The stand alone Saturday meetings in Country Victoria continue this Saturday at Pakenham for Pakenham Cup Day. The weather is overcast, the track is soft (7) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
Race 1. (12:55) O'Connor Handicap (70) 1000m
Pretty keen on 6 The Launcher (Bet Now: $6.00). He debuted at Moe with no public trials/jump outs to speak of, but gee I loved the way he moved into the race under a hold and I think the 0.75L margin definitely flattered his rivals, and there looked to be depth to that maiden. Looks very exciting and I am confident he can measure up and go close.
8 Boom Chicka Boom (Bet Now: $3.50) is an All Too Hard colt for Mick Price who debuted with a gutsy second to Flash Cash on Bendigo Cup Day before racing under the lights at Cranbourne where he started $1.26 and ran up to that level of expectation with a spank job of his rivals. Looks progressive and I think the 1000m start at Pakenham will suit.
10 She’s Our Gift (Bet Now: $34.00) is an All American filly that is first up for the O’Sullivan team. This girl ran quite well during the Winter, highlighted by a win in the Donald Classic where she beat up a field which had depth to it. Resumes with no trials, but she appears as though she doesn’t need much work to be forward. One for multiples.
Race 2. (13:30) Momentum Gaming Handicap 1400m
9 Macattack (Bet Now: $7.50) is a four year old mare trained by Archie Alexander who resumed over 1300m at the Sandown midweeks and tried very hard but had to settle for second to Taddei Tondo. Has a really good record second up and has run well at Pakenham before which is a tick, and she has a stack of upside left.
5 Soho Ruby (Bet Now: $4.00) is a Levi Kavanagh trained mare who was kept very safe in betting when resuming on Ballarat Cup Day and despite being off the bit before the turn, she picked up and was very good late when third to Brugal Reward. Is a second up winner and off the resumption, just have to include her.
4 Bonus D’Oro (Bet Now: $15.00) had late market support when racing over the mile at Ballarat last time out and she was one of many on the day who just couldn’t pick their feet up in the mud but she was sound in defeat behind stablemate Royal Ace. Back to mares grade now with Yendall on, she can bounce back hard.
Race 3. (14:05) Hanson Handicap (78) 2000m
9 Casta (Bet Now: $4.50) is a Tony McEvoy trained gelding who can be a bit hit and miss at times but when on song, he’s comfortably up to these. Resumed with a close up second at Ballarat behind Siga La Vaca before going to Ballarat Cup Day where he wasn’t happy on the shifty surface but was sound late behind Royal Ace. Third up at 2000m, no excuses for mine.
4 Multitude (Bet Now: $6.00) is the watch horse. Waterhouse/Bott trained galloper who hasn’t raced since resuming at Randwick on October 21 when finishing down the track behind Mortar Platoon. Trialled up well at Warwick Farm in early November before coming to Victoria. He should lead for fun and might take some running down.
8 Parthesia (Bet Now: $15.00) a definite knockout chance. Darren Weir trains this mare and I reckon she would be close to peak fitness now. Coffey set her an impossible task in the Dunkeld Cup last time out and by the time she was close enough, she had used her petrol tickets and was gassed. Convinced she is going well and 2000m on the big track with tempo, she looks well placed.
Race 4. (14:40) ohn Duff & Cp Handicap (78) 1000m
3 Invincible Al (Bet Now: $3.90) is a Patrick Payne trained four year old who was backed off the map when resuming in a 955m race at the Valley and aided by such a sweet ride from Tahlia Hope, the horse presented at the right time and showed a brilliant turn of foot to win. Up to 1000m no drama, and he’ll be better on the bigger track.
4 Nasdex (Bet Now: $6.50) is a talented type that resumes for the Ellerton/Zahra stable. This bloke can be a bit hit and miss at times and his record fresh isn’t great on face value but he really caught my eye in a recent jump out at Flemington. Looked to go about it very nicely and wasn’t extended. Looks well placed and does get the claim for Steph Thornton.
5 King River (Bet Now: $9.00) is such an interesting runner here. Former Team Williams horse from WA now with John Price. Hasn’t been sighted for over 12 months since finishing down the track at Ascot behind State Solicitor, one of the better WA sprinters going around. No public trials, but a recent jump out at Cranbourne was more than encouraging.
Race 5. (15:20) Stabil-Line Group Handicap 1200m
1 Jungle Edge (Bet Now: $2.15) just picks himself. He is an absolute beauty for the Mick Bell yard who doesn’t know how to run a bad race. The 1300m-1000m scenario last Saturday was a question but he passed with flying colours and was dominant. Back up to 1200m, another wet track, beautifully in at the weights once again…keen.
4 Stellar Collision (Bet Now: $4.60) is a quality animal that resumes for the Weir team. This bloke hasn’t raced since the Golden Topaz at Swan Hill where he finished midfield behind Mio Dio. He is a bomb when produced fresh and his jump outs have been very good to the eye. Expecting a forward showing from him.
