We’re back to Warwick Farm for Sydney’s major metro meeting on Wednesday with eight races set.
Rain earlier in the week and the added chance of showers has the track still rated a Soft 7, and we’ve spent ample time doing some wet track form right across the program.
See below for our best bets at Warwick Farm, including a couple of each-way plays in races 3 and 4, alongside our best bet out of the Chris Waller yard in Race 7.
Hard to go past REGULATED AFFAIR (6), who stormed the line out wide on debut to miss out in a head bob on the Kensington track a couple of months ago.
Chris Waller’s colt was quickly sent back to the paddock and has since been given a a nice soft trial between starts to get him ready for this return assignment.
He’s drawn an inside gate on this occasion, and with James McDonald retaining the ride, the pair should be winning against this small field.
Don’t mind this race for LIPSTICK (5) with the track improving.
The Godolphin filly has struck wet track in both starts to date, running on late on a Heavy 8 at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago where I thought she was strong through the line after knuckling down out wide.
She’s carrying only 1kg extra with Rachel King in the saddle again, and with some form around recent G2 winner Tempted on her resume, I think she’s a likely improver here.
PROVISEUR (3) looks capable of winning if his recent trial here on his home track was anything to go by.
The son of Proisir punched through the middle to win by more than a length in the end, a big effort after wrapping up his summer campaign as a third place-getter here in behin Autumn Dream.
He might need the run, but having handled some sting out of the track in the past, a win isn’t out of the question if Jason Collett can get back and save him for late.
Leaning the way of EXTRAVAGENT LAD (3) in what appears to be a very open race.
Scott Collings’ gelding was a strong winner on return at Orange last month, winding up with a big run along the rail to win quite softly on the line in the end.
Luck wasn’t on his side from the wide gate at Randwick two weeks later on a soft track, and although he’s drawn awkwardly again, this is a more winnable race back on a drier track with the claim put to good use.
With four placings from as many starts to his name third-up, I think the son of Xtravagant is a good bet to go close.
SIGIRIYA ROCK (7) is the one to beat here with the drop back in class.
The Chris Waller-trained galloper finished off only fairly in Group 3 company earlier in the autumn, beaten just over three lengths in the Frank Packer Plate in similar conditions a few weeks ago.
He’s done some of his best racing over the mile, so the step back in trip from another good gate bodes well for his chances.
DAME COMMANDER (9) is a Group 3 placegetter who should be better for his fresh effort in the James Carr a fortnight earlier.
The son of So You Think was in the right spot upon straightening, just lacking the conditioning once the pace quickened around the 100m mark on his way to finishing two lengths off.
Bjorn Baker’s galloper shed the maiden tag with a classy 1.5 length win at Kembla Grange second-up during the spring last year, and with improvement to come over further, I think the mile will see him hard to hold out.
SECURE (11) kept finding to win quite stylishly fresh at Canterbury for Chris Waller and connections.
Nash Rawiller gave him 10/10 steer close to the fence, working nicely through the gears as the pair punched clear to win by more than two lengths.
He’s untested on wet tracks, but the breeding suggests he’ll handle some sting out of the track with Rawiller likely to settle just off the speed again, the pair rate highly here in a competitve race.
Keen to see if MIA BALLERINA (9) can repeat the dose here for Chris Waller.
This filly by Cosmic Force gave nothing else a chance on return at Canterbury two weeks ago, making every post a winner to put paid to her rivals by 2.8 lengths.
She kept finding to win with a bit left in the tank, and although this is harder, she does have some experience on wet tracks. James McDonald sticks from the inside gate which also tells you how well she’s going.