Form Analysis by RACING AND SPORTS

Group 1-winning mare Eye Keep Smiling looks nicely placed in a Breeders Challenge 4YO Mares semi-final at Menangle on Saturday night, her first outing since a midfield finish in the Eureka.

The meeting also features the Breeders Challenge semis for the juveniles where Queensland stablemates Fate Awaits and Path To Greatness look big players in the colts and gelding races while good draws give Namaka and Gunna Reload every chance to continue on their winning way in the fillies' events.

Race 1: SKY RACING PACE

ROYAL CRUISER (8) takes on older rivals but he is flying having made it four wins in a row with a dominant performance in a Breeders Challenge heat at Bathurst last time out. Draws wide but has yet to miss a place in five attempts at this circuit and distance, winning two of them. Can win again. CRAFTMANS CHARLIE (6) continues to race well having placed in four of five starts since winning here, last time leading from a wider draw for a 2.5m second. Owns a good record at this shorter distance. Big chance. MICK DANGER (1) was far from disgraced from the outside barrier last week and won his previous two here, also when drawn wide. He is well served by the inside draw as is I BREAK THE LINE (3) who hasn't been far away of late. MONTALBANO (5) must be respected off a win and a second in his last two outings.

Race 2: BESTINBEDS.COM.AU PACE

OOGA CHAKA (5) resumes after showing good form at this circuit last time in, winning his first two starts for the Aiken stable, both of them in this grade. He is a two-time fresh winner and should be ready to go after placing in two recent trials. MADIGAN (6) has been good in his two starts here since switching to the Alchin yard, racing deep and missing by a nose two back then atoning with a 1.2m win over this distance last week. Draws lower than in both of those outings. Big chance again. OUR UNCLE JIM (4) is hard to knock having completed a winning hat-trick by scoring from this barrier here a fortnight ago. DONEGAL LUTHER (9) draws wide again but is building in fitness and looks close to a win after finishing runner-up in three of four starts this time in.

Race 3: CLUB MENANGLE LES CHANT FFA (LISTED CLASSIC)

CURLY JAMES (1) returns from a hit-and run Melton raid where he chased along the sprint lane to place behind Leap To Fame in last week's Group 3 Smoken Up Sprint. Up to a distance where he is yet to win but impressed when overcoming a wide barrier to score here two back and should enjoy all the favours from the ace draw. WHEREYABINBOPPIN (5) looks close to another win after coming from wider barriers to place in his last outings at this circuit, the latest behind Curly James. Has the early pace to push forward. Winning chance. CAPTAINS KNOCK (2) has been freshened since a brave effort from a wide gate in The Eureka. Should enjoy better favours from this low draw and owns a good strike rate here. MACH DA VINCI (3) is back in form, scoring from a similar barrier to this two back before placing from a wider draw last time. Respect. KANENA PROVLIMA (8) is up in grade but could go on with it after overcoming the widest barrier to find winning form last week.

Race 4: NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE 2YO COLTS AND GELDINGS - SEMI FINAL

PATH TO GREATNESS (8) maintained his unbeaten record in his first NSW appearance, claiming the scalp of his Group 1-winning stablemate Fate Awaits in a 3.2m heat win at Newcastle. That was his first attempt at the mile and while he draws wider he has the class to overcome the barrier. SWEET ON LEXY (9) was a class above in his heat at Bathurst, cruising home by more than 12m. He draws deep but has overcome wide barriers before and showed his talent by winning a Group 3 in Brisbane over the winter. HEZATREACHEROUS (3) made it three from three this time in when taking out his heat. That took his record at this circuit and distance to three wins and a placing from four attempts and he draws to advantage. DOUBLE LOU (4) faces his acid test but he is four from four so far and the good draw gives him every chance to take the next step. SOHO DARKNSTORMY (11) cops a tough draw but his recent consistency is hard to knock.

Race 5: NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE 2YO FILLIES - SEMI FINAL

The marble has fallen perfectly again for GUNNA RELOAD (1) who made it four from four this time in when leading from this barrier to take out her heat by 2.3m. That was her second success in as many tries at this circuit and distance and she has been kept up to the mark with a trial win. Take beating. SUGAR PIE HONEY (3) is hard to knock having recorded three wins and a placing in four starts since a spell. Led and proved far too good with an 8.3m heat win here last time. Another good draw could see her back that up. SENSATIONALIZE (5) came from a similar draw for an easy heat win at Newcastle, her fourth success from her last five outings. Kept ticking over with a trial win since. Player. GOLDEN SHOOZ (11) draws wide but she made it three wins in a row with a victory on protest when resuming at Wagga and has upside.

