Mount Gambier
Race 1 – Berry Foxie
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1812m – Barrier 3
Last start maiden winner Berry Foxie gets her chance to go back-to-back when she travels to Mount Gambier this afternoon. The four-year-old daughter of Rommel was strong when winning at Donald last start, that form franked when the third-placed runner from that event came out and won well at Murtoa on Saturday. Jockey Mitch Aitken leaves from a good draw and can lob outside or just behind the speed and give his mare every chance in the run.
Tini Motu and Ryan Wayne have both drawn inside Berry Foxie and will punch forward early, which could set up a lovely trail for Aitken from the outset. Scottish Gold is the other who will look to settle handy in the run, after weakening from on-pace at Warrnambool when first-up a fortnight ago. This is a skinny race on paper, with some long beaten margins filling the form guide from top to bottom. Ryan Wayne was a dominant maiden winner here two starts back, before failing in a stringer race at Horsham last time out. He can improve in this company and clearly handles the unique Mount Gambier circuit. Tini Motu has strung together some sound performances this campaign, but was plain off a let-up here last start. She can bounce back and be competitive today. Genuinely hard to make a case for any other runners.
Berry Foxie needs only to hold her form to prove hard to beat here. She has improved with every outing this preparation and an extra furlong is unlikely to pull her up today. In a moderate affair, Berry Foxie has a golden opportunity to make it two on the bounce.
Currently, Berry Foxie is a $2.60 chance in the market.
Mount Gambier
Race 4 – Morpurgo
Jockey – Dom Tourneur
2062m – Barrier 7
Five-year-old galloper Morpurgo steps beyond 2000-metres for the first time this preparation at Mount Gambier this afternoon. The gelded son of Toronado has performed well at two starts since winning convincingly on the synthetic at Pakenham in July, forced to get back and chase on both occasions. Jockey Dom Tourneur won’t bustle out of the gates, able to take a soft trail in a race that lacks any real early dash.
Steven James may elect to roll forward first-up from a spell, while Handshake won’t be far away coming back in trip. This galloper has been racing consistently this preparation, running top three at his past seven starts. Back in trip and an improving surface are the queries, but he clearly looks the one to beat in this. Teemenzed has won two of his past three, outclassed on a firm deck in the Coleraine Cup last time out. Back to this grade looks more suitable, he’s in with an each way chance. Fast ‘n’ Forward is another dropping in grade and she does race well here (11:6-2-0). Needs to improve on recent efforts but has each way claims in this field. Wary of the locally-trained runners, but the race drops away from here.
Morpurgo has the ability to win a race like this comfortably and will enjoy the drying track conditions. Tourneur just needs to keep the leaders in his sights, and will likely get the opportunity to cart into the race on the back of an improving runner approaching the home bend. All things being equal and with even luck in running, Morpurgo should be winning this.
Currently, Morpurgo is a $2.50 chance in the market.
Mount Gambier
Race 5 – Budd Fox
Jockey – Hannah Edgley
1562m – Barrier 2
Resilient galloper Budd Fox returns to the races for the first time in eighteen months at Mount Gambier this afternoon. The eight-year-old son of Foxwedge had a promising jumps season cut short last year, and finds a suitable race to ease back into the swing of things today. Apprentice hoop Hannah Edgley claims 2kg off his back and leaves from an inside draw, drifting back for cover in the early stages.
Not a stack of early speed here, with Melissa Kate to roll across and find the front from an outside draw, dragging Vivacious Award over from her outside. This runner has been solid at her past two outings, runner-up at Horsham two back before beaten two-lengths in a stronger race at Geelong four weeks ago. She can put in the odd plain effort but is one of the main chances here. Bossy Britches has won three times at this track and was unlucky to not finish closer when fresh here a fortnight ago. Zero wins from six second-up attempts the obvious knock, but can figure in the minor money today. Melissa Kate rises in trip today following a sound showing at 1300-metres last start. She won here the start before, and off a steadier tempo, can control proceedings from the front in this. She’ll give them all something to chase. Concede each way chances to Dr Dee Dee and Hasta La Fiorente in an even affair.
Budd Fox will find his rivals too sharp at this trip today but will take improvement from the outing. After a long layoff, connections will be hoping he can finish the race nicely and load safely on the float for the ride home. Look for him to get warm late.
Currently, Budd Fox is an $11 chance in the market.