Racing really starts to heat up here in the depths of the winter program, with a number of group and listed races taking place at various venues around the country. The feature in Sydney is at Rosehill, with the Listed Winter Stakes over 1400m the clear highlight of a nine race card. Meanwhile at Caulfield, we see the running of the G3 Sir John Monash Stakes for the sprinters over 1100m. On the Sunshine Coast, we get to see the very first running of the Winx Guineas at Group 3 level, named obviously after the great mare herself, as well as the Listed Glasshouse over 1400m. It looks a heavy track up there, so factor that into your form. There’s a stack of other meetings around the country too, so take a look at PlayUp form analyst Lewis Willoughby’s top five bets below.
Caulfield R2 #6 Propelle $3.80 at PlayUp – Coming off a very sound effort last start behind the highly promising Alfa Oro at this exact track and trip, she held ground through the line very well in what was a nice fresh return. Second up here, and sticking to the Caulfield 1100m, she comes back in grade to a race against her own sex, and has a very good second up record. I like the fact that Craig Williams sticks with the ride, and she maps very well from barrier four. Selections: 6-5-3-9
Caulfield R4 #5 Morrissy $3.20 at PlayUp – Has found a purple patch of form since being freshened back at the start of June, two runs since then have been a very good placing behind Ashlor (who runs in the G3 later this afternoon), and a strong last start victory at this track and distance two weeks ago. On that day, I loved the way she kept finding through the line, recording a very dominant victory. Third up peak fit, she will roll forward from barrier nine and position handy to the speed, and this race looks no harder than her previous runs. Hard to beat. Selections: 5-8-6-3
Rosehill R2 #10 Fulmina $2.70 at PlayUp – Racing in superb form this prep, and comes here fourth up to try and beat the older horses. Her last start win in a fillies and mares BM78 over the 1800m was very strong, and a replica of that run down carrying 53kg would surely have her mightily hard to beat. She thrives in the softer tracks, so the wet at Rosehill is no issue, and she looks to get a perfect map from barrier six. Selections: 10-2-6-3
Rosehill R9 #1 Stella Sea Sun $6.50 at PlayUp – Thought the win of this mare first up at Randwick was really strong, lapping up the heavy conditions over the 1200m to put the field away quite easily on the line, although the official margin is small. Her second up record is even better (3:2-0-1), and sticking to the 1200m journey is very suitable as well. She loves the soft conditions, she sticks to the same grade, and the 3kg claim for Louise Day enables her to carry even less weight than she did last start. Perfectly drawn barrier three, she will start shorter than her current quote. Selections: 1-6-10-5
Wyong R7 #4 Stargirl Bet Now at PlayUp – Comes here second up off the back of a really nice debut win last start at Kembla Grange over the 1000m. She sat in behind the speed and really knuckled down to her task well in the straight, recording a 1L victory on the line. The horse who ran second that day in El Cohete, has since come out and won on Thursday, so the form line is stacking up really nicely. She sticks to the 1000m which should suit, and can map in behind the speed here while a few go hard up in front. Selections: 4-1-6-3
