| Race | Horse | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| R2 #3 | Up The Den (BEST) | Fitter 2nd up here today and suited with a softer race map |
| R5 #7 | Dapper Don (EACH-WAY) | Looks the map horse of the race up on speed |
| R7 #6 | Golden Guru (NEXT BEST) | Looking for the 1800m trip, gets that here |
| R9 #4 | Dancing Storm (BEST VALUE) | Down in grade coming out of good form race last time |
| R9 #3 | Starts Now (BEST ROUGHIE) | Has improvement to come but wouldn’t surprise in this grade |
Turf Talk:
- The rail position on the course proper here today moves back out slightly from the previous meeting a fortnight ago and will be +3m 1200m-W/Post & True remainder
- Clear conditions are expected on race day and in the lead up so expect the track will be rated a Good 4 come race 1
- Generally a track that plays fairly, no apparent bias is expected but it will be favourable to be forwards of midfield at the 600m mark with majority of winners likely to come from lanes 5,6 or 7 in the straight
The Stats That Matter:
- Caitlin Tootell is an apprentice in good form, she has 14 winners from her last 100 rides with a strong POT of +38.7%. She is in good demand with trainers due to an important 3kg claim and has 7 rides at this meeting.
Race by race overview
Race 1
(1) Golden Horizon is on the quick back up after a strong performance last week running second to the in form Virtual Illusion, he was brave in defeat running the 3rd fastest L600m of the meeting and a rise in trip should suit. (4) Harmonic Dancer was strongly supported on debut in May, but disappointed that day. Went straight to the paddock and resumes here off some handy trials, he can be a sharp improver in this. (2) Common Interest was a winner on debut and looks to take a step up in grade for this today while (3) Dampen has a race experience edge on others and may be better suited slightly down in grade today.
Selections:
(1) Golden Horizon
(4) Harmonic Dancer
(2) Common Interest
(3) Dampen
Suggested Bet – No bet, hard to split the top two in the market, a big push from Harmonic Dancer again would be a good sign
Race 2
(3) Up The Den was met with good market support when resuming off the back of some handy trial form. He was solid in defeat considering he got caught up in a battle on speed but still managed to stick on for third. He gets in fitter now and light at the weights so with a softer looking race map he should get a better run today. (2) Kalasec beat Up The Den home in that last start run and was quick through the finish, he can be strong again late with a fast tempo. (6) Palm Of Jumeirah resumes, she has a solid first up record and has been trialling well, expect she will be right around the mark. (4) Mesrour should improve fitter here today, he hasn’t missed the top 3 in 3 previous second up starts.
Selections:
(3) Up The Den
(2) Kalasec
(6) Palm Of Jumeirah
(4) Mesrour
Suggested Bet – Up The Den (Win)
Race 3
Very competitive maiden here, resuming runners (13) Saint Boom & (5) Midlife Crisis look well placed to perform after recent trials. Saint Boom gets a favourable race map towards the inside rail which gives her an ideal run from that position. Midlife Crisis went back on debut so may need an even track to show his turn of foot. (1) Fast Tempo comes into this race fresh after a pair of tough runs, this race looks a touch easier than his last two starts. (2) Frontpoint showed improvement last start and maps well again here.
Selections:
(13) Saint Boom
(5) Midlife Crisis
(1) Fast Tempo
(2) Frontpoint
Suggested Bet – No bet, low confidence in these maiden runners
Race 4
(4) Guru Warrior was met with strong market support last time after having little luck in the previous start. He gave nothing a chance last time out and won in impressive fashion, looks the one to beat again. (5) Whatsanamegeorge improved enough to win last start, he is at his best fitter and over a trip so the 2000m suits, but the needs luck from a wide barrier. (9) Aitch D’amico is hard to catch and needs the right set up to win from the back of the field, if they go along quickly here it will set him up to be swooping late. (2) Vellasmachine brings in a unique form line from races over in Victoria, he rises up to a staying trip now which will suit.
Selections:
(4) Guru Warrior
(5) Whatsanamegeorge
(9) Aitch D’amico
(2) Vellasmachine
Suggested Bet – No bet, Guru Warrior looks the winner but little value in his current price.
