Afternoon racing returns to Moonee Valley this Saturday where nine races have been set down. The weather is fine, the track is soft (5) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
Race 1. (12:00) Sheamus Mills Bloodstock Handicap 1000m
3 Memphis Rock (Bet Now: $5.50 TOP ODDS) on top in the opener. The Hayes/Dabernig stable trains this three year old, who finally got his maiden win out of the way last time out on the Pakenham Synthetic, sitting on speed and his class kicking in late for a dominant and confidence boosting win. Has run well before at a better level than this and from the draw, gets the run of the race.
2 Alburq (Bet Now: $3.10 TOP ODDS) is a son of Rubick resuming for the Mike Moroney stable. This bloke hasn’t raced since the Talindert where he was solid in defeat behind Microphone but looked to be at the end of his campaign. Has had a good break and liked the way he found the line in a recent jumpout. Certainly has enough quality to figure. Just want to see what the market does.
I’ve got a bit of time for 4 Skiddaw (Bet Now: $9.00 TOP ODDS), trained by Danny O’Brien. He trialled up enormous prior to putting them away first up in a maiden on the Ballarat Synthetic. Then went to Flemington where the 1400m was a bit much when down the track behind Rubisaki. Freshened up and back to 1000m I like because he does seem more effective as a sprinter, and has fitness on his side.
Race 2. (12:35) Hygain Tracktorque Handicap 1000m
1 Absolute Flirt (Bet Now: $5.50 TOP ODDS) has to carry a bit of weight but she does have class on her side. Danny O’Brien trains this filly, who had a pretty good Autumn Carnival, highlighted by a Stakes win and a Group lll placing in Adelaide. She seems a short course horse and her recent jumpout was quite good. Interesting to see what the market does do with her first up.
Keen to see how 3 Jedastar (Bet Now: $4.40 TOP ODDS) resumes for Lloyd Kennewell. This filly created a decent impression in her first prep, ending it with a run in the Lightning Stakes where she was clearly outclassed behind In Her Time, but credit to connections for taking a chance. Spelled after that and she looked quite sharp in a recent Caulfield jumpout. Last 50m will test her.
2 Mystical Pursuit (Bet Now: $7.50 TOP ODDS) is the interesting runner. Adam Trinder trains this filly, who is 4/4 to start her career in Tassie. Makes her main land debut off the back of trial wins on the Devonport Synthetic. The form around her reads okay for that part of the world, she leads, gets the claim for Chris Graham…will she measure up? She gets the right set up to find out.
Race 3. (13:10) Ladbrokes Back Yourself Handicap (84) 1600m
Buttering up on 11 Kiss And Cry (Bet Now: $5.00 TOP ODDS) for Mick Kent. This mare was luckless two back at Cranbourne where she clearly should have won but had no luck in the straight when bolting. Then went to Bendigo on Sunday where she just got too far back in the run and savaged the line late to just miss. She’s flying and with only 52kg on her back from a good gate, she’s likeable.
5 Lucky Wick (Bet Now: $16.00 TOP ODDS) looks the mare at silly odds. Mitch Freedman has done a fab job with this mare, her last run coming at Sandown when on speed and fighting on well when third to Paint The Town Two. Confident she turns the tables on that horse and $12 v $5.5 seems madness.
1 Miss Mandito (Bet Now: $14.00 TOP ODDS) looks a little query at the mile but is racing in decent enough form to be competitive here. Lovely steer from Michael Walker saw her win a weak Leilani Final before racing at the same track/distance at Flemington two weeks ago where she was off the speed and tried hard but was held behind Shokora. Little query at the mile, but Walker is back on.
Race 4. (13:45) Ladbrokes Handicap 1600m
I found this race impossible to sort out with confidence, so I’ll go with class, which lies with 2 Ventura Storm (Bet Now: $26.00 TOP ODDS). Had a mostly disappointing Autumn Carnival but keep in mind that first up in the Peter Young, he was just over three lengths off Avilius, which is lengths better than any other form line here. Jumpouts have seen him run off his legs, so not too worried about that. Can sit handy from the gate and with the claim, he’s well in.
He won’t be getting my money to win will 8 New Universe (Bet Now: $8.50 TOP ODDS) but can’t let him go around without a mention. I’m just not sure what happened at Flemington. He was well backed to win, he had the run of the race, was there to pounce…but when Willow asked for the effort, he went backwards. Races again, so must be pleasing the stable leading in. Firmer footing would be ideal as well.
9 Elite Drake (Bet Now: $13.00 TOP ODDS) has to step up a fair bit in depth but he’s racing well and looks to get all the favours on the speed map. He ran over 1400m at Caulfield three weeks ago where he tried hard on speed but was no match late for Travimyfriend. Looks to get a very soft lead this time around, 52kg on his back and Steph Thornton rides this track very well.
Race 5. (14:25) Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (70) 1500m
5 I Boogi (Bet Now: $27.00) is a Scott Cameron trained gelding that hasn’t raced for five weeks since racing over the mile at Caulfield when down the track behind Tinkermosa in a race where the form has been pretty plain, so that’s a little query leading into this, but I didn’t mind what I saw from him in a recent Flemington jumpout and he is a winner at the Valley.
10 Trigger Point (Bet Now: $6.00) is a Tolson/Proctor trained gelding who landed some decent bets when winning last Wednesday at Sandown. He had to chase from the turn given the leader La Volt skipped clear and for the most part looked home, but Trigger Point kept surging under Nugent and got up near the peg to win. Likely lands on speed here and will give a bold sight.
