Menangle Saturday.

RACE ONE:

Although he has been struggling for the majority of his latest term of racing, BURNING CASH is entitled to another chance after drawing ideally in gate one. The 6yo has mananged just the one placing from his 10 starts before starting favourite here last week. With the original intention of being driven more aggresively not playing out, Burning Cash found himself back in the pack, en route to working home well for a 3.3m 2nd behind Medal Of Honour. In what appears to be another wide-open contest, Burning Cash is likely to settle closer to the action this time, and with the extended trip of 2300m, he certainly has the chance to post his first win since last August. MEDAL OF HONOUR was brave in winning a week ago after working to find the role outside of the leader. Another who is hard to follow, Medal Of Honour is entitled to another high rating. Although awkwardly drawn on the inside of the back row, MY LUCKY BELLE is capable of a cheeky run after being outclassed in the Bathurst Mayors Cup last time out. MY CHACHINGCHACHING returned to racing with a solid win at Newcastle and is capable of being in the finish while expect a better showing from THE BLACK ASSASSIN and KARLOO KIX when it comes to assisting multiple players.

BURNING CASH 1, Medal Of Honour 2, My Lucky Belle 3, My Chachingchaching 4.

RACE TWO:

Another tough affair due to the lack of consistent efforts of the field in recent times. The gamble is with SMOKIN BIRD, despite the fact that the mare hasn’t greeted the judge since last September. Placed just twice in her past 11 starts, the 5yo is coming off an 11.9m 10th to Lurah last week, however, the run was better than it may first appear on paper. After drawing wide and drifting back to a ‘deep’ peg role, the mare didn’t have a lot of luck in the run home. With a slightly better draw next to her name Smokin Bird has the chance to be a contender this time around. The David Thorn stable is enjoying plenty of success of late and IDEAL WARRIOR is capable of keeping the ‘flag’ flying. The 6yo resumed with a tidy 1.8m 3rd to Bettor Atom and although he is another who has been missing from the winner’s circle for an extended period, this is the type of race he is capable of winning. FLOYD MAYWEATHER has the chance to give a better account from gate one while IAMBOOGIE, CAPTAIN BROOK, ASTRONAUT and LETTUCE GO PIPPA remain in the exotic mix.

SMOKIN BIRD 1, Ideal Warrior 2, Floyd Mayweather 3, Lamboogie 4.

RACE THREE:

Two Kevin Pizzuto runners hold the key to this event, despite the fact that ELROY JETSON and ADMIRAL JOY have drawn 10 and nine, respectively. ELROY JETSON overcame a back row draw in scoring here two starts ago, then worked home stoutly from back in the field and, very wide on the turn, when a creditable 6.4m 4th to Outrageous El last week. This assignment doesn’t appear to contain the same depth and, if close enough on the home turn, he is certainly good enough. ADMIRAL JOY has been placed in two of his past three, the latest when a gritty 3rd to Medal Of Honour a week ago. The 6yo continues the trend of runners looking to end a long drought out of the top spot. MY GUY MAC was never a threat last week in finishing a disappointing last to Outrageous El. However, the 6yo had solid form before that effort and he must be included in the top bracket of chances. DEVIL DODGER did a creditable job when 2nd to Outrageous El and although he is proving hard to follow, a bold showing here is more than likely. Don’t be surprised if ARDLE MCARDLE runs a cheeky race for his new stable while LIVELY HERO and JACCKA LONNY should be linked to the exotics.

ELROY JETSON 1, Admiral Joy 2, My Guy Mac 3, Devil Dodger 4.

RACE FOUR:

The prospect of starting from gate three, which is minus one of the reserves, EH EF EL looks poised to ‘kick a goal’ for ‘Team Tritton’ and Chris Geary. The former Kiwi has had three starts on this side of the Tasman, posting stylish wins at Bankstown and Menangle, either side of a moderate and costly 8th to Sportygal in a heat of the Honouree at Bathurst, when he galloped out and lost all chance. His latest win resulted in the promising 5yo spearing straight to the lead and dictating the terms, prior to wrapping up his work in a sizzling 26.5 final quarter. Geary will gain be looking to Eh Ef El bouncing straight to the front and ‘high-balling’ it from that point onwards. AUTHENTIC STRIDE chased Eh Ef El home last start for a gritty 9.7m 2nd at this venue and she is bound to give another good account. IDEAL DESTINY has drawn the back row but don’t sell him short as the lightly-raced 7yo has done a good job after starting his career just a few months ago. Exotic players should look to a fitter AWESOME CULLECT, along with IMTHEVILLAGESTAR, THE GOLDEN CROSS and SENOR MACRAY to assist in receiving a winning dividend.

EH EF EL 1, Authentic Stride 2, Ideal Destiny 3, Awesome Cullect 4.

