What better way to end 2023 than ten of the best from The Valley this Saturday!
We’ve cast our eye over the form and provided our best bets for each race below.
In Her Eyes should have a solid fitness base following three jump outs for her debut here.
The Star Witness filly was strong through the line in her first two jump outs before a quieter time last time out on a heavy track.
She’s drawn well in barrier 2 which should see Jye McNeil be positive.
Kusini has come back this preparation in fine fettle.
The Maher and Eustace-trained four-year-old mare gave a good sight when finishing a nose second over 1100m at Ararat first-up.
She was super tough last start at Caulfield when leading and finding plenty once challenged in the straight to not only fend off her rivals but dash clear to win by 1.8 lengths.
She’ll strip fitter third-up and maps to get a great run on speed for Dylan Brown McMonagle.
After The Impact has thrived since being tried over these longer staying assignments.
The Yoshitomo Shima-trained gelding is looking for four wins in a row and enters this race on the back of his most impressive performance to date.
He went straight to the front over this course and distance before creating separation with 400m to go and gapping his rivals by a massive eight lengths.
He rises to 59kg, but it is hard to see the horses he faced last time turning the tables.
Exceed The Dream looks a more furnished mare based on her two strong performances to begin this campaign.
The Maher and Eustace-trained daughter of Exceed And Excel found the line strongly first-up to finish second at Ararat.
That effort was a tasty entrée to what was to come last start when she put them away easily on the turn to dash clear for a 2.3 length win over this course and distance.
She’ll be fitter third-up and can take the next step out of maiden class.
Independent Road is looking for his third win in a row to start this preparation.
The seven-year-old gelding ground out a victory first-up in the Ballan Cup over the unsuitable 1512m at Geelong.
The Hayes Boys then stepped him straight up to 2000m at Ballarat where he led and looked to be gone in the straight but fought back strongly to win narrowly in the driving rain.
There was plenty of merit in the run given the steep rise in distance and he now strips fitter third-up.
With just 53kg, Mick Dee will look to lead and run them into the ground.
Piaggio was excellent when resuming over 1400m on the Lakeside track.
He clocked the quickest final 200m of the race on a day when making ground was tough to do to finish second by two lengths.
The Greg Eurell-trained gelding appreciated the rise to this distance last start when proving too strong in a soft win at Caulfield.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and will carry just 54kg courtesy of the in form Celine Gaudray’s claim.
Racing on speed with that light weight may make him tough to hold out late.
Zamborghini impressed last start when winning over 1523m at this track.
The Matt Laurie-trained Zoustar gelding powered off the home turn to put his rivals away quickly and bolt in by 2.5 lengths.
He is undefeated at the track and will love the rise to a mile given he’s at peak fitness.
Celine Gaudray, who claims 1.5kg, should be able to settle in a prominent position.
Miss Tarzy has won both her races this preparation and looks well placed to make it three wins on the trot.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Tarzino mare won in dominant fashion first-up at Seymour.
Last start she settled second over this course and distance before giving a good kick entering the straight to put them away by 1.8 lengths.
She looked to have more in hand and will have come on since that run.
From the inside gate, Rhys McLeod can go forward and give plenty of cheek.
Peace Treaty is well placed under the set weight conditions of the race being the only horse to have won more than one contest.
The three-year-old filly impressively won by 4.5 lengths on debut before being sent to the paddock.
She recently returned with a good effort against Open class horse before running on strongly despite being held up to win over 1200m at Mornington last start.
Any sting out of the ground will be appreciated and Damian Lane should give her a beautiful run from barrier 1.
Kin brings excellent form lines to this race and will appreciate the drop in class.
The Godolphin mare was awesome second-up when racing four and five wide over 1200m at Caulfield in a Benchmark 84 Handicap.
Despite that she charged to the line, clocking the quickest final 600m and 400m splits of the meeting, to finish a length second to Boldinho.
She’ll strip fitter third-up and a likely strong tempo should suit.