1. Ashim | Still a maiden after 10 starts and has disappointed in all three starts as a favourite. Place chance. |
2. Sealion | Resumes from a 36 week spell and winner when on debut at Wyong. Trialling well. Should be winning. |
3. Blue Missile | Finished ninth last start at Wagga but large claim helps. Just the one placing this campaign at Nowra but commands respect. |
4. The Maxinator | Coming off a win at Hawkesbury on a soft track and Jason Collett a bonus. Expected to be a contender. |
5. Merlinite | Began awkwardly nk 2nd of 6 (2) $5.50 59.0 Dream Maiden 1900m Canterbury 3yo+ (Bm64) Heavy(10) Nov 26. Slowly away. Vetted - no abnormalities 29-3/4 len last of 8 (3) $31.00 53.0 Mightybeel 2400m Randwick LR Christmas Cup Soft(6) Dec 11. |
6. Departing Bullet | Short back-up of seven days. Amongst the placegetters last start running third at Goulburn and takes a 3kg claim. Can surprise. |
7. Jeanne D'arc | Checked near 1000m. Keen. Eased down 47-1/2 len last of 7 (7) $26.00 56.0 Pippali 1500m Rosehill 3yo+ F&M (Bm72) Good(4) Oct 6. Slowly away. Wide during race. Inconvenienced near 600m 23 len last of 6 (6) $31.00 60.0 Mirra View 1300m Randwick-Kensington 3yo+ F&M (Bm64) Heavy(9) April 25. |
8. Musume | Unplaced in all five runs this prep but has the speed to overcome a very wide draw. Has genuine early speed but appears tested. |
9. Shotgun Alli | 1/2 len 2nd of 8 (1) $6.50 58.5 Starboreta 1400m Newcastle F&M (Bm64) Good(4) April 21. 5-1/2 len 8th of 10 (9) $6.00 57.0 Nitride 1200m Newcastle (Bm64) Heavy(8) May 14. |
10. Tympanist | Slowly away. Laid out near turn 2-1/4 len 4th of 10 (10) $9.50 56.0 Bella Violet 1600m Gosford Hcp (C1) Good(4) Jan 14. Taken back from wide barrier 2-3/4 len 2nd of 8 (6) $4.80 57.5 Forever You 2000m Kembla Grange Plate (C1) Heavy(8) Jan 22. |
11. C'mon Reg | Amongst the placegetters last start running second at Kembla Grange on a heavy track. A good chance. |
12. Hinchinjive | Carried wide near 150m. Protest lodged, dismissed. Rider told to use more care lg hd 2nd of 7 (2) $1.90F 55.5 Hatsuko 1200m Newcastle F&M Mdn Heavy(10) April 9. Len win of 5 (2) $2.10F 55.5 Satness, King Charles 1400m Kembla Grange Mdn Heavy(10) April 23. |
13. Doubtless Wonder | Won once this prep at Bathurst five runs back and ran sixth last start at Nowra on a heavy track. Soft draw but seems unlikely. |
14. Tenorino | In the money last start running third at Kembla Grange on a heavy track and has two placings from six runs this prep. Likely to settle back in the field. Can surprise. |
15. The Gift | Won once this prep at Kembla Grange two runs back and finished five lengths off the winner last start at the track on a heavy track. Up in journey. Prefer to watch go around. |
16. Eve 'N' Ruby | Got the campaign off to a strong start winning when fresh and gets the winkers on for the first time. Likely to race off the speed. Unlikely. |
17. Tic Tock Man | Ran six lengths back from the winner last start at Kembla Grange and gets the blinkers back on. Not keen. |