Caulfield
Race 10 – Brung King
Jockey – John Allen
1400m – Barrier 11
Talented gelding Brung King is shooting for a hattrick of wins when he travels to Caulfield for the first time this afternoon. The gelded son of Crackerjack King has won both starts this preparation in heavy going, and gets back on top of the ground for today’s contest. Jockey John Allen has drawn the outside alley in a field of eleven and will drift back in the early parts, looking to finish off from the top of the home bend.
Speed looks okay with Imperial Lad and Who Dares to roll forward from the middle of the line, while Forbidden City and Jimmysstar can tuck in behind the leading pair. Jimmysstar won both Australian starts last campaign impressively and resumes today on the back of good jumpout form. He maps for the run of the race and is clearly the one to beat here. Who Dares comes back in grade following a narrow defeat at Listed level last time out. He cops a weight penalty, but if allowed to bowl along in front, could take catching late. Strong each way claims. These look the main two int he race, however concede each way chances to Tonneofgrit and Magnaspin.
Brung King would be right in this with a more favourable draw but will need to rely on a little luck today. He’ll be greeted by a drying track at this stage of the day, and will be hoping a few more put their hands up in the early speed battle to ensure a genuine tempo. Has the class to win, but plenty to overcome today. Each way claims from the back.
Currently, Brung King is an $11 chance in the market.
Kyneton
Race 2 – Parori
Jockey – Will Price
1103m – Barrier 9
Four-year-old mare Parori is second-up and fitter when she heads to Kyneton this afternoon. The daughter of Star Witness was sound when fresh at Cranbourne three weeks ago, beaten under four lengths by Redoute’s Night, who has since run well at Sandown on Wednesday. Jockey Will Price leaves from an outside barrier and will look to roll across to sit outside the speed in the early parts.
Frenemy will go fast from an inside draw and look to control the race from the front, while Koa Miss and Alesha Lily will have a look from their middle draws. Lispector maps for the soft run behind the speed and resumes here on the back of encouraging jumpouts. She was well-backed on debut in June but was only fair without much luck. Expect a better run today and must be considered an each way chance. Frenemy makes her Victorian debut, having had one start in Listed grade in May. She wasn’t far away from Group-performed runners on that occasion, and if left alone in front, looks the one to beat today. These two look the main hopes, conceding an each way chance to Chalice Well who resumes.
Parori will need to step cleanly to have a share pf the lead early on, not wanting to let Frenemy have it all her own way in the lead. She’s fitter for her last run and no surprise to see her in this for longer. Each way claims.
Currently, Parori is an $8 chance in the market.
Kyneton
Race 3 – Lupine
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1856m – Barrier 14
Three-year-old galloper Lupine steps out in distance third-up at Kyneton this afternoon. The gelded son of Tivaci was good first-up at Geelong in heavy going, before a sound effort at the same track a fortnight ago. He hit a flat spot on that occasion before picking up and hitting the line strongly in the last fifty metres. Jockey Mitch Aitken jumps from the outside gate in a field of fourteen and will snag beack from the start, looking for cover in the second half of the field.
Phair Plan will roll forward and give Tarrayoukyan a cart over from the start, while Amelie can punch through from the inside and hold a forward position in the run. This galloper has improved with each run this preparation and draws for the softest of runs here. Up to this trip looks suitable, and must be considered a winning hope. Cherokee Brave gets blinkers for the first time and may settle more forward in the run today. He was slowly away last time before making an early move to challenge the leaders a long way from home. He battled on okay from there and should receive an easier run from the draw today. Another with claims. Concede each way chances to Jeffo and Tarrayoukyan.
Lupine is fitter for two runs this preparation and gets out to a more suitable trip today. The wide draw is no help, but looking for him to flatten out and run through the line strongly late. Providing he doesn;t need to circle the entire field, he can run into the top four without surprising.
Currently, Lupine is a $7 chance in the market.
Kyneton
Race 6 – Savvy Bee
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1454m – Barrier 3
Four-year-old galloper Savvy Bee resumes from a spell today, first-up beyond 1400-metres at Kyneton. The daughter of Savabeel has had a number of jumpouts leading into today, the latest a good effort at Camperdown when ridden out in the concluding stages. Jockey Mitch Aitken has drawn well in barrier three and can settle leaders’ backs in the early stages of the race.
Speed is drawn either side of Savvy Bee, with Reynaire and Princess Tosen the most likely to share the lead heading into the back straight. This should set up a lovely trail for Savvy Bee, and Frostwood can boot through from the inside to hold a forward position. Princess Tosen was good first-up from a spell before a plain effort at Hamilton last start. She’ll settle closer to the speed here and can be in this for longer. Each way claims. Frostgwood was solid two starts back at Cranbourne but was only okay at his latest. The Cranbourne effort is good enough to go close here. Mikki Magic has won three of her past five and looks best of the late closers. Each way chances to Oodles and Reynaire in a moderate event.
Savvy Bee has the ability to beat a field like this first-up, providing she behaves at the barriers and steps cleanly. She was ridden out at her latest jumpout and is ready for this trip first-up. With even luck, she’s the one to beat.
Currently, Savvy Bee is a $4.20 chance in the market.
Kyneton
Race 9 – Friday At Five
Jockey – Neil Farley
1856m – Barrier 3
Last start Hanging Rock Cup winner Friday At Five backs up at Kyneton in the Woodend Cup this afternoon. The five-year-old daughter of Zoustar overcame difficulties in the run to score a thrilling last stride win eight days ago, but jockey Neil Farley won’t want to leave things to the last minute today. Farley leaves from an ideal barrier and can roll forward from the outset here, looking to lob outside or just behind the speed.
Station One is the obvious speed influence here, rolling across from the outside barrier to take up the running in the early parts. Friday At Five should settle to his outside or in the stalking roll behind, with Bolshoi Princess the other who may look to settle forward in the run. Skinny race. Station One is a mainstay on the country cups circuit, winning the Dunkeld and Traralgon Cups before placing at his past two. He’ll bowl along in front and have a few of them chasing approaching the home bend, whether he can sustain his run with a big weight is the query. Each way claims. The Cunning Fox will enjoy a soft run back in the field second-up, having been good at Flemington a fortnight ago. City form generally holds up well in these events, he looks toughest to beat. Crown Harmonium next best, but place claims only.
Friday At Five should receive a lovely run here back on top of the ground and can pour the heat on the leader rounding the home bend. She’s racing in terrific fashion and only needs to hold her form to be right in the mix here. A chance for the winning double.
Currently, Friday At Five is a $3.20 chance in the market.