The HDR stable has two runners today in ALORS TU CROIS and GAIUS at Ballarat.
Ballarat – Good (4)
Ballarat is rated a Good 4 but with fine, warm weather forecast you’d think the track will be quickly upgraded to a Good 3. Ballarat hasn’t hosted a meeting since its Cup Day on November 20 so the track should be in sensational order. Light winds should ensure those on speed get their chance. (Form Analyst Matt Welsh)
RACE 4 (3:00pm) Porter Plant 3YO Maiden Plate 1400m
No.6 ALORS TU CROIS– Will Price (Barrier 2)
ALORS TU CROIS (2) heads to Ballarat on Tuesday where she’ll contest a 1400m Maiden (Race 4, 3.00pm). The daughter of So You Think has drawn gate two and Will Price will ride.
ALORS TU CROIS has had the two starts to date and she has been OK in both of those efforts. The three-year-old filly was eight weeks between runs heading into Geelong last time out so she should derive plenty of fitness benefit for her fifth placing there. ALORS TU CROIS raced in some restricted room at the top of the straight before working home strongly on a day it was tough to make ground. I was encouraged by how strong she was past the post. Hopefully, she can settle a touch handier on Tuesday and with both natural and fitness improvement to come she should be competitive. (Matt Welsh)
This filly comes into this third-up run off the back of a good run at Geelong last start, finishing only four lengths off the winners after being held up for runs at the top of the straight. Since her first start at Ararat, the team has been working on her behaviour and manners on race day and although better last time she was still warm behind the barriers, so the stable will be looking for her to correct that today. ALORS TU CROIS comes into this race well-equipped fitness-wise and should be figuring in the placing before stepping out to what looks to be her pet distance of 1600m next start. (Stable)
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $26 (as at 11am)
RACE 7 (4:30pm) Sportsbet Bet With Mates BM64 Handicap 1200m
No.7 GAIUS– Damian Thornton (Barrier 10)
GAIUS (10) heads to Ballarat on Tuesday where he will contest a 1200m BM64 (Race 7, 4.30pm). The son of Written Tycoon has drawn gate ten and Damien Thornton will ride.
GAIUS was specked at a price at Flemington on Rapid Racing Day last time out and he worked home well into fifth, after getting a mile back over the 1000m. He gave every indication last start that he is looking for the 1200m now and I think the likely strong tempo will certainly aid his cause. From the wider draw, he is probably going to have to try and tuck in somewhere behind the speed but with just one bend to navigate from the sprint chute and light winds being three deep won’t be a huge penalty. This gelding is lightly-raced with upside to come and a race like this is certainly within his reach. (Matt Welsh)
The 1200m chute at Ballarat should suit GAIUS well today, the straight last start at Flemington was too slick for him the last start, the half-turn into the home straight here today should allow him to settle in behind the speed and be hitting the line strongly. (Stable)
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $5 (as at 11am)