Moonee Valley is set to play host to its first meeting of the new racing season this Saturday, August 10th.
Nine races make up the program and there is no shortage of value to be found as we continue the countdown to The Valley’s biggest meeting, Cox Plate Day.
To help you find a few winners, we’ve shared our thoughts on every race below.
Waimarie’s recent form stands out with two wins from her last three attempts.
The Busuttin and Young-trained daughter of Snitzel was all class winning over the mile at Sandown last start, finding the front just out of the turn and speeding into the clear at the 300m mark for a soft win.
She’s rock-hard fit for four runs back and likes to race on the speed, while I love the fact Mark Zahra has retained the ride in the saddle.
Just Like Gaby was a little green on debut at Flemington last month when beaten 1.6 lengths by First Settler.
She did show some late speed though in the run home and just needs to settle handy to the speed to finish in the money this time.
Ethan Brown has been riding well of late and there’s no question this filly is open to big improvement.
Hard Squeeze can give this a real shake coming off a handy win over a tad further at Sandown last month in testing conditions.
She’s been in good form this mare, bolting in off a three-wide position after spotting the field a serious lead to win with a lot left to give through the line.
The daughter of All Too Hard has a solid record here at The Valley and is capable of getting through the wet if there’s any rain about.
Gets in nicely with the claim and just needs to find cover early from wider out to be a chance.
When Ferago wins, he typically goes on and runs a nice race in his next start, so that’s what I’m banking on here.
The old boy by Fiorente returned to the winner’s stall a couple of weeks ago at Caulfield, getting back early and rounding up the field into the straight where he loomed up over the final 200m to go clear.
He’ll carry a bit of extra weight this time for his efforts, but there’s no knock on his form over this track and distance.
Acromantula returns from a spell after last contesting the Group 3 Roma Cup at Ascot in April.
This son of Written Tycoon is a bit of a first-up specialist, while he’s also put together a tidy resume at The Valley that includes a win of the Listed Carlyon Stakes around this time last year.
His two recent trial wins have been solid and he’s drawn to receive every chance from barrier one with the experienced Craig Williams in the saddle.
Big Me is a little on the short side, but it’s hard to look past the run this boy produced for third at Headquarters last month behind the impressive Moonhaven.
The son of Your Song let down with an impressive turn of foot to grab third off a lengthy spell of close to a year and a half, last seen finding the money in both starts in Hong Kong in 2022.
He looks likely to get forward early from a perfect barrier and challenge for the lead.
Mathew has been a tricky horse to follow, but it feels as though he’s starting to work a few things out now.
The son of Tavistock was a strong winner a few weeks ago at Sandown over 1800m, hitting the front at the 200m mark and responding nicely to the challenge laid down by Star Vega, who has since gone on to win his next start.
This is only his second look at The Valley, but hard fit now with four runs under his belt and an inside gate finally in his favour, he’ll be hard to beat carrying next to no weight.
Our Empress Zoe just needs to overcome the wide gate to be in with a chance here.
The five-year-old mare by Fastnet Rock has been in good order since resuming from a seven-week spell, returning to win on the synthetic at Pakenham, and then going on to run a place at Flemington after tiring up on the speed.
She’ll likely push forward from barrier 13 and give a nice sight on the speed, and with added fitness on her side now, she’s capable of running a nice race.
Legio Ten could be close to another win based on recent efforts.
The Godolphin five-year-old has had his runs spaced this prep, finishing runner-up two back over 1200m at Caulfield, and just missing out on the money mor recently at Flemington where he was seen doing his best work late.
Barrier 11 is tricky for Ethan Brown in the saddle, but if he can get forward and settle one or two back from the leader, he should find himself with plenty of horse underneath to threaten.