Miss Sharp has continued to improve since debuting and is ready to break her maiden fourth-up at Geelong this afternoon. The Craig Widdison-trained filly worked home to finish midfield at her first two starts but attacked the line on soft-going at Seymour last time to finish second. There’s no doubt that she harbours further improvement, the increase in trip is ideal and the booking of positive hoop Noel Callow should suit.
Haalan has only made two appearances at the races so far, but it clearly an above-average animal and can continue his rise through the grades at Ipswich this afternoon. The O’reilly gelding hit the line to finish a nose second here on debut, before breaking his maiden in style at Doomben last time out. He’ll take further improvement into this, and plenty of beating.
Hemsted will enjoy a drop in class at Ipswich today and looks very hard to beat in the fourth. The three-year-old gelding was a smart winner at the Gold Coast in what was his first start for Toby Edmonds, before running three lengths sixth in a tougher race at Doomben last time. He’ll take improvement into this and has the notable advantage of Jeff Lloyd in the saddle.
Champagne Friday kept her best work for late at Seymour first-up this time and she looms as a live each-way chance in the last at Geelong today ($8 at publish). The four-year-old returned several pleasing efforts last time in and ended her campaign with an easy win at Echuca. This race is certainly within her ability and she’s drawn a peach in barrier 4.