RACE FIVE:

Outstanding mare CYCLONE KATE is capable of ‘blowing’ her rivals away after the exciting 5yo drew ideally in pole position. The mare has won three of her past four, with her failure coming in the G1 Ladyship Mile when she finished 10th behind A Piccadilly Princess. Following that appearance Cyclone Kate has won the Smooth Satin Cup, prior to producing a big finish in accounting for Ultimate Art and Yayas Hot Spot in the Bathurst Mayors Cup on March 25. Trainer-driver John McCarthy will be looking to stamp his authority on this race from the outset. Unlucky mare AMERETTO has again suffered an early blow after drawing out in the car park, however, she is too good to leave out. The 5yo was responsible for a huge effort here two starts ago in the Robin Dundee when she broke in the score up and lost a huge amount of ground, prior to finishing brilliantly for a 3m 2nd to A Piccadilly Princess. In the Ladyship Mile Ameretto suffered from a flat tyre in finishing a ‘forget’ last, again behind the brilliant Kiwi. ONLYKIDDING is racing in fine style and she looked to throw away a potential win in the Jodies Babe at Melton last week when she joined in strongly, only to break in finishing a 9.4m 6th to Milley Perez. Onlykidding could prove to be the value runner. Exotic players should then link HELENS BONUS, TACT HAYLEYS DELIGHT and DU VELLA to the major players.

CYCLONE KATE 1, Ameretto 2, Onlykidding 3, Helens Bonus 4.

RACE SIX:

The Pink Bonnet looks to be an ideal fit for the exciting filly, MY SWEETCHILLIPHILLY after the Bathurst Gold Tiara winner draw handily in gate four. All three runs to date have been at Bathurst, the first resulting in a 59.7m demolition job, the second by 22.3m, then the ‘jewel in the crown’ performance when she worked from a 2nd line draw in greeting the judge with a margin of 20.9m to spare over Lady Chatto and Now Eye See. The margin could have been more had Chris Geary had so desired. There was no need. Geary will dictate with My Sweetchilliphilly and it should be a matter of ‘follow the leader’ from that point onwards. LADY CHATTO is a talented filly who won her heat of the Tiara in fine style, however, she had no answer to the power of My Sweetchilliphilly in the Tiara, despite being perfectly rated in front by Anthony Butt. The former Kiwi filly will again be favoured to run the quinella. MAN HANDS is coming off a solid Wagga win and is worthy of exotic attention while another former Kiwi in IDEAL PLEASURE is bound to come in for some scrutiny at her first start for ‘Team Tritton’ as she looks to improve on two unplaced runs to start her career. BRAZILIAN ROCKER appeals as an exotic chance from the pole while SHE SPORTY could add some value.

MY SWEETCHILLIPHILLY 1, Lady Chatto 2, Man Hands 3, Ideal Pleasure 4.

RACE SEVEN:

Although confronted by a 48 hour ‘back-up’, TIGER TARA remains the one they have to beat, providing he performs up to expectations at Penrith. The classy 6yo scored in fine style here on March 24, easily accounting for two talented types in Spare Me Days and Mister Brazil. Tiger Tara has again drawn wide but that shouldn’t be seen as a major hurdle for this exciting son of Bettors Delight. Stablemate GOD SEND is more than capable of giving plenty of cheek. Placed in three of his past four starts in easier company, the 9yo is a notch or two below his best these days, however, the same could be said for a number of his rivals so don’t dismiss his claims of playing a role in the finish. BLAZIN N CULLEN ended a run of six unplaced runs, following his previous win, when he finished strongly to score in a similar race last week. If he can repeat that effort, then expect to see Blazin N Cullen again making his presence felt. A tougher task awaits OUTRAGEOUS EL but the 6yo is racing well and exotic prospects are possible. Also include LIVIN IT LOVIN IT, MIND THE WIRE and MONIFIETH.

TIGER TARA 1, God Send 2, Blazin N Cullen 3, Outrageous El 4.

RACE EIGHT:

An interesting newcomer to the local trotting scene is Kiwi 5yo, KOWHAI MONARCH who is a member of the astute Mark Jones team at Christchurch. The son of Monarchy hasn’t been able to reign supreme of late, in fact eight runs this time in have all resulted in unplaced efforts. His most recent win was last September. That said, and his stand form reads well, having won four of 12, and with the benefit of the front line, Kowhai Monarch could be an interesting gamble with Ashlee Grives taking the reins. The established local trio of YOGI JOHNSON and VISUALISE, the pair both from ‘Lucky Lodge’ and SHETLAND will be the hardest to beat. All three have solid stand form and although Yogi Johnson and Shetland have 10m hcp, and Visualise a further 10m, that won’t be a concern in this type of race. The Troy Williams trained IONA GRINNER returns from a break and although her past three starts are nothing to write home about, she is capable of better and a bold first-up showing while fresh isn’t beyond this more than useful mare.

KOWHAI MONARCH 1, Yogi Johnson 2, Shetland 3, Visualise 4.