Race 5
(7) Dapper Don was a winner here recently when leading all of the way, he hasn’t managed to find the lead in his previous two starts which may not have suited. Looks a strong chance to find the lead in this today in a race that looks like it lacks early speed. He can push forwards and be prominent, may prove hard to catch if given a soft run with a light weight on his back. (5) Murph has been close to a win in his last two starts placing in both, he can get a better run today from a lower barrier. (8) Tottori had excuses in his resuming run when coming off a long spell, he can bounce back here today with a favourable race map from the inside barrier. (2) The Wirrulla Boy resumes today, he was in good winning form in easier races last prep before tackling some much stronger races. He may be better suited down in grade today
Selections:
(7) Dapper Don
(5) Murph
(8) Tottori
(2) The Wirrulla Boy
Suggested Bet – Dapper Don (Each-way)
Race 6
(7) Mt Niseko has down little wrong in his last 2 runs having won both. He went to a new level last start and probably again needs to take a step up in grade, but it is hard to knock his strong recent form. (8) Super Alana ran into the placings last start when up in grade, she looks better suited here today back down in level and this is an ideal trip for her over the 1050m. (2) Wiggum resumes today, he has won 2/3 previous 1st up runs in his career so can perform well fresh, he was competitive up in grade last prep but will likely be back in the run so needs the track to be fair. (6) Condor is a runner who has good early speed and is drawn well in barrier 3, he looks the likely leader and can control this race from the front.
Selections:
(7) Mt Niseko
(8) Super Alana
(2) Wiggum
(6) Condor
Suggested Bet – No bet, looks one of the more competitive races of the day and can make a case for any number here.
Race 7
The feature race of today’s meeting The Listed Hill Stakes. Majority of this field have mixed form lines having competed against each other multiple times. (6) Golden Guru was the blackbooker of the race in his last start, had no luck at the top of the straight before edging off heels and hitting the line strongly, the rise up to the 1800m trip here looks ideal based off that run and he looks suited at this trip. Out of that race (7) Oakley Miss was also finishing strongly, she may also be suited rising in trip but the inside barrier could give her the bad luck this time in. (4) Talent Scout comes across the border having been an impressive maiden winner at Murtoa last time out, the wider barrier may make it tough early which is the query. (2) Safe Bet defeated Golden Guru & Oakley Miss last start and if those runners find bad luck again he could be in the ideal position.
Selections:
(6) Golden Guru
(7) Oakley Miss
(4) Talent Scout
(2) Safe Bet
Suggested Bet – Golden Guru (Win)
Race 8
(4) Shady Thinker is resuming for his 2nd prep. He showed good talent last time in work winning 2 of 3 starts before tackling a stronger race. He resumes here off some good trial form and won 1st up last prep so can go well fresh here. (11) Zunna was well supported last week but failed to gain a start as the emergency, expect that she may be well supported again as she looks a progressive type from her last start win and she maps well again. (6) From The Block comes into the race off a freshen up having found some good form in stronger races last time, he looks the key speed influence of the race. (3) Riche D’amour is on the quick back up from last week and was an eye catcher when running the second fastest L600m of the meeting, an extra 100m in this race could suit
Selections:
(4) Shady Thinker
(11) Zunna
(6) From The Block
(3) Riche D’amour
Suggested Bet – No bet, looks a race they will go quickly in here so would want to see a track that favours speed before betting
Race 9
(4) Dancing Storm has had little luck in his 4 runs so far this prep, he has flashed home well though running into the placings in 3 of those runs, the last run in particular was impressive behind Ndola who has since franked that form to win again at Caulfield. Dancing Storm is down in grade here which could help him take that next step to a win. Also having a small play at stablemate (3) Starts Now, he isn’t a known 1st up performer and will be better over more ground, but has looked very sharp in some recent trials, with a light weight down in grade he wouldn’t shock at a big price. (10) Nicish is in good form coming off a last start win, she looks likely to get ideal map favours again from barrier 2. (7) Hypernova is another who is in super form of late, expecting he will be hitting the line strongly again, but needs to take another step up in grade for this.
Selections:
(4) Dancing Storm
(3) Starts Now
(10) Nicish
(7) Hypernova
Suggested Bet – Dancing Storm (Win) & Starts Now small as the roughie of the day
Race 10
Victorian visitor (5) Fearless Writer was competitive last start in a good race at Murtoa despite having a race map that set up against the track pattern, he gets a more even track here today which will likely suit better and gives him every chance if he can finish off like last time. (10) Grinzinger Halo has found form since winning her maiden, she has won two in a row now and this again sets up well for her from a race map perspective if she can handle the rise in grade again. (3) Sachem was well supported in a similar level race to this last start, he hit the line strongly that day and looks as if he will need to again as it is likely he goes back from the wide barrier. (6) Alainge has been consistent in similar races of late, she looks likely to get back in the run and be hitting the line strongly so is well suited with a light weight.
Selections:
(5) Fearless Writer
(10) Grinzinger Halo
(3) Sachem
(6) Alainge
Suggested Bet- No bet, tough race to close the day off with
