Racing stays provincial in Victoria this weekend and nine races will be run and won on 2022 Pakenham Cup Day!
I’ve run the rule over the lot, and you can find my complete 2022 Pakenham Cup Day Tips below.
Station One was an impressive winner of the Kyneton Cup at his last appearance, and he rates as a key winning chance again in the first on Pakenham Cup Day.
The Toronado gelding has improved with each of his three starts back this time, charging home to score a dominant win over 2100m at Ballarat second-up before recording a career-best result last time out.
He is a month between starts, but he has many of these runners covered for class, and I think he’ll take plenty of beating.
There is a case to be made for a few of the fillies and mares engaged in Race 2, including Santero.
Santero hasn’t been seen at the races since August, but she was a typically strong and consistent performer last time in, winning in BM70 company at Sandown and ending her prep third in a Saturday metro race.
She’s yet to miss placing in four previous fresh attempts and has had the benefit of a trial in the lead up to her return.
Jucconi is another resuming galloper with winning claims on Pakenham Cup Day.
The Nicconi gelding has made only six appearances at the races since debuting, but he has hardly put a hoof wrong in winning three times and finishing second on the other three occasions.
Madi Lloyd should be able to find a nice position for him from an inside draw and he’ll be further benefited by her claim.
Squid Game will make his eagerly awaited return to the races in Race 4 and he’s the one that I want to be with.
The Shooting To Win gelding has been a strong and consistent performer for the Patty Payne yard for a couple of seasons now, and he charged home to record an eye-catching win over 1000m at Flemington most notably last time.
He’s a winner at this point of his prep previously and boasts a class edge over a lot of these rivals.
Dusse has gone to another level this time and strikes another winnable race third-up at Pakenham on Thursday.
The Rubick filly hasn’t missed placing in five trips to the races, and she returned an easy winner in BM64 company at Sale.
Having followed up that performance with another easy victory in BM70 company at The Valley, she’s ready for something like this, and she’ll be partnered by regular hoop Ethan Brown.
Corner Pocket launches his summer campaign in the sixth on Pakenham Cup Day and I think that it’s an ideal race for him.
The Toronado gelding has been a strong and consistent performer for the Lindsay Smith yard throughout his career, and he returned a winner in Listed company at Flemington back in autumn, while filling the minors behind Aysar at his only spring appearance.
He’s yet to miss placing in five previous fresh attempts, gets some relief in the weights under Thomas Stockdale and is my best bet on the program.
Will this year’s Pakenham Cup winner progress to Group 1 glory like last year’s, Smokin’ Romans?
Probably not, but there is a case to be made for several gallopers in this year’s field, including Future Score.
He’s now eight-years-old, but Future Score has retained his zest for racing, and he followed up a sound first-up run in Listed company on Cup Day with a nice effort for fourth in the Ballarat Cup a fortnight ago.
Fitter third-up, he’s ready for the rise in trip, and we can have an each way play at current odds ($8.50 at publish).
Regardsmaree is the one for me in this year’s VOBIS Gold Bullion.
Regardsmaree has returned plenty of excellent performances throughout his career and hasn’t looked out of place in some strong races.
He’s improved for three starts back this time and was last seen finishing second, beaten just over a length in VOBIS Gold Star.
He looks to be in peak order for this contest and is further boosted by the booking of Blake Shinn.
He has drawn horrifically, but Arran Bay is one of the better horses engaged in the last on Pakenham Cup Day and he can return a winner.
The All Too Hard gelding was a consistent performer last time in and ended his prep with a lovely win in the Silver Bowl Series Final.
He clearly needed his first run back when fifth in BM70 company on Cranbourne Cup Day, but I am expecting plenty of improvement this week.