After a massive weekend of Group 1 racing The Wizard of Odds treks to Sydney for his best bets ahead of the eight-race card at Warwick Farm.
A progressive filly is the best of the day in race three, while there looks to be some solid each-way value throughout the program.
Warwick Farm Race 2
#2 Our Bambino
Has followed a very similar form pattern to what he did last preparation when winning fourth-up into his campaign.
The five-year-old gelding has had three perfect building-block runs to get him ready for this attempt at 2110 metres in BM-72.
To compare this with last prepartion, he has three runs to prepare himself for an 1800-metre BM-64 at Kembla Grange where he made a big run from the back of the field, after drawing wide and being snicked, to pinch a narrow victory.
This race actually looks much easier for him from on the speed map with Kerrin McEvoy likely to settle in the first four from barrier two.
Suggested Bet: Our Bambino each-way at $5.5 the win and $1.75 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 2, 3/ 2, 3/ 1, 8
Warwick Farm Race 3
#6 Speech
Speech looks a very nice three-year-old filly after a win of sustained speed on debut over 900 metres at Newcastle.
She showed great acceleration from the barriers and let down with a lovely turn of foot over the short course which she can bring to great in town.
James Cummings has given her a month between runs to keep her fresh for this 1100-metre event and has also given her a trial to keep her fitness in check.
Her trial was very quiet which gives us great confidence that she has saved her best for raceday.
James McDonald should be able to get her to the front early in the race, control the speed and kick clear on the bend to open up an assailable lead.
Suggested Bet: Speech win at $2.3
Warwick Farm Race 4
#4 Takissacod
Takissacod looks well placed in this BM-72 with an interesting drop in weight despite going down in grade from her first-up victory.
She seemed to defy her chances on that day when carrying 61kgs but clinging on to victory by a quarter-of-a-length.
Doubt she would have been screwed down to run as well as she did and we can expect the two-length improvement required for her to be competitive in a city race of this class.
The ideal situation for her will be to score up from the inside barrier and take the sit in behind the leaders, peel out and let down with her sprint.
With no third dividend in this race we will have to rely on her running second to get a collect, but the price is too good to refuse.
Suggested Bet: Takissacod each-way at $10 the win and $4.4 the place (No Third Dividend)
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 4, 6/ 4, 6, 8/ 1, 4, 6, 7, 8
Warwick farm race 7
#2 Varda
Varda, quite simply put, is the most talented sprinter in this field.
The five-year-old mare was a Listed winner over 1100 metres, albeit at Doomben, and started a $6.5 elect in a Group 2 sprint at Eagle Farm at her most recent race start.
She was beaten a long way in that event, but it was an end of preparation run and she pulled up with a few issues after the race.
James Cummings brings her into this race with two nice trials in her engine.
James McDonald rode her in both 800-metre trials and has decided to stick with her in this resuming.
He and his mount will get the gun run from barrier three with the perfect trail behind Marway who does not possess the turn of foot this mare does.
Suggested Bet: Varda win at $3.1
