Race 1 – 12:45PM Mac Waste Maiden Plate (1000 METRES)
Liked the trial of #1 BUVELOT prior to his first-up run here at Sale. We sided with Yes Yoshi on that occasion but think BUVELOT gets his chance today.
He was restrained for cover first up and seemed to resent that early, before getting stuck in a tricky position and held up early in the straight. They ended up breaking the 1100m track record in that race and the form has not surprisingly already proven strong with Keep It Real subsequently winning. Like the drop back to 1000m with this bloke as he got keen there and a tongue tie going on suggests they may be on top of a little issue.
He’s drawn out, but key is they are going to have a strong tailwind out of the sprint chute and just one bend to navigate. They need to ride this bloke positively and use his early speed and not concern themselves with covering a little ground. Think he’s the horse to beat and $4.60 appeals.
#8 POINT MOON wore the ear muffs in her recent Mornington jump-out and went quite well on speed. Time was just fair for the morning but her work past the post was encouraging. Her second-to-last jump-out was very moderate, but that maybe the little gear tweak will prove the key. She knocked up badly the last 100m on debut, but worth noting that Sandown race proved a strong form reference going forward. Either way, think she’s short enough at $2.20.
Suggested bet:
#1 BUVELOT looks over the odds at $4.60 – keen to back him and think he firms.
Race 2 – 1:15PM Vale Dennis Nichols Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)
This looks a great race for #11 ALIEN ANGEL to make her debut. Her recent Pakenham jump-outs have been excellent and like her getting straight to 1200m. She looks to have a turn-of-foot and from gate one she should be able to get the leader’s back, which will likely be #5 IT’S GNARLY. With clean running in the straight, she can finish over the top of them.
#5 IT’S GNARLY has been entered and scratched a number of times. He was scratched recently at Cranbourne after Jamie Mott wasn’t able to get to the track, with the trainer noting he’s a tricky horse to ride and, without a suitable senior to replace Mott, he wasn’t comfortable sending him around. He has shown good ability in his trials and possesses enough early toe to lead this field. However, he’s now been up a long time and is set to debut on a day of high winds, which could test his manners if he’s not the most straightforward type. The final stages of 1200m may also pose a query.
Suggested bet:
Backing #11 ALIEN ANGEL
Race 6 – 3:45PM SANLAM Private Wealth BM66 Handicap (1600 METRES)
#1 BRING FORTH has trialled in brilliant fashion for this return to the track. Cruised to the line under a huge hold in a 1200m jump-out when running third at Cranbourne on January 5. Then went to Sandown and impressed in winning his 1500m trial, again under a very good hold. Apprentice, Olivia East, is one-from-one on this bloke and she also rode him in that recent Sandown trial, so think having her claim is a plus in this situation. The other key is there’s not much speed in this race, so East should be able to push forward and control the tempo throughout. He got out over further last campaign and probably will again, but his peak rating actually comes at 1500m, so no issue with him at the mile. This looks a lovely kick-off point to the campaign and I can see him starting odds on.
Suggested bet:
Think $2.40 about #1 BRING FORTH is a good price. Taking the current quote expecting him to firm.
