It has been a very, very quiet week in Victoria, but the action returns at The Valley on Saturday, and we’ll be treated to an exciting nine-race program.
The first feature races of the Spring Carnival are just around the corner, and some of the country’s biggest stables will continue to ramp up their preparations at The Valley.
I’ve run the rule over the card and as always, you can find my complete day preview and Moonee Valley Tips below.
Jigsaw’s resuming effort and win at Caulfield was impressive, and I’m confident he’ll only be better at The Valley on Saturday.
The Manhattan Rain colt has only made four appearances at the races so far, but has won twice, including an impressive effort to see off subsequent Neds Blue Diamond winner Artorius at Geelong on debut.
With even luck, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
Tycoon Humma recorded two wins from as many starts during her debut prep, and she can make a winning return at The Valley on Saturday.
She showed promise at the trials prior to debuting and put the writing on the wall with a bullish win at Bendigo.
Tycoon Humma then franked that effort with a nice win at HQ and she has reportedly flourished in her time away from the track.
This is a quality race, particularly for this early in the program, but I think that High Stranger’s fitness edge might prove to be the difference.
High Stranger has been a strong and largely consistent performer all prep, and enters this race off the back of a close second behind Bartholomeu Dias at Flemington.
The mile is perfect and with even luck, he’ll be in the finish again.
There’s a case to be made for nearly every horse in this field as well, but I’m going to stick with Dr Drill, particularly following the booking of Jamie Kah.
Dr Drill is yet to win in four starts back this time, but he has returned a few typically smart performances, and he was last seen finishing second behind Furrion at Flemington off a freshen-up.
I’m confident that run will have brought him right back on and something like this is well within his means.
Golden Eagle plans have been outlined for the talented I’m Thunderstruck, and he can record another win in the fifth at The Valley on Saturday.
I’m Thunderstruck has had five career starts for three wins and a placing, and it is fair to say that his last-start effort, a bullish four-length win at Flemington was the best of his career so far.
Jamie Kah understandably stays aboard, and he is my best bet on the program.
This is one of the more open races on the program, and a horse like White Hibiscus looks to have claims on winning third-up.
The four-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom finished fourth, albeit well beaten at Sandown when resuming this time, but she tracked home well to fill the minors in BM70 company last time.
This is another rise in class, but she strips fitter and is drawn to receive a lovely run under Craig Williams.
I’m going to give Mr Mooj another chance in Race 7 at The Valley on Saturday.
His win over a decent staying field in June was one of the better performances of his career so far, but it is fair to say that he was a little flat at Sandown last time.
He has been freshened since that effort, he gets some relief in the weights under Will Price and we can have an each-way play at his current quote.
I’m confident that Namakwa can return to winning form in the penultimate contest in Melbourne on Saturday.
Namakwa hasn’t returned a poor effort in five starts back from a spell this time, and he recorded consecutive wins at Ballarat at Flemington before finishing third over 2000m last time.
I like that he has been freshened and sent back to the trials since his last race, and he can bounce back in something like this.
Imperial Lad faces a rise in class into the last at The Valley on Saturday, but he went through his last prep without missing a placing, and he’ll take plenty of improvement into his second-up appearance.
The All Too Hard gelding found form around some above-average gallopers in Saturday city company last time, and he returned at Geelong a couple of weeks ago for a lovely win.
He too gets some relief in the weights and is drawn to receive every chance from barrier 6.