14 The Great Artiste (Bet Now: $11.00) is a Paul Preusker trained gelding that has had two runs back from a spell, both at Bendigo. Liked the way he found the line first up over 1300m before going to 1400m and being okay without being great. He’s 2/2 when produced third up and despite a tricky gate, hopefully can get three wide cover and a drag up into the race.
Race 6. (15:05) Chandler Macleod Handicap (78) 2500m
Waterhouse bone and muscle to the fore, hopefully, in the shape of 2 Social Element (Bet Now: $11.00), who has done a tour of Australia it seems in recent times, running at Sandown, then going to Rosehill for the Stayers Cup before racing in the Queensland Cup when placing behind Azuro. He should lead this field up and I dare say Baster will want to make this a proper 2500m race.
1 The Statesman (Bet Now: $4.00) is working up to a win for the Maher/Eustace stable. He ran over 2500m at Flemington two weeks ago where he tried near the speed but was comfortably held by stablemate Lord Belvedere, but far from disgraced in running second. That form reads alright for this and he’s only fourth up, so you’d like to think there is upside.
3 Bling Dynasty (Bet Now: $21.00) is going well for Paul Preusker. He ran at Morphettville a few weeks ago where he sat off a very moderate speed, controlled by the fav Street Sheik, and when Tahlia Hope pushed the button on that horse, the race was over and Bling Dynasty was left flat footed, but he picked up and was good late. Looks hard to beat here especially up in trip.
Race 7. (15:45) Dynamic Print Group Handicap 2040m
10 Twilight Run (Bet Now: $3.20) looks really hard to beat here for Kevin Corstens. She was strong in defeat two back at Caulfield behind Smart Elissim before going to Flemington where she got the A1 run in transit, three wide with cover, before peeling wider and she put them away rather quickly like a nice horse to get the win. Confident she can measure up here.
Gee isn’t 7 Bedford (Bet Now: $4.80) going well for Anthony Freedman. Bounced back to form in a big way two back at Sandown at double figures before being well supported at Caulfield three weeks ago where he sat off speed and surged late to nab them near the peg in a super win. He’s always promised to race at this level and slightly better. Now he’s in a purple patch, he gets his chance.
Can make a small case for the Chris Waller trained 1 Naval Warfare (Bet Now: $13.00). He resumed over the mile at Flemington a fortnight ago where he was just off the speed in a decent enough spot and tried hard to run sixth, a big tick for a horse who last ran over 3200m in the Adelaide Cup. I dare say this horse will be heading down the Provincial Cups pathin NSW ie Wyong/Newcastle, so improves off this I dare say, but has class/quality.
Race 8. (16:25) Four 'N' Twenty Handicap (84) 1200m
13 Age Of Chivalry (Bet Now: $4.40) looks really hard to beat here for the Ellerton/Zahra stable. This four year old is first up, having not raced since the early part of the Autumn Carnival where he was touted as a possible Australian Guineas horse but was a bit immature and the stable elected to not go there and instead give him a good spell. Liked what I saw in a recent jumpout and he has a touch of class/quality about him.
11 Usain Bowler (Bet Now: $4.20) has to be given another chance. He was backed with confidence first up down the Flemington straight, but I thought Froggy rode a really poor race on the gelding, hooking back and following slow horses instead of being nearer the inside following the leading chances. Left with too much to do and in the end, the run was enormous. Good record at the track, he gets another look.
1 Highland Beat (Bet Now: $14.00) is going well for the Hayes/Dabernig team. Put together a couple of wins on the bounce before racing over 1200m at Rosehill three weeks back where he got to near last in the run and was peeled the widest on the turn. Liked the way he found the line late to run fourth to River Bird. Good record at this track and is a definite chance.
Race 9. (17:00) Woodside Park Stallion Parade Aug 17 Handicap (78) 1000m
Complete throw at the stumps in the get out in the shape of 17 Eastern Pegasus (Bet Now: $35.00). George Osborne trains this gelding, who raced a month ago at Bendigo when back in the run and finding the line okay late behind Elite Legacy in a race where the form has been solid with a couple of winners to come out of it. He does race well with fresh legs and with a stack of speed engaged, can see him sitting back and launching late.
4 Exceltara (Bet Now: $7.00) is an Ellerton/Zahra trained gelding that resumes. This bloke hasn’t raced since January 19 down the Flemington straight when he looked to race like a tired horse when down the track behind Just Hifalutin. Been given a good break and his two Flemington jumpouts in readiness for his return have been pretty good to the eye. Draw is tricky, but has a bit of quality.
5 Moor Wanted (Bet Now: $9.50) is a Peter Chow trained gelding who was I keen on running well last time out down the Flemington straight but the leader/winner Sirius Suspect just controlled things too well in front and Moor Wanted just couldn’t sprint when the leader was clicked up. Placed in both runs at this track, his best chance of winning will be if on speed and rolling.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Eight Number 13 Age Of Chivalry
NEXT BEST: Race Six Number 2 Social Element
LONG SHOT: Race Nine Number 17 Eastern Pegasus
Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):
Leg One: 1, 2, 3, 6
Leg Two: 1, 3, 4, 7, 10
Leg Three: 11, 13
Leg Four: 4, 5, 13, 17
$50 Investment = 31.25% of the dividend if successful
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