runners, so he knows how to place them.
The horse will be partnered by regular rider Ryan Maloney who from gate 3, should be able to find a nice spot just behind the speed where he tends to race his best.
He seems ready to go and Maloney should be able to give him the favours in the run and get him over the line.
Gosford Race 2 #3 Free State $2.20
This three-year-old gelding trained by Brad Widdup looks the clear standout in what shapes up to be a weak Provincial & Country Maiden Plate race.
At his first racing preparation, he bumped into some pretty smart types and filled the minors on both occasions. One of those was in provincial grade, whilst the other was in metropolitan grade.
After drawing widest (8 of 8) on debut, he was caught off the track and forced to race wide without cover over the 1000m at Kembla Grange.
Eventual winner Sahra received all the favours that day and sprinted off a dime to claim victory by over 3 lengths.
Meanwhile, Free State finished 4 lengths in front of third place-getter Divine Breath, who subsequently scored impressively at the Sapphire Coast on Monday.
He was no match for both Smart Image and Beyliks in his next race start and was then tipped out for a spell.
He has since had the ultimate gear change (gelding operation) and both trials leading into this have been excellent, in particular his first where Koby Jennings had a cheeky glance at rivals before easing his mount down.
For this clash, he draws what looks to be a sticky gate on paper. However after looking at the speed map, he’ll either be get to the lead or sit outside Spanish Pearl, who looks to be over the odds.
The 1100m around Gosford looks the perfect start off point for this boy, who looks to have some wins in him this prep.
Echuca Race 2 Tip #5 Come Along Jeffery $2.80
This Super One gelding looks a promising type and has a good grounding, with three jump-outs under the belt.
In the first jump-out, he went over the finishing line with Write Your Name, who is better than maiden grade.
He then won his next hit-out in first gear and beat home Vistabelle, who has since notched up a victory.
Expect him to go forward here and take a stack of catching.
Gosford Race 1 Tip #1 Head Legislator $3.00
I'm looking to start the day off with a bang here with the only runner on the program from the Matthew Dunn yard.
The stable have a massive opinion of the three-year-old son of Headwater.
They threw him in the deep end on debut, contesting a metropolitan maiden. On that occasion, he wasn't suited on the inside and was only beaten 4 lengths.
That race has proven to be a good form reference, with eight subsequent winners coming from it.
He has been given 28 weeks away from the track and gelded to keep his mind on the job.
His 800m trial in readiness for this first-up assignment was strong, where he picked up his rivals stylishly to score by 1.3-lengths.
He strikes a moderate maiden here and the outside draw looks perfect for a horse of his style.
Expect him to settle back in the ruck, extricate to the extreme outside and prove too good for his rivals.