A competitive benchmark 65 race over 1100m will conclude proceedings at this afternoon's Gosford meeting and I like the lightly raced mare Brookton Tiara to race well.
Trained at Tamworth by Barry Lockwood, Brookton Tiara resumes from a 258day spell but looks cheery ripe for her assignment over 110m today.
She has been in work for some time and trialled impressively at Tamworth on 20 December winning a 1000m jump out with plenty up her sleeve.
A winner of four of her nine race track appearances, Brookton Tiara has a good record fresh and won in that state last campaign over 1000m on her home track.
Subsequently she was tried in stronger Sydney grade where she was not disgraced behind French Rose at Canterbury after suffering severe interference.
Her last two starts prior to spelling were a win at Armidale over 1100m and a close up fourth at Scone in benchmark 65 class.
Interestingly, leading rider Brenton Avdulla takes the ride today and I can see her getting a lovely run from her good drawn in barrier four. She looks a good each way chance at odds in what is quite an open race.
Robert Thompson and Alan Scorse will combine with handy sprinter Negombo who comes into the race ready to peak after two runs back from a spell.
First up in slow going at Cesnsock over 900m in benchmark 55 class he came with a late run through the field to grab a last stride win over Northfield Pirate.
Then last time out under Thompson he contested this class on this track but over 1000m, again flashing late but this time just failing to reel in the leaders finishing second to Mounted.
Today he is drawn midfield and with the likelihood of plenty of speed on again, the additional 100m should play right into his hands.
Negombo looks very well placed and will take holding out again.
An interesting engagement is champion rider Corey Brown for Monolith Miss. Trained by Angela Davies, Brown has ridden successfully for her before but today he has his first ride on Monolith Miss.
A lightly raced daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar, Monolith Miss was a first up winner over 900m at Cessnock last campaign.
She then went to Warwick Farm over 1100m where she was a gallant close up third behind Capital Commander fading slightly in the closing stages after leading at the 200m marker.
That race was a very strong form reference and fresh up here she looks one of the better winning hopes.
Last start maiden winner Gasquet will be the favourite and while he has done enough to be considered a winning hope, his odds maybe a little too cramped.
The Joseph Pride-trained four-year-old has been in the frame at all three race appearances culminating in an easy maiden win when second up last start over 1000m at Goulburn under 58kgs.
In that race Gasquet led throughout and broke away turning for home putting the race out reach for those following.
Fresh up he was second on this track over 1000m behind Rushing To Win and third at his debut run over 1100m at Wyong back in August of this year.
Today he rises in class and tumbles 3.5 kgs in weight but a concern for Gasquet backers will be his wide barrier draw of 13. The key to his chances will be early luck in the run.
If rider Jay Ford can get him across then he can easily take a hand in the finish.
Top weight Bottled Up and the Darren Smith trained Alleviate are both runners at odds that can be included in the multiples.
Ends...
