The action comes thick and fast around the country on Saturday. The form has been done and the team are ready to kick-start the massive day ahead.
Gold Coast Race 9 Tip #2 Run For Glory $3.10
This 5YO is a specialist at this distance range, with 4 wins and 2 seconds from 6 tries.
The Rob Heathcote trained gelding enjoys this track, finishing in the top two at both of his attempts at the Goldy.
Last start he gave a great kick in the straight, before being nosed out by the in-form Ballistic Boy.
In the process, he beat home some seasoned handicappers and drops back to a BM85 here.
That run looks a solid guide, as Ballistic Boy surged late to win again next start.
Apprentice Leah Kilner claims 3kgs which gets him down to a tidy 57kgs.
Expect Kilner to put him up on the speed and take up the running again.
Third-up with added fitness on his side he really looks ready to strike.
Caulfield Race 6 Tip #3 Annavisto $2.60
Smart mare who has compelling form lines to win this.
She resumed from spell with a second to the in-form Turaath over 1400 metres at Flemington.
On that occasion she sat wide and still ranged up to win. She also hung in over the concluding stages and a lugging bit has been added.
Turaath underlined that form with a brilliant win in the Let’s Elope Stakes last Saturday.
Annavisto is a winner over this track and distance.
From barrier five, John Allen will have her in the firing line throughout and you can expect her to make a statement against her opposition.
Randwick Race 6 Tip #3 She's All Class $4.50
As with the majority of 3YO's, even the elite can be susceptible to behaviour that makes it hard to win.
She's All Class was a prime example of this first-up from a long spell.
She was fractious in the barriers and as a result, got all fired up to run. She then jumped moderately before over racing and throwing her head about.
All this combined resulted in a below par performance in the Group 2 Darley Furious.
She lines up for her second start of the campaign on the weekend, and I am hopeful that first run was all she needed to remove the jitters.
Chris Waller is a master of planning a horses prep and would of had his eyes set on this race.
She has been stepped straight up to 1400m and James McDonald stays.
From the wide draw, expect her to jump clean and find cover midfield with space to her outside.
Her turn of foot is elite, as seen by her win in the Wyong 2YO Classic in December. Therefore if she can settle better, she is well over the odds.
I expect much more support to come for her prior to the race start with bigger races ahead in the Spring.
Gold Coast Race 3 Tip #1 Rhapsody Rose $4.00
She is a gutsy filly and is primed for another 2nd up win.
For this weekend, she gets her regular jockey back in Justin Huxtable and returns to the Gold Coast.
This was the location where she was able to put in a career peak performance in the Group 3 Ken Russell, beaten 0.5 lengths by Subterranean.
First-up this prep she was very well backed. It was shorter than her best distance over the 1000m and a complete forgive run.
From barrier 8 that day, she was caught 4 wide no cover and only beaten 2 lengths.
With a touch of luck early to find cover, she will be fighting away in the finish.
Belmont Race 5 Tip #6 La Farola $3.60
La Farola was a complete forgive last start. There was an extremely hot rail and she found herself in the middle of the track, where the wheels were spinning for the majority of the straight.
She was beaten that day by Fangio, who got a perfect rails run from back in the field.
The margin was 1.5 lengths, but Fangio had all the favours and now concedes a 2kg weight swing out of that race.
Not exactly a gear change, but a fair track plays into the hands of La Farola who looks to have a wonderful map position in this race.
Expect there to be good speed in this race, with Mr Delegator likely controlling proceedings. La Farola should get a soft cart 2 or 3 pairs back from the leaders and with even luck, give an almighty sight.
We should be getting a better price today than last start purely based on the track conditions.
Tatura Race 1 Tip #12 Stormlight $ - TBD
This filly has jumped out a heap of times at Pakenham over a few preparations.
This makes me think she had a few issues that have contributed to the delay in going to the races.
She went well against Island Edition and that galloper looked smart when winning on debut by a big margin.
The recent jump-out at Flemington was good enough, and I really liked the way she moved against some winners including Defiant Diva and Celestial Sol