There are four meetings scheduled to take place on Monday, including at Pakenham, where they race on the synthetic track.

They also race at Beaudesert, Muswellbrook and Nowra.

Race 6 Pakenham Synthetic
Croatian Belle @ 2.40

Race 6 Nowra
Ken'ker @ 4.60

Race 5 Muswellbrook
Christa @ 4.00

Belle backed for Pakenham glory

The sixth race at Pakenham is a 1000m Benchmark 64 handicap, with Flying Knee expected to have his supporters jumping from next to the rail.

The five-year-old registered a couple of placed efforts on the turf course here earlier this year and ran respectably when sixth over this track and trip when racing first up this prep.

The gelding was beaten three-and-a-half-lengths having been ridden from off the pace on that occasion and he is set to represent the Reece Goodwin stable.

Preference on this occasion, however, is for CROATIAN BELLE, who made her first start at this track when runner-up last month.

The four-year-old was racing second up on that occasion, having failed to shine when beating just one rival home over 1000m at Bendigo on her return to action prior.

The switch to frontrunning tactics appeared to suit last time out and the 2.40 filly has a good barrier in five should similar tactics be employed in this event.

Trained by Ben, JD & Will Hayes, the filly has won at a higher level in the past having won metro events at Moonee Valley on her first two starts back in December 2022.

In-form hoop Michael Dee boasts a 32% strike-rate (11/34) in the last 30 days and he is taken to steer the selection to victory.

Ken'ker looking good at Nowra

The penultimate race on Nowra's seven-race card is a 1600m Benchmark 58 handicap event.

A good 4 track is expected for the race with Terry Robinson's Spritey Emily arriving here in good form, having finished in the top three in each of her last three starts.

The first of those efforts saw the mare win by a narrow margin when contesting a 1425m Benchmark 58 handicap on a soft 6 track at Moruya at the end of June.

A close-up third on a heavy 8 track when racing over 1660m at the same venue followed prior to the nine-year-old placing second at Sapphire Coast on 28th July.

Jockey Holly Durnan, on board last time out, again takes the ride, however a wide barrier isn't ideal in this contest and KEN'KER is the pick here.

Trained by Matthew Dale the gelding placed twice at Moruya in September last year prior to finishing fourth over 1100m here the following month.

The 4.60 selection was spelled following that effort and resumed with a fourth on a heavy 9 track when contesting a 1200m maiden at Goulburn early last month.

While the five-year-old was beaten over four lengths that day he delivered a highly creditable effort first up and duly broke his maiden at Sapphire Coast subsequently.

The son of Duporth raced on a soft 7 track that day, however the quicker conditions expected here are no issue and he is taken to complete a double.

Christa to salute at Muswellbrook

Todd Howlett's CHRISTA is set to line up for the fifth race at Muswellbrook, with the race in question a 1280m Benchmark 66 handicap set to take place on a soft 7 surface.

The five-year-old has made just two starts this year, with the first of those coming when one-and-a-half-lengths fourth in a 1405m Benchmark 66 handicap at Tuncurry in January.

The 4.00 mare was spelled following that effort and returned to action with a solid third in a 1400m Class 3 handicap at Tamworth at the end of June.

The selection raced on a good 4 track at Tamworth, with a wide barrier here unlikely to pose a problem having been ridden from off the pace at both Tamworth and Tuncurry.

The pick has been freshened since her Tamworth third and she is taken to record her third win in five career starts.