Awapuni Synthetic Tips & Preview | Friday 17 July

Wind Talker (#6) comes here off a forgettable effort on a testing Heavy track last start and is best assessed on her game effort for 2nd here at this course and distance two starts back. She looks to get a very similar setup here, mapping to land back in a moderately run affair. She will likely be relying on the gaps to go her way late, but if they do, she should be fighting out the finish. 

Subtle Image (#1) heads here off a big win at this course and distance two weeks ago, where he was ridden more positively early with the blinkers applied. He again maps to roll forward from his wide draw in a race that doesn’t look to have an abundance of early pressure outside of Weneedashock. Expect he can have their measure again if he can take up a forward position without being required to overdo it early. Hard to beat. 

Bee Precious (#6) gave a big sight here in R74 company last start, where she was only pegged back late in the piece finishing into 2nd. She looks much better suited dropping back into maiden grade here and should be able to hold the lead in a race that looks to have a genuine tempo engaged, which shouldn’t pose any concerns given she ran along and fought on gamely last start. Should just be winning this if she replicates that last-start effort. 

Falcrests Belle (#5) is a lightly tried and locally trained 4yo mare resuming for Nikki Hurdle. She has shown plenty of early speed in all five of her starts to date and looks likely to lead again from the low draw, despite the abundance of early tempo on paper. She looks well placed down on the minimum, where the engagement of Showbastian Coe has compressed the weights for the remainder of the field. Should give a big sight in a fresh state if she skips to the front early. 

Richard Farrell (#1) is a 17-start maiden coming here off a last-start 2nd at this course and distance two weeks ago, where he had a soft run with cover throughout but was beaten a big margin by the winner. He now finds himself drawn wide in a race devoid of early tempo, and I’m hoping Jonathan Riddell elects to be positive early and looks to find the front. Should that eventuate, he should be able to dictate terms to a nicety and take plenty of catching. He’s had plenty of good chances to break through and gets another one here. 

Love Janie (#3) comes into this third-up, last sighted finishing 4th in much stronger company behind Bonnard at Waverley. She looks suited getting out over 1700m with those two runs under her belt, given much of her better form to date has come over a mile and beyond. She maps to settle off the speed from the low draw in what looks a genuine tempo on paper, which should suit her nicely. She’s placed in all six of her runs on the synthetic and looks likely to run another competitive race here. Solid each-way contender. 

Dazz (#3) resumed with a win here at this course and distance last start, getting home strongly over the top from a midfield position. He should have taken natural improvement from that outing and looks suited remaining at 1400m again here. He maps to settle just off the speed from his better draw this time, which should afford him every chance in the run. Hard to beat with any improvement.