Warrnambool
Race 3 – Hot City
Jockey – John Allen
1400m – Barrier 4
Three-year-old galloper Hot City gets blinkers on when second-up at Warrnambool this afternoon. The gelded son of Ilovethiscity was sound on debut at Geelong three weeks ago over 1200-metres and will appreciate the rise in distance for today’s race. Jockey John Allen has drawn a middle gate in a small field and can go forward early, looking to settle on or just behind the speed in the early parts.
Prince Of The Nile and Yankee Street Rain have drawn the inside alleys and could roll forward early, but neither look like they can hang around and be fighting out the race late. We’re playing on a heavy surface and there’s little wet track form to assess. Rosa Juliet was solid at Geelong in Hot City’s race, finishing runner-up from back in the field. She was on debut there and will be better for the run. If she handles the wet, she looks hardest to beat. Crackle ‘N’ Burn is another who was good on debut, making many lengths in the home straight to finish third at Terang. He’ll likely relish the rise in trip today. Trantoro best of the rest after a sound showing on a heavy surface here on debut.
Hot City will be better for his debut run and only needs to handle the going to be a major factor in this. If he gets through the wet – and it is a considerable ‘if’ – he has the ability to beat a field like this. We’ll learn a bit today, but he must be considered a strong top three chance.
Currently, Hot City is a $6 chance in the market.
Warrnambool
Race 5 – Pannier
Jockey – John Allen
1700m – Barrier 4
Four-year-old galloper Pannier is third-up and fitter when he gets a wet track at Warrnambool this afternoon. The gelded son of Tavistock has been good at both runs this preparation and will appreciate the rise in trip to 1700-metres today. Jockey John Allen rides from gate four in a small field and can settle towards the rear, looking to work into the race approaching the home bend.
Scratchings have depleted the field, leaving Feargal and Likely Suspect the likely leaders from the outset. Likely Suspect was ok fresh and does come back a notch in grade for today’s race. He can be in this for a long way. One Thing Counts was good at this track and trip two starts back, before being a beaten favourite at Terang last start. He can bounce back here. Mondo has been good at both tries on a rain-affected surface, while Feargal could take catching up front.
Pannier gets conditions to suit today and faces a skinny field post-scratchings. Third-up and rising in trip are both positives, and he won his maiden at this track/trip during the May carnival last year. He looks the one to beat.
Currently, Pannier is a $3.10 chance in the market.
Warrnambool
Race 7 – Brung King
Jockey – Jaylah Kennedy
1400m – Barrier 2
Promising galloper Brung King faces just two rivals in today’s Port Fairy Cup at Warrnambool. The gelded son of Crackerjack King was very good when winning first-up at Ballarat on a heavy track four weeks ago and only needs to repeat that performance to come out on top today. Apprentice hoop Jaylah Kennedy claims 3kg and shouldn’t be far away from the front throughout.
Moral Force was a good winner for his new stable at this track first-up, and his only start on a soft track resulted in a maiden win. Yet to see heavy ground however and that was his first run in two years. Longtimedreaming hasn’t performed on a rain-affected surface thus far in her career but is racing well and gets in with 52kg. Need to see something we haven’t seen from her to be winning this.
Brung King shapes as the one to beat in a three-horse race, and I’m not sure they can topple him. He loves the heavy conditions and 1400-metres is his sweet spot. Throw in the apprentice claim, and he’s a very strong chance in this.
Currently, Brung King is a $1.80 chance in the market.