| Race | Selection | Bet Type | Exotics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 3 | No.7 Angel In Black | WIN | |
| Race 4 | No.11 Miss Navratilova | WIN | Quinella 8,10,11 |
| Race 5 | No.17 Prestige Stephen | WIN | Quinella 1 & 17 |
| Race 7 | No.12 Enigmatise | E/W | |
| Race 9 | No.7 Shanghai Venture / No.8 Pure Rain | Backing Both |
Turf Talk:
- Rail is out 5m for most of the track (1m from the 1450m-1300m mark)
- Track with sweeping turns and a short home straight.
- Momentum is vital. You can make ground so long as you are building the revs prior to the home straight.
Race 3
Good maiden.
Angel In Black trialled very well prior to her debut in a hot maiden at Pakenham. She was held up at a crucial stage there and should’ve finished a clear third. The step from 1000m to 1215m here today is ideal, and she has race experience on her key danger. The knock is the wide gate, but the 1200m start at Kynton is the best on the track, with a decent run down the back straight before they start turning.
The danger is Bold Bordeaux from the Hayes team. He won a handy trial at Caulfield recently (2nd and 3rd have since won), appearing to go better than his stablemate Esmahli who went to Mornington and won on debut. Drawn to get a gun run on speed.
Suggested bet: Even being conservative with pricing due to the barrier, $5 about Angel In Black appeals.
Race 4
Miss Navratilova has to be respected. She has shown talent in jump-outs and has Celine Gaudray in the saddle. She was taken back from a wide barrier in her recent Caulfield trial but had been more forward in jump-outs prior, expect them to use the good gate. Liked how strong she was past the post in that recent jump-out and this isn’t a strong maiden.
Think Elonia can lead and take catching here. She trialled well last campaign and was firm in the market on debut at Bendigo ($5) before leading them up and capitulating in the straight. She didn’t appear to handle the heavy ground. Her first trial this time in was very good, her second was a pass mark.
Not sure dropping back in trip is ideal for Prestige Zerprise, nor is the wide draw. He can win, but can’t see how he’s as short as $3.20 here.
Suggested bet: Think Miss Navratilova can win on debut. Could also have a small quinella 8,10,11.
Race 5
Sheesh, I wish Prestige Stephen had drawn any other gate but gate one! She’s a talent this horse. She was luckless on debut at Pakenham in a strong form race and then had a savage bias against her when backed off the map at Mornington her only other start. Jump-outs this time in have been super. She’s a neutral beginner, so hoping drawing gate one Neindorf can use the alley to be more positive – if she gets clean air I think he wins.
Areaan has good ability and has jumped-out nicely this time in. She can roll forward and take catching. Little query for mine is she’s 40 days between her last jump-out and resuming.
Cincincity has the benefit of a spin around Kyneton, which can be a tricky track. Jump-out was solid.
Suggested bet: Backing Prestige Stephen. Quinella 1,17.
Race 7
Not a strong race.
I can’t come at Setheus off a four-horse maiden win against moderate opposition. That said, he probably has the most upside.
Enigmatise looks awfully hard to beat here and seems a massive price at $19. She was formerly trained by Matt Cumani and tried out at staying trips but has since changed to Neil Pfeiffer’s stable. I liked the way she moved in a Bendigo jump-out leading into his first up run at St Arnaud, where she was dragged back from a wide draw before working home really well without much luck late, albeit with the advantage of the inside running. Think she’s come back in top order for the new stable, she likes firm ground and he can be closer in the run from gate six.
Suggested bet: Something small E/W Enigmatise in a race lacking depth.
Race 8
Ballon D’or looks a big price at $6. She’s been going well for the Cassar stable, especially on firmer ground. Had no luck at Wodonga second up, ran well at Swan Hill third up, spaced third when running second here three back, was trapped deep in a strong form race at Horsham two back and whilst ran last was only beaten 5.5L and then struck a heavy track/traffic against strong company at Ballarat last time out. Now drops in grade and gets in well after the claim. Drawn for a lovely run.
Suggested bet: Something 1×3 Ballon D’or.
Race 9
Shanghai Venture has been racing well and can forgive her heavy track effort last time out, she hasn’t gone a yard in two more recent heavy track efforts. She had been racing well leading into that, against stronger opposition than she meets today. Firm ground a plus. Thomas Stockdale has had a couple of sits on her and she’s tactically versatile, so he can ride to the pattern of the day come race nine.
Pure Rain hasn’t won since she was with Peter Snowden. She has had one preparation with the Beani stable and she continually missed the kick, which didn’t help. She jumped better in a recent jump-out at Terang (caller called her Sweet Cheval in the run but looking at colour was Pure Rain) and she moved well through the line in that heat. She has run well fresh in the past and Alana Kelly knows her, having ridden her on multiple occasions.
Self Serve has a good chance but will need a bit of luck off gate one and seems aggressively priced at $2.25.
Suggested bet: Small dutch Shanghai Venture/Pure Rain
