John Thompson has sent the promising Baranof to Bathurst today in search of a maiden win, and I think that it will prove to be the correct decision.
Baranof is an eight-start maiden, but he has returned some nice performances since making his debut, and was competitive around some gallopers who have since franked the form, last time in.
He hasn’t been seen competitive since August, but this does look to the easiest task that he has been set, and he likely won’t be offered a better opportunity to win.
Carolina Fire was pretty disappointing at Warwick Farm last time out, but she has been freshened, and I am confident that a drop back to country grade can result in a return to winning form.
The Dundeel mare returned some nice performances earlier in her prep, recording an easy win at Hawkesbury before finishing second in BM68 company most notably.
She is drawn to receive a lovely run in transit today, and this looks to be a far more suitable race for her.
Squiggles has recorded two wins from as many starts this time in, and she looms as the runner to beat again in the penultimate race at Bathurst today.
Squiggles didn’t show a lot during her debut prep, but she returned a winner here at Bathurst last month and franked that effort with another nice win in BM58 company at Nowra.
So far, Mark Newnham’s placement has been spot on, and I think that he has nailed the brief again today.
The last at Bathurst today looks to be a pretty open contest with several winning chances engaged, including Petain.
Petain has been up and racing for some time, but he has continued to return competitive performances, and struck in BM50 company two starts back, most notably.
He’s rock-hard fit and we can have an each-way play today at around the $8 mark.