7 Onerous (Bet Now: $10.00) isn’t one of mine and I couldn’t back him to win with a bad coin, but I will say I think he has improved since being sent to the Beer/Hinton stable at Mornington. Liked his effort a fortnight back at Ballarat when working home strongly from the back to run fourth to Got The Goss. Big track, 1200m, hard fit…ticks a few boxes.
Race 6. (16:00) Schweppes David Bourke Memorial Handicap 1600m
8 Another Coldie (Bet Now: $4.40) is a Darren Weir trained four year old who is in a real purple patch at the moment. Won the Country Final on Oaks Day impressively before going to the Donald Cup where he was off the bit a fair way out but his class and brilliance got him home. Like the little break between runs to freshen him up and I think the Pakenham mile will be ideal.
5 Coldstone (Bet Now: $9.00) is four weeks between runs for the Mick Kent stable since racing over the mile at Flemington on Stakes Day where he got left a touch flatfooted when they dashed for home but he picked up and was sound late behind Fastnet Tempest. The Pakenham mile does look good for him and he has the class factor.
3 Jacquinot Bay (Bet Now: $5.50) is an absolute beauty for the Hayes/Dabernig team. He showed really good fight last time out in the Eclipse at Sandown when sitting on speed throughout and though headed by both Payroll and Kidmenever, he toughed it out and clung on for third. Back to the mile should suit this ten year old and he has the class factor on his side.
Race 7. (16:40) Sportsbet Pakenham Cup 2500m
1 De Little Engine (Bet Now: $6.50 BOOSTED ODDS) on top but with no confidence in a very ordinary race. Resumed over 1800m on Cup Day at Flemington and was fair behind Odeon before racing in the Ballarat Cup where he was a real eye catcher when closing off with purpose to run fourth to Grand Dreamer. He will eat up the 2500m here and if we get firmer footing, his chances are boosted.
2 Grey Lion (Bet Now: $4.60 BOOSTED ODDS) is racing so well at the moment for the Matt Cumani team. Problem is he doesn’t win, but he hasn’t been far away. Looked to have every chance in the Ballarat Cup but just couldn’t pick his feet up late in the mud when third to Grand Dreamer. Couldn’t back him to win because he is unreliable, but I wouldn’t begrudge a victory.
9 Goodwood Zodiac (Bet Now: $7.00 BOOSTED ODDS) is a Waterhouse/Bott trained stayer who produced his best run since coming to Australia last time out over 2700m at Canterbury when setting a solid tempo with the 62kg and he fought hard, only to be nabbed by Doukhan on the peg. Convinced he is going well now and the stable just shouldn’t be ignored.
Race 8. (17:20) Racing.com VOBIS Gold Bullion 1400m
1 Burning Front (Bet Now: $2.70) is a proven horse in these VOBIS races and he is the safe way to go. Hasn’t raced since the Kevin Heffernan at Sandown where he didn’t look entirely happy on the shifty track but his effort in defeat behind Jungle Edge was more than sound. Back to this level, maps well and was impressive in this race last year behind Grande Rosso.
3 Grande Rosso (Bet Now: $4.80) does look one of the hardest to beat and has the form on the board also. He comes through the 1400m race on Oaks Day where he stuck on gamely behind Hellova Street. The run prior behind Ulmann against the bias was a beauty and he was given a sweet ride to score a dominant win in this race last year.
7 Willi Willi (Bet Now: $8.00) is a Craig Widdison trained son of Mint Lane that resumes here. This gelding ended last prep with a couple of wins on the bounce, including an outstanding win in the Silver Bowl Final. No trials is the unknown, as is the weight scale and how he has come back. But on exposed form, he’s the X-Factor.
Race 9. (17:55) Sportsbet Power Play Handicap (70) 1600m
11 Star Major (Bet Now: $5.50) is an above average type for the Shea Eden camp who hasn’t raced since Geelong Cup Day where I thought he was fabulous in defeat given he was back and wide for the trip in a slowly run affair yet still hit the line with purpose when third to Good Therapy. Draws awkwardly again, but his brilliance might well be enough.
7 Hell On Earth (Bet Now: $12.00) looks a key threat for mine. He had been teasing for a little while but the win finally came on the board last time out at Sandown when letting down strongly under Ethan Brown to get the win. He was 1623m back to the 1500m that day so back up to the mile on the big track looks ideal.
15 Bettyrae Ruby (Bet Now: $9.00) is the unknown. She’s a talented mare for Tim Hughes but her record is only one win from 20 outings, and that win was a win here on the Synthetic. Hasn’t raced since the Queen Elizabeth when outclassed behind Vengeur Masque. Stuck on well in her lone run at the track, which did some at this trip behind the above average Miss Dubois. Definite hard/market watch.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Six Number 8 Another Coldie
NEXT BEST: Race Five Number 1 Jungle Edge
VALUE: Race Two Number 9 Macattack
Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):
Leg One: 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11
Leg Two: 1, 2, 3, 9
Leg Three: 1, 3, 7
Leg Four: 11
$50 Investment= 69.44% of the dividend if successful
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