Summary of best bets:
Best Value: R6 (4) Sly Boots
Next Best: R4 (6) Just Party
Best Bet: R1 (3) Oui Oui Oui
Turf Talk:
- +10m 1000m to Winning Post, 8m remainder – with the rail out so far, I expect horses up on speed to have a solid advantage overall.
Race 1
(3) Oui Oui Oui is flying this prep, saluting as a very short-priced favourite first-up before requiring a super ride last start to get the job done again; Tom Sherry sticks and from a much better barrier this time around looks the one to beat.
(9) Danish Prince finally broke through with a first-up win and generally improves second-up, with barrier 3 and a 2kg claim from Anna Roper giving him plenty of favours.
(10) Kyeema has all three of her wins over this trip and was terrific when fresh before tiring late, and will only be fitter for that run.
(4) Satness is a hard horse to catch over his career, if he can find somewhere near his best, he can be in the numbers.
Selections:
(3) Oui Oui Oui
(9) Danish Prince
(10) Kyeema
(4) Satness
Suggested bet: Win (3) Oui Oui Oui
Race 2
This looks to be a very open race with plenty of chances.
(14) Lady Olenna should be ready to peak third-up, having been hitting the line well, and the rise to 1200m looks ideal at this stage.
Not much went right for (5) First Landing last start after being slow away and getting a long way back; expect him to be more positive out of the gates and settle closer, making him a likely improver.
(12) Micro Mikki should find this a bit easier than last start, strips fitter, and is expected to be in the finish.
(8) Joiselle was strong to the line last start, and the rise in trip looks ideal.
Selections:
(14) Lady Olenna
(5) First Landing
(12) Micro Mikki
(8) Joiselle
Suggested bet: No bet
Race 3
(10) By Choice couldn’t have done much more to impress in two trial runs leading into this and looks to have plenty of class, appearing ready to debut.
(8) Tigroni was beaten by the barrier on debut and draws barrier 9 once again, but will be better for the experience and fitter this time, and should be in this for a long way.
(2) Half Pipe is another showing good potential at the trials, hitting the line strongly in the most recent hit-out, which suggests 1100m on debut will be no issue.
(6) Masvingo didn’t quite have the turn of foot required last start when a smart winner ran over the top of her, but she looks ready to peak third-up.
Selections:
(10) By Choice
(8) Tigroni
(2) Half Pipe
(6) Masvingo
Suggested bet: No bet
Race 4
(6) Just Party is looking very close to a win and the rise to 1600m now looks the ideal set up for him. He’s been a little unlucky not to have saluted this preparation, finds the right race here, and can be expected to be running home strongly and right in the finish.
(5) Sun God gets in well at the weights, can only be fitter for his recent runs, and improvement is expected under these conditions.
(3) Collect Your Cash was brave when winning first up when caught wide. Plain run last start, but is capable of bouncing back here.
In what is now a very small field of 5, (2) Mare Of Mt Buller is next best.
Selections:
(6) Just Party
(5) Sun God
(3) Collect Your Cash
(2) Mare Of Mt Buller
Suggested bet: Win (6) Just Party
Race 5
(12) Ice Kool could not have been any more impressive on debut, winning with ease by 3.5 lengths. He looks to have a stack of potential and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him move quickly through the grades, and he appears well placed to go back to back here.
(3) Petticoat will look to jump and try to lead from start to finish, possessing plenty of early speed and likely to make his own luck out in front.
(1) Scampi has shown plenty of ability in Victoria and with Ciaron Maher generally placing his horses well, he should strip fitter for the run and be right in the thick of it.
(2) Columbia Blue comes into this chasing a hat-trick, is racing in great form, and if he can maintain that level of performance he is a genuine chance again.
Selections:
(12) Ice Kool
(3) Petticoat
(1) Scampi
(2) Columbia Blue
Suggested bet: Win (12) Ice Kool
Race 6
(4) Sly Boots had every chance first up but still ran on strongly, and can only benefit from that effort. He strips fitter here and the rise in trip looks suitable.
(12) Amreekiyah had plenty of market support last start before being a little plain; however, the step up in distance should be more suitable and can spark improvement.
(7) Hurstville Zagreb profiles as a 1600m horse, having had a few unsuccessful attempts over longer trips. Back to 1600m here, he can show improvement.
(11) Charleroi struggled to find room in the straight last start, with a bit of luck and rise in trip, can be a sharp improver.
Selections:
(4) Sly Boots
(12) Amreekiyah
(7) Hurstville Zagreb
(11) Charleroi
Suggested bet: Win (4) Sly Boots
Race 7
A wide open affair here with a number of genuine chances.
(12) Mother Goose goes on top for me, racing consistently and clearly thriving over this trip. She draws the inside, gets in well at the weights, and maps to get every chance.
(9) Brutalina resumes after a 22 week break but has looked ready to go with two fast trials, and all three of her career wins have come over this distance.
(8) Couples Retreat should appreciate this assignment after carrying 60kg last start and still hitting the line well; he gets weight relief here and the rise in distance looks more suitable.
(3) Art Volant had a horror barrier first-up and was forced to race wide throughout, so expect a much improved performance with better luck in running this time around.
Selections:
(12) Mother Goose
(9) Brutalina
(8) Couples Retreat
(3) Art Volant
Suggested bet: No bet
Race 8
(6) Livin’ Thing just couldn’t get out last start, but once he eventually found room he was terrific to the line. With even luck in the run here he looks a strong winning chance, strips fitter, and is well drawn to get the right run.
(2) Snack Bar was unlucky to get beaten last start after looking the winner when he ran past the eventual victor, only to be clawed back late; he continues to race well and should be right in the finish again.
(3) Althoff produced the second fastest last 200m of the meeting last start, a strong closing effort that holds him in good stead here if the tempo suits.
(13) Shelstein rises in trip after being strong to the line first-up and, with that run under the belt, shapes as a likely improver.
Selections:
(6) Livin’ Thing
(2) Snack Bar
(3) Althoff
(13) Shelstein
Suggested bet: No bet
Race 9
(14) Rotagilla looks ideally placed here stepping up in trip. She has been racing consistently and clearly handles this track well. Drawing the inside gate, she will likely settle just off the pace and produce a strong finish late in the race.
(11) Unlimited should benefit from the rise in trip, having produced a strong final 600m last start; she is well placed to improve further and could be a threat late.
(2) Newfoundland may prefer a bit more ground in the long term, but this looks a suitable way to kick off his prep, giving him a chance to find form before stepping up in distance.
(15) Inquiring Minds put in a improved effort last start, capable of improving further here. Should be hard fit.
Selections:
(14) Rotagilla
(11) Unlimited
(2) Newfoundland
(15) Inquiring Minds
Suggested bet: Win (14) Rotagilla
Race 10
(2) Bartolf’s form reads very well for this affair, and the in-form Zac Lloyd jumps back aboard, which is a big positive. Drawn wide, but that should suit his natural running style of coming from off the pace, so expect him to hit the line strongly and be a factor late.
(6) Applaud was impressive when winning first up and then finished just behind the talented Tuned last start, showing he is racing in good form. This looks a winnable assignment, and he should be right in the mix again.
(3) Bojangles continues to struggle to win, but his consistent form means that when he produces his best he can always be competitive and place himself in contention.
(12) Barbray was good first-up, will strip fitter and capable of coming to hand quickly.
Selections:
(2) Bartolf
(6) Applaud
(3) Bojangles
(12) Barbray
Suggested bet: No bet
