Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Laure them in
Listed, 2021 Carlton Wyong Gold Cup, $200,000, 2100m
Laure Me In (Ad Valorem {USA}) was most impressive when winning a competitive 2000-metre contest at Kembla Grange last start off a five-week break.
The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding presents here in similar grade three weeks between runs and should prove ultra-competitive with a slight weight advantage over his key rivals.
Berdibek (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) closed off strongly to hold out G1 Queensland Derby winner Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury.
Before that the John O’Shea-trained gelding finished within 0.5l of the aforementioned Laure Me In at Grafton.
Laure Me In as a yearling
The key concern here is where he gets to in the run from the far outside draw, barrier 16.
Mubariz (GB) (Dansili {GB}) presents on a six-day back up after finishing out of the placings at Kembla Grange in a competitive 2000-metre contest.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding was building an imposing record before that and can recapture his best here under Kerrin McEvoy.
Inverloch (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) is another galloper on the back up after running third in the same event that featured Mubariz.
However, he will be required to carry an additional 1.5kgs than the aforementioned this time around for his efforts.
The OTI-owned gelding maps to get an easy time of it out in front as this race looks to be void of speed influences.
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Listed Wyong Leagues Group Mona Lisa S., $140,000, 1350m
Great News (Uncle Mo {USA}) looks well-placed here after sticking on gamely for second on resumption in a competitive edition of the G3 Toy Show Quality at Randwick.
The Kim Waugh-trained mare is yet to miss the money from 11 career starts and will relish the extra 250 metres on offer.
The only knock is that she has drawn barrier 14 of 15.
More Prophets (Smart Missile) broke through for a long-overdue victory when saluting at Randwick last start.
The lightly raced 5-year-old has drawn awkwardly in barrier 10 but drops 2kgs for this event.
James McDonald sticks in the saddle which is another positive for the John Thompson-trained galloper.
Great News
The low-flying Charleise (Foxwedge) presents as one of the leading chances in this event after stringing together six consecutive top-two finishes.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained 5-year-old steps out for the first time since running a brave second behind the well-performed King Of Hastings (Ilovethiscity) over 1400 metres at the Sunshine Coast seven weeks ago.
She maps to get an economical run from barrier one and will prove hard to hold out if Louise Day finds the gaps at the top of the straight.
Starla (Snitzel) rises sharply in class after stringing two wins together at BM78 grade.
The ever-consistent Star Thoroughbreds-owned mare maps to get a lovely run from barrier four but will need to put her best foot forward to measure up against a field of this quality.
