Turf talk:
- Pakenham is one of the best laid out tracks in the country with lovely runs from most starts before they start turning and a long, wide 480m home straight.
- The 1000, 1100 and 1200m races start from a chute off the top of the home straight, so a northerly wind really assists leaders in these races. Barriers are of little consequence as they only have a slight bend to navigate.
- That said, for mine it hasn’t been an easy task making ground this season, so giving some advantage to those mapping on speed.
- Rail goes back to the true position for the final for the Future Stars Series
Race 4
Not a strong maiden.
(7) Handsome Missile looks to have come back well. He debuted in a strong race at Sale last campaign before seeming not to handle a wet track at Seymour his only other start. Wide draw is fine for him out of the sprint chute as he’s not the best beginner and it ensures clean air up the straight. Loved his turn of foot when asked to quicken in his recent jump-out; if he can bring that to the sports this is a winnable race.
Suggested bet: E/W Handsome Missile at $7.50
Race 6
In three starts across the ditch (8) Ocean Bay did a lot wrong, but showed good promise. She was hit and miss at barrier rise and was continually forced to make runs up the inside in restricted room. She has trialled up nicely for Gavin Bedggood and importantly left the barriers cleanly in that piece of work. Beau Mertens should have a reasonable handle on her having ridden in that jump-out and she should enjoy a nice run just behind what looks a moderate speed. She was scratched from Seymour last Friday to come here instead and strikes a fairly moderate affair as a result. She can make a winning debut to her Australian career.
Suggested bet: Backing Ocean Bay
Race 7
Cracking race. Speed comes from (1) Plunger, (5) Nostro Roccia and (10) Sapphire Siren, primarily. Don’t think (7) Silver Bullet or (3) Cyber Link will be that far away.
With the good speed and given his brilliant debut win I think (8) Savoyard should be favourite. He reeled off the meeting’s best last 600m split of the meeting when winning on debut over 1200m and he looks like he will eat up 1400m. Had a lovely tick-over jump-out at Caulfield between runs to keep him up to the mark. He got a long way back on debut but think he can hold a midfield spot from gate three. Ethan Brown up a plus.
Sapphire Siren is the other horse I can back. Reckon market has underrated her on-speed win at this track four weeks back. She set a good tempo there and just kept running, giving every indication the 1400m won’t be an issue. Draws soft, so can land on speed and either take up the running or let one go if they want to go mad. Have her marked second favourite, so think the $7.50 is value.
Plunger was good on debut, beating a handy field in the process. Little query on 1200m at this stage but looks talented.
Suggested bet:
Like the race. Good bets (8) Savoyard and (10) Sapphire Siren.
