Night racing returns to the Valley on Friday where eight races have been set down. The weather is fine, the track is good (4) and the rail is out three metres for the entire circuit.
Race 1. (18:15) Alinta Energy Mdn Plate 1200m
It does look a race in two to start the meeting. I’ll go the way of the first starter 5 Suparazi (Bet Now: $4.20), on debut for the Ben Brisbourne. He has won both jumpouts to get ready, both at Wangaratta, the latest over 1200m when bolting up from the front, so he’s had a good grounding and overall, this race is on the thin side.
1 Elite Icon (Bet Now: $1.65) will be popular given he has the metro form, which came two weeks ago at Flemington down the straight on Rapid Racing Day where he was a well supported favourite and tried hard, but just looked a bit lost down the straight when a close up second. Hard to beat, but not sure I could dive into odds on.
9 Zouvalu (Bet Now: $8.00) looks the best of the rest. Has finished runner up in both runs this time in. Barrier beat her fresh at Mornington before going to Geelong where she was held up but got clear in time, just missing out on the win. Knocking on the door. Just a tricky gate to overcome.
Race 2. (18:45) Affordable Energy Hcp (c1) 1600m
Tricky race to sort out with confidence. Landed with 2 Benczkowski (Bet Now: $4.50) f.6or the Busuttin/Young camp. He resumed over 1400m at Pakenham when on speed and though headed by Pounding, he stuck to the task and was good in defeat when a narrow second. That horse ran well on Wednesday at Sandown while the third horse, Flossing, won at Sale on Monday, so the form reads well, should be on speed and hard to run down.
1 Captain Corelli (Bet Now: $3.70) is the obvious market and yard watch. Talented three year old for the Price/Kent team that resumes, having not raced since the Vase on Cox Plate Day 2020 when leading and tiring late behind Cherry Tortoni. Been gelded and has had three jumpouts to get ready for his return. His best likely sees him win. Just want to see what the market does.
4 Rock Wave (Bet Now: $6.00) hasn’t been too bad in three career outings. Peter Moody trained three year old that ran at Sandown last time. He was there to threaten and did try hard but just couldn’t quite finish it off late, having to settle for a fourth. I doubt he wins, but he can fill a first four spot.
Race 3. (19:15) Local Service (bm70) 2040m
6 Sacred Lass (Bet Now: $7.50) is generally around the mark at The Valley without winning. I think she can take this out. Ran at Flemington two weeks back where she was just off the speed and tried hard. Just couldn’t quite finish it off behind Look Closely. She gets a significant jockey upgrade and she’s the right odds to speck.
3 My Delight (Bet Now: $6.00) has found winning form…can she go on with it now? Peach from Williams saw her win over this trip at Caulfield last time, building the revs early, getting proper momentum and finishing best for a long overdue win. He sticks with the mare and this is another winnable race.
4 Benefactress (Bet Now: $12.00) can be an improver at odds. Lovely ride from Lane saw her win two back at Geelong before going to Flemington where she didn’t really fire a shot when down the track behind Look Closely. Back to Mares grade, she can bounce back for sure.
Race 4. (19:45) Alinta Energy Better (bm64) 955m
I am really surprised 8 Dancelittlesister (Bet Now: $6.00) isn’t closer to favourite here. She’s a smart filly for the Busuttin/Young camp that resumes after a two run Spring prep. Debuted with a spank job at Bairnsdale before being outclassed in the William Crockett on Cox Plate Day. She made Pinstriped look ordinary in a recent Cranbourne jumpout win and he’s now being touted as an Australian Guineas horse after his win last Saturday. That has to read A1 for this.
9 Royal Dress (Bet Now: $2.35) is a daughter of I Am Invincible for Team McEvoy that is first up here. She hasn’t raced since her debut on the Parks track back in July when wide no cover but class got her home and she was impressive. Has jumped out super leading in and I know the stable have Group l plans with her if she keeps progressing, so keen to see how she resumes.
Giving enormous respect to 4 Angel Like (Bet Now: $7.50) as she is a last start metro winner and gets in okay after the claim. Was there to be beaten at Murray Bridge last time but found under pressure and just clung on for a tough win. Lands on speed here and will look the winner for a fair chunk.
