Wrap up your weekend with our Ballarat best bets, highlighting the key runners to help you head into a new week the right way!
WHIMSY SMILE (11) just needs to settle in the run to be a serious chance out of the Lindsay Park stable.
The colt to Wootton Bassett was thrown in the deep end over the same 1200m trip at Seymour fresh last month, where not a lot went right in the early stages.
He overraced and was wide at one point, but still knuckled down well to run a place. With improvement to come and the synthetic surface likely helping, he’s a key threat.
| 11. Whimsy Smile (8) Scratched: | |||
BRING ME POWER (2) comes right back to the provincials after competing at Flemington last time out.
Not a whole lot went right for the five-year-old, finishing dead last in a field of 12 after being caught three-wide up on the speed early on.
The positive is, he’s won here in the past and was only half a length off Jennyanydots two back over the same track/trip.
| 2. Bring Me Power (3) J: Lachlan King 61kg x1020T: Charmaine Barnes | |||
| Last start ran last of 12 at Flemington Bm78 on July 18 over 1000m, slow going 6 len behind Along The River with 53.5kg at $71. Before that 2nd of 7 at this track Bm70 on July 2 over 1000m, 0.5 len behind Jennyanydots with 57.5kg at $6. Prepared to overlook that last run – expecting sharp improvement in this company. | |||
PRINCESS SAKIKO (5) should be cherry ripe for this third-up.
The daughter to Maurice has been around the mark in both runs back, tackling the rise to 1400m at Sale last time out where she was well back in the field early on, before stalking the speed out wide to finish fifth.
She showed she was capable of handling the mile during her maiden prep earlier in the year and still has big scope for improvement with only six starts to her name.
| 5. Princess Sakiko (5) J: Jack Hill 57kg 21×35T: Shane Jackson | |||
| Third-up today and placed third-up in the past. First-up eased back early on 3rd in a small field at this track Cl1 on July 12 over 1200m, 4.5 len behind Salizou with 56.5kg at $6. Second run from a spell 5th of 14 at Sale Bm62 on July 26 over 1400m, on a slow track; 5 len behind Princing with 57.5kg at $10. Must come into consideration over this slightly longer journey. | |||
ROYAL INFANTRY (2) is one of the better chances in a wide-open 1400m contest to wrap up the day.
Patrick Kearney’s galloper was beaten by the smallest of margins here over 1200m fresh last month, settling toward the tail before unleashing with a serious turn of foot to run second.
He’s no stranger to winning up over 1400m and just needs to settle handier to the speed this time from the soft gate.
| 2. Royal Infantry (4) J: John Allen 61.5kg 646×2T: Patrick Kearney | |||
| Second-up. First-up after four months ran on from midfield; 2nd of 12 at this track Bm56 on July 27 over 1200m, nose behind Bark with 61.5kg at $26. Previously second-up won by 3 len at Wycheproof Mdn-Sw November 1 over 1400m defeating Tikken carrying 59.5kg at $3.40. Relished his first look at a synthetic track – big chance to take this out. | |||