Swan Hill
Race 2 – Porrista
Jockey – John Allen
1200m – Barrier 2
Promising filly Porrista is five weeks between runs when she has her third career start at Swan Hill this afternoon. The three-year-old daughter of Telperion was very good from the tail at Ballarat on debut before copping a heavy knock when shaping to challenge at Warrnambool last start, putting her out of business there when finishing midfield. A recent jumpout has kept her ticking along for today, jockey John Allen drawing nicely in gate two and able to box seat heading into the long home straight.
Speed is drawn in the middle with Wanted In A Gust and Squaw likely to go fast and find the top, while Olivia’s Scandal and Miss Winslet will look for soft trails in the front half of the field. Olivia’s Scandal was a good effort when runner-up here fresh before being outclassed in town next start. Not much went right at Donald when strong in the market there, but one suspects she’s been targeted at this race on her home deck. Hardest to beat. Miss Winslet gets blinkers on first-up after showing ability in her debut preparation. A repeat effort of her Moonee Valley placing has her right in the mix today. The race thins out from here, perhaps an each way chance to Wanted In A Gust, who will get every chance from the front and has been going okay of late.
Porrista looked sharp at her latest jumpout and her behaviour in the stalls has improved significantly since last at the races. She’s drawn for a lovely run in transit today and the track should still have a nice bit of give at this early stage of the program. Top chance to register a win today.
Currently, Porrista is a $2.90 chance in the market.
Swan Hill
Race 3 – Chilli Tycoon
Jockey – Jack Hill
1200m – Barrier 9
Three-year-old filly Chilli Tycoon gets winkers on for the first time when she hits Swan Hill third-up from a spell. The daughter of Written Tycoon was okay when fresh at Geelong in April, before a forgive-run last time out when she didn’t handle the heavy track conditions. She strips fitter for those runs and should be ready to improve today, jockey Jack Hill to find cover in the second half of the field from an outside barrier.
Speed looks genuine early with Brave Apache and Translucent Angel to roll across from the outside and look for forward positions in the run, while Little Spark and All The Way Baby can boot-up underneath them and settle handy to the speed heading into the bend. Little Spark improved at her second run last time out and out to 1200-metres looks ideal today. She should get all the favours in the run and must be considered one of the main chances. Warakurna has been runner-up at both career starts, winning a jumpout since his latest effort three weeks ago. He can enjoy a soft trail behind the speed and have the last crack. Each way chances to All The Way Baby, who is third-up and ready to peak, and Mia Toretto, who has shown enough at the jumpouts to suggest a forward showing on debut.
Chilli Tycoon finds a suitable race to show her wares today, and will get every chance to settle in the run and finish off late in the piece. Headgear goes on to spark improvement today, in a race with only a few genuine winning chances. Providing you can make ground, she can make her presence felt late. Each way.
Currently, Chilli Tycoon is a $27 chance in the market.
Swan Hill
Race 4 – Macocha
Jockey – Beau Mertens
1300m – Barrier 7
Talented filly Macocha gets blinkers for the first time third-up at Swan Hill this afternoon. The two-year-old daughter of Street Boss was a touch plain at Sandown first-up before an improved effort from the back at Donald last time out, on a day where few made ground in the home straight. Drawn a centre gate today, jockey Beau Mertens can lob one or two pairs back with cover in the early parts, wanting to be right there with them straightening for home.
There does look good speed in this, with Just For Show and Cavity Bay to punch forward from low draws, while Colour Our World and Centre Square will look to roll across from out wider and settle handy in the run. Favourite runner Just For Show has been placed in all three career runs and gets blinkers applied today. He’s drawn to get all the favours in the run and needs only to hold his form to go close today. Hardest to beat. Cavity Bay showed ability in two December starts and recent jumpouts suggest she’s come back in good order. She can go with the favourite in the early parts and ensure a truly-run race. Top chance. Colour Our World was strong late at Warrnambool on debut, finding the line from off-speed when few others could. Sticky gate today but must be considered. Indefinite made ground late last start after a slow beginning when favourite, while Taung finished alongside Cavity Bay on debut at Geelong. Both with each way claims. Good race.
Macocha will want to begin cleanly to settle just behind the speed early on, before peeling out to make her run in the home straight. She’s fitter for two runs this time in and any improvement on last start has her right in the mix today. Strong each way claims.
Currently, Macocha is a $9 chance in the market.
Swan Hill
Race 7 – Prairie Flower
Jockey – Will Price
1200m – Barrier 10
Four-year-old mare Prairie Flower looks to bounce back after a disappointing day at the office last time out at Flemington. The daughter of Star Turn drew in the wrong part of the track on that occasion and never found cover, but has come through the run in good order suggesting she was just a victim of circumstance on the day. All form prior has been strong, and jockey Will Price knows the mare well, able to smother up in the early parts before finding the right part of the track to present for her late burst.
One of the main speed influences has been claimed by scratchings, leaving Press Down as likely as any to push forward and look for the top early on. Good edition of the race. Press Down was an easy winner in metro grade at Murray Bridge last start following two competitive effort in Stakes class prior. The placing behind Benedetta reads well for this, and he maps to find the lead almost uncontested if they choose to be positive. Hardest to beat. Colsridge has had eight weeks between runs since finishing hard first-up at Bendigo behind Senegalia. Been kept fresh for this and that’s how he races best (7:3-1-2). Strong each way claims. It’sourtime is right in this with a repeat of his Wangoom run, while Stageman, Umgawa and Dothraki could all show up without surprising. Interesting race.
Prairie Flower finds a suitable race to bounce back to form today, just needing even luck and a fair track to run home. She’s been in solid form this preparation, no surprise to see her attacking the line late. Strong each way claims.
Currently, Prairie Flower is a $31 chance in the market.
Swan Hill
Race 8 – Brung King
Jockey – John Allen
1200m – Barrier 1
Talented galloper Brung King is third-up and fitter when he comes back to 1200-metres at Swan Hill today. The gelded son of Crackerjack King didn’t appreciate the choppy conditions at Warrnambool last time out, but has jumped out soundly since and a better showing is expected today. Jockey John Allen draws the inside and can let his four-year-old roll early, likely to find cover one or two pairs back turning for home.
Scratchings have claimed much of the early speed, leaving unbeaten galloper Baraqiel to go fast and look to lead from towards the outside. Impossible to knock what this galloper has done so far, winning both starts in good fashion and having plenty in hand on the line. Up in grade, but no surprise to see him measure-up. Ultra-consistent galloper Bellinger will settle in the second half of the field and be one of the late closers, following rock-solid efforts at Caulfield and Mornington at his past two. Busting for a win and can go close here. Stripped Back was a good effort when fresh at Warrnambool and has won a jumpout since, while Xtramagic is fitter for two runs this campaign and racing in good fashion.
Brung King’s chances are improved with any give in the ground, but we’re unlikely to see that by this late stage of the day. He’s the class horse in the field, but will be better suited over more ground next time out. He’ll get a nice run in transit and hit the line strongly, no surprise to see him in the money somewhere.
Currently, Brung King is a $16 chance in the market.