Ballarat
Race 2 – Porrista
Jockey – Madison Lloyd
1000m – Barrier 8
Three-year-old debutant Porrista kicks off her racing career over 1000-metres at Ballarat this afternoon. The daughter of Telperion jumped out soundly at this track last week, showing good early speed to put herself right there throughout the jumpout. Jockey Madison Lloyd rides from barrier eight and can let her filly find her feet from the start, settling where comfortable from the chute start.
Speed comes from the middle with Capital Rock and From The Basement both showing early pace at recent jumpouts, while Blazing Brook won’t be far away from the inside alley. Mr Assertive draws for a soft trail behind the leaders here following a game effort on debut at Bendigo a fortnight ago. He was caught wide the entire on that occasion and was only collared in the final strides by the winner. He’s fitter for that run and with a kind draw, will prove hard to beat in this. Capital Rock started an odds-on favourite at her only race start in February last year, folding meekly from the lead and sent straight to the paddock on that occasion. Recent jumpouts suggest she has returned well and should get every chance from the front. Strong claims. Spirit Of Camelot is the other hope after a solid debut effort at Murray Bridge a fortnight ago. Can only be improved and shapes as a winning hope. Queen Caves has been thereabouts in all jumpouts this time in and could sneak a place.
Porrista will benefit from the raceday experience today, and how she handles the heavy going will be key to her hopes. If she begins cleanly and puts herself into the race, she can offer a kick late and finish in the top four. Each way claims.
Currently, Porrista is a $41 chance in the market.
Ballarat
Race 4 – Stormsarrived
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1400m – Barrier 11
Three-year-old filly Stormsarrived makes her racetrack debut on her home deck this afternoon. The daughter of Akeed Mofeed has had plenty of jumpout experience, picking up late in her most recent hitout and running through the line in an encouraging hitout. Jockey Mitch Aitken rides from an outside gate and will be forced back in the early stages, looking to balance up and run through the line late in the piece.
Super Dawn will go fast from the inside alley and look for the top, while Jay Bee Ell won’t be far away when runners make the first turn. This galloper led throughout to win a recent Bendigo jumpout before ridden colder to finish strongly at a Donald trial a fortnight ago. Drawn to get the right run and no surprise to see him go close on debut. Ex-Kiwi gelding High Five will relish the heavy conditions at his first Australian start, having been good in both New Zealand starts last August. He can take a sit just off the speed and make his presence felt late. Villach next best, who will improve second-up from a spell.
Stormsarrived will be better for the experience today and improve over more ground later in her preparation. She’ll be back in the field when runners turn for home, look for her to be picking up late.
Currently, Stormsarrived is a $34 chance in the market.
Ballarat
Race 5 – Harbourmaster
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1400m – Barrier 5
Comeback galloper Harbourmaster returns to the races this afternoon, following over thirteen months on the sidelines. The gelded son of Cable Bay has jumped out twice in preparation for his resumption today, performing soundly at his latest hitout at Donald when asked for little effort. Jockey Mitch Aitken leaves from a middle barrier and will drift back to the second half of the field early on, looking to work into the race and run through the line late.
Speed is drawn outside with Clinqstar and Liberty State to find the top early, while Crackhorn can boot through and find a forward position before the first bend. Liberty State annihilated her rivals from the front in maiden grade at Kyneton last start, backing up a solid effort behind Sunshineinmypocket at this track when first-up. That galloper remains undefeated after winning twice in town since, and that’s strong form for this race. Wide draw/wet track the queries, but she does look hardest to beat. Crackhorn comes back in grade after an okay effort at Caulfield when fresh. He’ll do little work from the inside and should get his chance in the run home. Minor claims to Under The Palais and Freedom Escape.
Harbourmaster presents in terrific order and will be better for the outing today, improving with fitness and up in distance next time out. He’ll get a nice run with cover throughout and get his chance to finish the race off in the home straight.
Currently, Harbourmaster is a $21 chance in the market.
Ballarat
Race 6 – Friday At Five
Jockey – Ryan Houston
2000m – Barrier 1
Five-year-old mare Friday At Five gets favourable conditions on her home deck this afternoon. The daughter of Zoustar steps out to 2000-metres for the first time following a sound run behind a smart one at Caulfield last start. Jockey Ryan Houston has drawn the inside alley and can be positive early, looking to land on or just behind the speed throughout.
Wise Legend could be ridden more positively from a low draw to sit up near the lead, and no surprise to see Gottabesavvy roll forward from out wider to challenge early. A few with claims here. Mercante will be back in the field and working into the race late, following an encouraging effort over a mile first-up. Both runs at this track and trip have been very good, must be considered among the better hopes. Midnight Glow beat all bar Lauding at The Valley over this trip three starts back. Just one win from twenty-one starts, but is an each way chance on that effort. Sacred Bull closed well behind Fagin last start, that galloper beat Lauding home at Flemington on Saturday when runner-up behind Sea What I See. That’s solid form for this. Gottabesavvy comes right into calculations on a rain-affected track.
Friday At Five will appreciate the cut in the ground today and should get every chance from up near the speed. First look at 2000-metres the query, but she looks great and will be right there turning for home. Strong each way claims.
Currently, Friday AT Five is an $8.50 chance in the market.
Ballarat
Race 6 – Riding High
Jockey – Madison Lloyd
2000m – Barrier 11
Last start runner-up Riding High comes back to 2000-metres this afternoon, following a solid effort at Swan Hill a fortnight ago. The gelded son of Raise The Flag sat outside the leader, and eventual winner, on that occasion, boxing on gamely to be beaten half-a-length. Jockey Madison Lloyd stays on and leaves from an outside barrier today, able to enjoy a soft run back in the field before finding the line late.
Stablemate Friday At Five will go forward from the inside alley and look to hold the top, while Wise Legend could be ridden more positively from a low draw to sit outside the lead, and no surprise to see Gottabesavvy roll forward from out wider to challenge early. A few with claims here. Mercante will be back in the field and working into the race late, following an encouraging effort over a mile first-up. Both runs at this track and trip have been very good, must be considered among the better hopes. Friday At Five will relish the wet conditions and should get every chance from up on speed. First go at 2000-metres the query but can’t be ignored. Midnight Glow beat all bar Lauding at The Valley over this trip three starts back. Just one win from twenty-one starts, but is an each way chance on that effort. Sacred Bull closed well behind Fagin last start, that galloper beat Lauding home at Flemington on Saturday when runner-up behind Sea What I See. That’s solid form for this. Gottabesavvy comes right into calculations on a rain-affected track.
Riding High will likely find his rivals too sharp at this distance, using the run to gear up for the Spencer Steeplechase at Pakenham in eleven days. The wet track doesn’t help his chances, but bigger fish to fry later on.
Currently, Riding High is a $34 chance in the market.