Feature Victorian racing returns to Headquarters this Saturday with a nine-race program to be run and won.
A few clashes are on our hands with three 3yo races, the Open Vrc Community Plate Handicap and a Benchmark-100 being the highlights of the program.
The track is currently a Soft 5 and with rain forecast to fall overnight Friday and on Saturday morning, the track should remain at this rating.
The running rail is going to be out 8m, after previously being out 5m. Historical data suggests it will be ideal to be on-pace from a wide barrier.
Looks like a tough meeting on paper for punters with big fields meaning open markets in each race.
This does however mean there are some very good bets to be had at value quotes.
A brilliant winner last start at Bendigo when coming from the rear to cut the field down on a Soft 5 track.
In that win, he beat ‘Setteveli’ who came out and won on Wednesday at Mornington to provide a good piece of form out of that race.
He steps up in grade but has raced at this level previously.
He has previously run 4th behind the now Hong Kong bound ‘Elliptical’.
Has a significant drop in weight from 59kg last start to 52kg here which is assisted by apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray’s 2kg claim.
It also helps he flies second up (2:1-1-0)
Celine Gaudray (16 winners from last 100 rides) and Cummings (18 winners from last 100 runners) are both in top form recently and look like they can both build on their records with this progressive lightly-raced 3yo Gelding.
Drawn around the right horses to follow into the race and can show off his terrific turn of foot here to win again here.
Lightly-raced 4yo son of Camelot making his second start in Australia.
He comes into this contest after a solid debut in the country at this track, running from the back to finish 7th behind the smart ‘Altivo’.
He steps up in distance to the 2000m here and second-up, he should benefit greatly from both of those factors.
Blake Shinn has been in solid recent form with 15 winners from his last 100 rides including 5 from his last 22 and sticks for the ride on the former French runner.
The draw of barrier 11 should suit him as he is likely to settle back in the field as he did on his Australian debut.
He will appreciate the sting out of the turf and will benefit from a drop in weight to 55.5kg from 58.5kg due to the slight rise in grade.
He will also appreciate the likely fast pace that they will run this 2000m race at and if he is able to get a good back to follow coming into the straight, can see him charging over the top and emerging as a serious stayer to watch going forward!
Head to our horse racing tip market to access the selections of proving winning form analysts.