The Henry Dwyer Racing stable has two runners today with MZURI STAR at Echuca and IRISH BUTTERFLY at Warrnambool.
Echuca – Good (4)
Race 3 (1.55pm) Border Inn Maiden Plate
No.10 MZURI STAR – Jack Martin (Barrier 12)
MZURI STAR heads to Echuca today where she will tackle a 1200m Maiden. She has drawn gate twelve and Jack Martin rides.
MZURI STAR has a tongue tie off here after a moderate run when over-racing early when well-backed at Bendigo first up over 1000m. She had jumped-out well leading into this preparation and while she remains in maiden grade, this is certainly a weaker race than she contested fresh. There has already been plenty of strong form out of her fresh run with the winner unlucky at Flemington the next start and second, third and fourth all winning maidens at the next outing. While she’s drawn out, there doesn’t look a lot of speed in this race so out to 1200m Jack Martin should be able to roll forward and get a reasonable run on speed.
MZURI STAR jumped-out well between runs at Geelong and this looks a winnable race for a filly with some upside, but favourite BLUE SMARTIE does looks hard to beat and we are more hoping to see her hit the line strongly rather than going in with great confidence that she can win.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $9 (as at 8am)
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Warrnambool – Soft (5)
Race 5 (4.50pm) Sungold Milk Vale Nance Hammond BM70
No.3 IRISH BUTTERFLY – Damien Thornton (Barrier 6)
IRISH BUTTERFLY heads to Warrnambool today where he will resume in an 1100m BM70. He has drawn gate six and Damien Thornton will ride.
IRISH BUTTERFLY certainly has the ability to be winning a race like this, and better races. He has been gelded leading into this and had just one soft jump-out at Geelong where he moved well. This horse has above average ability and while he will be better suited up to 1400m as the campaign unfolds, this is a lovely starting point to his preparation. There looks to be solid enough speed through SEVEN CASTLES (2), THE WILD ONE (4) and SUBSTANTIAL (3) to give IRISH BUTTEFLY time to balance up in the second half of the field and finish strongly.
This is a suitable grade of race for him to be competitive, but he isn’t screwed down as yet and will derive plenty of fitness from the run. His talent will take him a long way today, but would be keener to back him next start when up in distance.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $5 (as at 8am)