WEEKEND RACING PREVIEW with Chris Scholtz – June 29

RACE 5 (4) PRINCESS RHAENYS: No doubt this has been the carnival target for this classy mare after her photo finish second in this race last year. She’s on target after an excellent last start win in her lead-up over 1810m when she overcame a three wide passage to lift at the finish under 58kg. That was only her third run back and she’ll enjoy a much better run this time from the rails draw.

RACE 6: (1) VOW AND DECLARE/(9) YOUNG WERTHER: Keen to play with Danny O’Brien’s pair as both offer good value in an average field. The 2019 Melbourne Cup winner VOW AND DECLARE hasn’t won since his 2022 success in the G2 Zipping Classic but his he’s never going to get a better opportunity as he is well treated with 57.5kg under these compressed weight conditions after performing well under 59kg in much classier weight-for-age fields this season. Stablemate YOUNG WERTHER is a multiple G1 placegetter who has been working up to this distance with some solid efforts in unsuitable races. He drops 4kg from his Q22 sixth and rates well with Blake Shinn aboard for his first 2400m start this prep. Back them both for a profit!

RACE 7: (2) SEMANA: With some distance reservations hanging over the favoured pair this classy mare (a four time winner over 1400m) is sure to improve dropping back to her own sex from her Stradbroke Handicap effort where she faced a big task from a wide gate when having her first start for two months. Her excellent summer/autumn campaign saw her win the Listed MM Cup and G3 Triscay Stakes followed by G1 placings in the Coolmore Classic and Queen Of The Turf. Hard to beat if she lands here in that form.

RACE 6: 9-1-7-5-4

RACE 7: 4-5-14-6

RACE 8: 1-2-8-13-15

RACE 9: 14-2-8-5-12