The early scratching of Celandine has left this race as Skymist’s to lose.
Skymist showed promise during her debut preparation, but has returned to the track a far more furnished prospect this time, breaking her maiden at Newcastle before comfortably winning in BM64 company at Gosford last time out.
This is another rise in class, but she harbours further improvement and will be fighting out the finish.
I am a big fan of the John Sargent-trained Emeralds and the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes looks a lovely feature race for her.
The Sebring mare enjoyed a good spring preparation last year and competed well against some of the best fillies of her crop.
So far this time, she has finished fourth over 1110m on the Kensington course and beaten a fit field at BM72 grade at Canterbury.
I like that she’s had a trial in the lead-up to this race and with even luck, she’ll take plenty of beating.
This is a strong and open edition of the Wyong Gold Cup, but Raheen House looks a nice bit of value at around the $6 mark.
Raheen House returned some typically strong efforts throughout his autumn prep this year, winning the Group 2 Chairman’s Stakes most notably, and he’ll enjoy good improvement from a fair first-up run for fifth in the Premier’s Cup Prelude.
There’s no doubt that the rise in trip will suit and Nash Rawiller takes the ride.
Toro Toro hasn’t been seen at the races since May, but he was an impressive performer last time in and can make a winning return in the last at Wyong today.
The Time For War gelding has won twice in three previous fresh attempt, and beat home a quality field at Gosford two back before running second behind the undefeated Fender at Randwick in a Highway race.
He returned a lovely trial in the lead up to this race, and he is up to winning.