We’re off to Sandown this Saturday with nine races making up the program.
Rain throughout the week has the track rated in the Soft 6 range with the rail out 5 metres at time of writing.
Our best selections across the entire meeting can be found here.
Plenty of early speed engaged in the first with Blue Renegade, Interest Point, and Husk all likely to roll forward.
I’m with the latter out of the Hawkes stable, a filly who returned in great order at Sandown a month ago where she made every post a winner to shed the maiden tag.
I thought she found the line strongly with plenty left to give, but she also has room for improvement after throwing her head around a bit down the straight.
Jordan Childs retaining the ride is a plus and she should be just as tough to run down.
Mogwai can be forgiven on his latest effort at Rosehill where he was caught four-wide into the straight and never given much of a chance on a very wet day.
The firmer conditions under foot should prove suitable here with fitness on his side and he does map to find a stalking position from the low gate this time.
In well with the 3kg claim and back slightly in trip are two big positives in a race that inspires little confidence.
Vail Mountain was going great guns before stepping up to tackle the mile last month at Bendigo.
The Hayes-trained five-year-old finished down the order beaten 1.6 lengths, finding excuses in the run home where he was held up badly and never in clear air.
A hat-trick of wins prior reads exceptionally well on his resume and he should be given every chance from the low gate this time under Jye McNeil.
Looks likely to roll forward early and set the tempo.
Batrana probably should have won a couple of weeks earlier at Caulfield fresh, instead forced to settle for third after finding no luck when it mattered most.
A gap opened up late for the McEvoy-trained filly, but she just lacked the dash to beat home British Angel after being held up at the 200m mark.
The daughter of Justify has drawn a nice soft gate though to land in behind the speed, and she should have a class edge over some of these having competed at Stakes level last year.
Miss Tarzy resumes for Team Freedman.
This smart Kiwi-bred mare by Tarzino showed plenty of ability late last year, stringing together three consecutive wins when drawing 1.75 lengths clear at The Valley over much further.
She returned a month later to run third over the same track and trip, lugging big weight before being sent back to the paddock for a long spell.
I doubt the mile troubles her off a break and her recent jump out suggested she’s here to run a nice race at odds.
Crackerjack Prince was unlucky not to run a place here on the Lakeside track a fortnight ago in a driving finish.
Archie Alexander’s six-year-old hasn’t won in quite some time, but does look set to peak now third-up with a likable record over the mile next to his name.
His first-up effort saw him finish just over 1.5 lengths off He’s Beset where he clearly lacked the fitness over the final stages.
Down 2kg at the weights and likely to land just in behind the speed, he should be fighting out the finish.
Etienne resumes for the Busuttin and Young Team coming off a handy jump out win.
The Capitalist four-year-old won quite well in town at The Valley late last year and was also a dominant winner at Morphettville first-up to kick start his prep over 1000m.
He comes to hand quite quickly and should be prominent on the speed nice and early under Jye McNeil. Looks hard to run down if he produces his best.
Is It Me has returned a place in two of his last three starts, sticking to the 1200m trip at Caulfield to start the month where he was brave to the line in restricted running room.
I think he may have been wanting further that day third-up from a spell, and we have seen him run an honest 1400m in the past with two placings to his name.
This is a tougher assignment, but drawn to get back in the run and carrying 6kg less under Jordan Childs, I think there’s a case to be made for him each-way.
Keen to see what Jimmy The Bear can produce here on less of a turnaround.
Patrick Payne’s gelding has been frustrating to follow over the last 12 months or so, but he did run a nice race two weeks ago at Caulfield where he was beaten 1.6 lengths by Dashing on a leader’s bias track.
Looks likely to race further forward this time from wider out and I don’t think 1800m will test him at all.
A wet track should also suit with good fitness now on his side.