Race 6: NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE 2YO COLTS AND GELDINGS - SEMI FINAL

FATE AWAITS (2) was beaten into second as a hot favourite in his heat at Newcastle but he came off the back row and had to work. He went into that race off an eight-week freshen following his Group 1 Protostar win in Brisbane so he'll be better for the outing and is well served by tonight's draw. MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (6) is a smart colt who had enough speed to lead from a similar draw in his heat at this circuit and distance before cruising home by more than 10m. His only time out of the placings came behind Fate Awaits in the Protostar but his strike rate is hard to ignore. HEEZA MALTEEZA (7) draws wider than in his heat win but that was a tough effort after racing parked and his three wins have all come at this distance from just five attempts. JUNGLE DRAGON (5) worked from a wider barrier but was too good in his heat at Bathurst, his third win from his last four starts. Must respect.

Race 7: NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE 2YO FILLIES - SEMI FINAL

Boom filly NAMAKA (3) maintained her unbeaten record when she resumed in the heats, coming from a wider barrier to score by 1.4m. That was her third victory from as many starts and all of them have come at this circuit and distance. Has trialled since the fresh win so should have come on and is well served by this draw. Brisbane filly THE LADY DIOR (6) drew poorly in her first NSW appearance but showed what she could do last start when leading to score by close to 2m here. Draws a couple of spots wider but can push forward and make an impact again. MISS RAVISHING (4) drew deep and raced up to three wide so was brave in a narrow heat win here last time. She can be involved again from a more favourable draw. THE SWIFT ONE (7) draws a little wide but has put three wins together, two of them here including the Group 2 Blue final. Must respect.

Race 8: TINTIN IN AMERICA @ WINGATE FARM PACE

PETES SAID SO (10) looks nicely placed dropping in grade. His recent form may not leap off the page but he has been taking on some strong opposition and did score back-to-back wins at this circuit earlier in his campaign, one of them from a similar wide draw. Can return to winning form in this line-up. DOUBLE ACT (3) has been coming from wider barriers and producing some decent efforts including a placing three back. Finished runner up here the last time he started from this barrier so should go well. JILLIBY SYLVESTER (1) has come from wide or second row barriers in recent attempts so can play a role from the ace draw. ONE FOR THE RODI (6) can be competitive after getting close to the placegetters in his last couple here.

Race 9: NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE 4YO MARES - SEMI FINAL (PRELUDE)

Classy mare EYE KEEP SMILING (2) has been freshened since her brave effort to finish midfield in The Eureka last month. She had very strong form over the Brisbane winter, highlighted by her win in the Group 1 Golden Girl. Strikes at 50 per cent at this circuit and distance and looks very well placed aided by a low draw. LUDACROUS (4) has put together a string of placings since her fifth behind Eye Keep Smiling in the Golden Girl. Drew deepest when third against the boys here last week and was runner up in a Group 1 at Melton last month. NO DRAMAS (3) drew wide against a strong field of mares last week so prepared to overlook that and assess her chances off the prior good form that saw her win three of her previous four starts here. PROMISELAND (8) draws deep again but missed by just a nose when resuming against the boys two back and should be nearing her peak.

Race 10: NATIONALTROTGUIDE.COM.AU TROTTERS MOBILE

LEAF STRIDE (9) is racing well at this circuit and distance, scoring a tough win two back before missing by a nose in the G3 Club Menangle Trotters Cup last time. That was his first outing for four weeks so it should have improved him. Top chance. SPEEDY LOVER (10) came from a similar draw to this when scoring two back at this circuit and distance then raced three wide without cover but stuck on for a 4.2m fourth in the Trotters Cup last time. Major player. ONE MAJIC KENNY (11) made a mess of the start last time but chased Speedy Lover as runner-up two back so can be competitive if he gets it right. SUPER SERVICE (5) has been let down by manners of late but has won a trial since last seen so has claims if he behaves. TOUGH LOVE (6) hasn't featured in two starts back from a long spell but owns a strong record at this circuit and distance and is three from three when third-up so may be ready to show more.

BEST BETS:

Race 6 #2 Fate Awaits – Promising colt who draws to return to the winners' list.

Race 9 #2 Eye Keep Smiling– High class mare who looks tough to stop from the good draw.