2024 The Hunter Day Tips & Preview

We kick off the day with the Max Lees Classic where we have a field of just eight juveniles all making their raceday debut.

Bar In Paris has just been given the one public trial and there was a lot to like to like about her performance.

Over 850m on the Kensington, the daughter of Rubick looked to do everything well and showed a good kick in the straight to pair of with O’Ole, who already had the benefit of race experience having finished second in the Gimcrack.

Beaten less than a length in the heat, she looks promising and this looks a nice race for her to kick off.

Harlow Mist comes off a very encouraging run in the Four Pillars and looks ready to peak at her third run back.

Settling midfield, she just got held up when starting to make her move in the early part of the straight but finished off strongly once clear.

The John Sargent trained mare showed good ability early on, saluting in her first three starts and she was placed in the Wakeful before contesting the VRC Oaks, where she failed to see out the 2500m.

She competed at stakes level in three of her four starts last campaign where she failed to fire but she looks to have come in good order.

She’ll relish getting out to the mile on the big track and barrier two can see her settle in striking distance under Nash Rawiller.

Bravely was doing his best work late last start and looks well suited stretching out to the mile for the first time.

Crowded between runners for much of the straight, he continued to work home strongly suggesting he’ll appreciate getting out over more ground.

The Zoustar gelding didn’t have the best of luck in his first two starts this time in but proved superior over the 1350m at Ipswich two runs back, when aided with a smart ride.

He’s fit and the Rawiller / Dunn combination always has to be respected in these Highway events.

Bullets High has been terrific in two runs back from a break and looks a horse on the rise.

Proving too good when resuming over the 1400m at Warwick Farm, he took the step to Saturday metro company last time and charged home to go down by only a head.

The Ace High gelding has always shown talent and Joe Pride thought enough of him to take him to QLD for a shot at the Derby back in June and he looks to have really come of age this preparation.

Nash Rawiller stays in the saddle and he’ll certainly appreciate the slight rise in trip.

Watch My Girl kicked off her campaign with back to back wins before a solid last start effort in the Angst Stakes.

Prepared by Ron Quinton, the daughter of Maurice has put together a very tidy record, working through her grades with relative ease and she looks very progressive.

She drops back in grade and with a month since her last run the drop back to 1400m looks ideal.

She’s been placed in both appearances at this track and with luck from the draw, she’s sure to be strong late.

Townsend returned from a lengthy break with a solid performance over mile at Randwick and he will have taken plenty of benefit from the outing.

Sent to the front off the outside gate the newly gelded son of Dundeel showed plenty of fight in the straight with only Sound of Heaven getting the better of him late.

Lightly raced, he showed plenty talented in his first campaign, winning on debut before placing in both the Fernhill Stakes and Group One Champagne Stakes.

With the added fitness on his side, the rise to 1800m will suit and he can make his own luck up on speed from the low draw.

Althoff has finished off strongly at his past two outings and looks nicely placed here staying at the mile.

Settling at the tail two runs back in the Tapp-Craig, the Written Tycoon colt was brought to the outside at the top of the straight and worked home nicely behind all-the-way winner Anode.

Last time, out to 1600m he again settled well back and charged home late after being held up in the early part of the straight.

A Group Three winner, having taken out the Ken Russell during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, he’s not lacking in class and gets in nicely under set weights conditions.

He should find this easier than what he’s been contesting and if he runs up to his best, he’ll be hard to beat.

Royal Merchant just held her ground to the line last start in the Group Two Invitation but with the slight drop back in trip and 4.5kg decrease in the weights, I think we’ll see a sharp improvement from her here.

The Group One winning daughter of Merchant Navy has proven herself a top class mare time and time again but she’s always produced her best when she’s been down in the weights.

With the three runs under her belt she presents here at peak fitness and any moisture in the track will only enhance her chances.

From barrier two she’s set to receive all the favours under Dylan Browne-McMonagle, who goes onboard for Ciaron Maher.

Wyclif is knocking on the door, having finished the runner up in four of his past five starts.

He stepped out over this course and distance back in September when contesting the Newcastle Cup where he looked the winer 200m out but was just collared late by Etna Rosso.

The Ciaron Maher trained galloper was solid in The Metropolitan at his following outing and has only just gone narrowly at his past two.

Held up in the early part of the straight last time, he was unlucky not to have won the Rosehill Cup.

Deep into his preparation, he presents hard fit and with even luck, I think he can the job done.

Jason Collett has been onboard for his two most recent runs and stays in the saddle.

Inhibitions was doing her best work late when resuming at Randwick and she again finished off strongly after settling at the tail last start on the Kensington.

Prepared by team Godolphin, the Zoustar mare has performed consistently throughout her career and with five stakes placings to her name, she’s certainly not short of talent.

Fitter for the two runs back, she looks beautifully placed here at 1300m.

She does have the wide draw to overcome but with 53kgs and Kerrin McEvoy to do the steering, she’s sure to be powering home late.