2024 Ballarat Cup Day Tips & Preview

Hello Romeo continues to race well for Team Hayes. 

The lightly-raced colt out of French Group 1 winner Hello Youmzain put away a small field for his maiden win at Bendigo a few weeks ago, quickening smartly along the rail to go 1.75 lengths clear.  

It looked as though he was only doing his best work through the line, so there could be more to come out to 1100m with Daniel Stackhouse taking over. 

This race obviously features more depth, but he should be suited by the soft conditions under foot if he gets the right ride up on the speed. 

Dream All Day is absolutely flying right now for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr. 

The mare by Savabeel could not have been more impressive winning her maiden last start here over the track and distance, blowing the start and settling toward the tail, before making up a stack of ground down the outside to go three lengths clear. 

She’s clearly armed with a superior turn of foot, helping her find the money in all four races she’s contested so far. 

Whether she wants the mile second-up is the question, but with plenty left in the tank second-up, she’ll take beating from a nice soft gate.  

The unbeaten Cleo Cat should have her fair share of admirers here third-up. 

Her win at The Valley last start was an exceptional piece of work, coming off the fence over the final 200m to burst clear through a gap whilst fending off the equally talented Nodachi. 

Tom Dabernig’s mare by American Pharoah won here at Ballarat over 1000m first-up to begin her prep where she lugged 60.5kg around. 

Back to BM78 level and drawn to get another tidy run from midfield, she’ll prove just as difficult to hold out. 

How Enna’s Dream was able to finish runner-up at The Valley last start remains a mystery. 

Alex Rae’s mare was close to last approaching the final 300m, facing a wall of horses in front where she somehow weaved a passage through the middle to hit the line hard. 

That was just her first run back from a spell, and it was another eye-catching one given she found the money in all four of her starts at Caulfield and Sandown last time in work.  

With clearer running this time out wide, Jye McNeil should be able to go close again if he’s able to save her best for late. 

Keen to give Little Kick another look here with Jason Maskiell back in the saddle. 

The five-year-old gelding by Rebel Raider sat up on the speed fresh at Caulfield first-up, facing the breeze into the straight where he stuck on well to finish second to Regal Vow. 

He lacked the dash and the conditioning over the final stages, but with Maskiell steering him to a win in similar soft conditions at Caulfield earlier in the year, there should be further improvement to come. 

Shalaman really impressed on return at Caulfield a few weeks ago over the same journey. 

In his first run back following a 12-month layoff, the son of Shalaa was fast into stride under Celine Gaudray, settling up on the speed and holding on bravely for second after fending off a challenge down the outside. 

He was only passed fit to run before the race, so there’s still big improvement to come now that he has a bit more conditioning on his side. 

Where he winds up from out wide will determine his chances, but if he can get forward early again, he’ll run another honest race. 

Mrs Chrissie looks ready to rock and roll first-up for Ciaron Maher. 

Still lightly raced for a six-year-old, this mare by Per Incanto has typically done her best racing fresh from a spell, winning three of her five starts and missing the money only once. 

She hasn’t been asked to do a great deal during a couple of recent jumpouts, and if she gets across early from the wide gate and finds cover, she’ll be in this for a long way.  

Claim The Crown did it very tough in the Country Cup at Caulfield last time out, caught wide into the straight and coming into contact with another runner at one point. 

Annabel Neasham’s six-year-old was entitled to finish fourth in the end, but he did show plenty of fight all the way down the straight from an identical barrier. 

Apprentice Jett Stanley has a feel for him now, and with the claim put to good use, he should find racing over 2000m third-up more than suitable. 

Lady In Pink has been given a three-week break between runs after finding the line for third in the Matriarch Stakes last start at Flemington.  

The Corstens-trained mare had a very wide gate to overcome, but I thought she ran on well after finding daylight at the top of the straight to hit top gear. 

She previously spent time racing at Group 1 level finishing down the order in the Empire Rose Stakes, two weeks after winning the Tristarc by half a length over Revolutionary Miss. 

Deep into her prep, proven over 2000m, and capable of handling any sting out of the track, she looks a nice value bet in another open race between the stayers. 

Pal D’oro has been given a nice four-week gap between runs ahead of his return to Ballarat.

Ciaron Maher’s seven-year-old resumed at Flemington in early November, finding the line for sixth after being squeezed for room at a crucial stage down the straight. 

Given a jumpout between starts to keep his sharp, John Allen retains the ride from a much better gate, one that should see the pair get right back in the run and look to finish over the top.