Race 5. (20:15) Ladbrokes 55 Second (bm64) 955m
I think 5 Young Liam (Bet Now: $11.00) is worth an each way ticket here. The Cerchi team trains this gelding, who can be hit and miss at times, but I think he comes here ready to rock and roll fresh off the back of a sharp jumpout win at Flemington. He does seem to be a control freak and from the good draw, he should lead and only run well at odds.
6 Destiny Diamond (Bet Now: $4.20) is a progressive filly who is looking to make it three wins on the bounce. The two wins have come over 1100m at Geelong where each time has sat near the speed and been strong to the line and through it in winning. Good test here, but confident she measures up.
8 Reward With Return (Bet Now: $15.00) is one I can certainly entertain for wider multiples, and potentially could be a bet at the big odds. He has a solid record in these 955m races and from gate one, he should get a suck run behind the good speed and if the breaks go his way, he can threaten.
Race 6. (20:45) Reliable Energy (bm64) 2500m
2 Wellsford (Bet Now: $18.00) is big odds here I feel. He ran at this track/distance just under two weeks ago in a 70 race and just lost sight of the bunny in a sit/sprint when down the track behind Swelter Magic. He drops to a moderate 64, the speed will be solid and he’ll stay all day. At the odds, he’s a 1×3 bet.
5 Teofilo Star (Bet Now: $3.70) will put himself on speed and look to break their hearts. He did that to break the maiden tag at Geelong last time in what was a very low maiden race with next to no depth, so this is clearly a harder assignment, but he has the WaterBott polish and toughness.
8 Emerging (Bet Now: $4.00) should be suited up in trip again for James Cummings. Bolted up to win his maiden over 2400m at Geelong two back before coming back to 2000m at Flemington and just couldn’t fire when down the track. Much better suited up in trip and gets a cheap run from the gate.
Race 7. (21:15) Sustainable Energy (bm64) 2040m
Blinkers is such an important piece of gear because it can really turn around the form of a horse, with case in point being 10 Delta Tango (Bet Now: $4.00). Her opening two runs for the prep were plain, so Mitch Freedman put the Blinkers on her at Ararat and the end result was a spank job. Tick over trial was a good piece of work and I think she’s the one with upside/progression.
9 Zidler (Bet Now: $7.50) is second up from a spell and should be suited up to 2040m. Just found the 1400m a bit sharp when resuming at Pakenham but his finale was pretty good I thought behind Pounding, who ran well at Sandown on Wednesday. Jumps straight to the 2040m, but has upside and gets Ollie.
4 Za’Ex (Bet Now: $6.00) has more upside than most and comes to town as a last start winner, his win coming at Cranbourne, and he would have been a tragedy beaten had he not got clear. The splits came at the right time and he surged hard late to win. Off that, I think he runs well here.
Race 8. (21:45) Alinta Lunar New Year (bm64) 1200m
Staying at 1200m I hate for 1 Cranc (Bet Now: $14.00), but he’s decent enough odds to have a small speck. I was with him fresh at Caulfield, but the market said he was there for a prep run and he ran accordingly, sitting back and warming up very late. If this was 1400m, I’d nearly declare him. I think he’s returned really well. Hopefully they overdo it in front so he can launch late.
5 Seguso (Bet Now: $2.50) has come back in super order for Grahame Begg. Gave them a spanking fresh at Geelong before going to the Caulfield race mentioned above where he was there to win and looked the winner, but had to settle for a very narrow second to Kentucky Casanova. Hard to beat if he can overcome the draw.
2 Peidra (Bet Now: $9.50) tends to race best early on in the prep and that trend continued first up at Warrnambool when sprouting wings late to get the job done in a tight finish. Gets in well after the claim and should do no work from the gate, so I think she’s in with a shout.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Four Number 8 Dancelittlesister
NEXT BEST: Race Seven Number 10 Delta Tango
LONG SHOT: Race Three Number 6 Sacred Lass
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 1, 5, 6, 8, 13
Leg Two: 2, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg Three: 4, 9, 10, 13
Leg Four: 1, 2, 3, 5
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