Swan Hill
Race 3 – Pittsburgh Pirate
Jockey – Neil Farley
1600m – Barrier 3
Improving galloper Pittsburgh Pirate gets blinkers for the first time at Swan Hill this afternoon. Fitter for two runs this preparation, the gelded son of Pierro was unlucky not to finish closer at Murtoa last Saturday, finding the back of a retreating runner when building into the race and losing all momentum before the turn. Jockey Neil Farley sticks with the four-year-old today and can be positive from the outset from a low draw, settling on or just behind the speed.
A few runners will look to find the top early on, with Jefferson and Easy Turn to push forward from the middle of the line, while Noble Chevaux gets blinkers on and can roll across from a wide draw. Piankhi is another that gets blinkers today and sets up for a lovely run in behind the speed. He was sound from the back at Horsham last start and the extra furlong here looks ideal. Could prove hard to beat. Jefferson is racing consistently and a win looks close after finishing runner-up his past two starts. He’ll get every chance from up on speed, only query is coming back in trip. Easy Turn was solid on debut and will be better for the run and race experience. Each way claims. So too Xalamber, who ran a much better race second-up last start. Raced well at the mile last preparation and expecting her to be thereabouts today. The race really drops away from here.
Pittsburgh Pirate will benefit from the gear change today and put himself right in the race from a good draw. He presents fitter third-up and the stable are in winning form. In a race of few hopes, he sits right up there as a winning chance.
Currently, Pittsburgh Pirate is a $9 chance in the market.
Swan Hill
Race 8 – Shakib
Jockey – Madison Lloyd
1600m – Barrier 6
Proisir gelding Shakib makes his Australian debut over a mile at Swan Hill this afternoon. The ex-kiwi galloper had a false start at Ballarat a fortnight ago when scratched on the way to the barriers, and finds a suitable kicking-off point on a nice, big track today. Jockey Madison Lloyd will let the six-year-old find his feet from the start, likely to settle midfield or worse with cover from the outset.
There’s good speed in this, with Hot Seat and Sandblast to burn across from outside draws to challenge for the early lead, while Murralane and Whiskyontherocks will boot through from the inside and make them work. This should set up a soft trail for Miss Bariloche in barrier two, who can settle one or two pairs back on the rail without spending a penny. She broke through for a maiden win at Casterton two starts back, before a solid effort at Warrnambool last start. Drawn to get all the favours, she will prove hard to beat. Local galloper Sports Idol has won three on his home track and is racing in good fashion. Up to a mile looks to suit and he is another with a winning hope in an open race. Whiskyontherocks will keep kicking and give them something to chase down, while Hayai Mesu hasn’t been far away in two runs this preparation and a win looks close. Others could show up with surprising, leave me out of this one.
Shakib will benefit from whatever he does today, and will improve when up in trip later in the preparation. He’ll find a few of these too sharp at a mile, but look for him to get warm late and run through the line. The travel will do him good, waiting for later int he campaign to back him.
Currently, Shakib is a $16 chance in the market.