The Henry Dwyer Racing stable has two runners today with CRISTOFINA and STAR OF MANHATTAN running at Kilmore.
Kilmore – Good (4)
Kilmore is a bit of a ‘horses for courses’ track as it has a decline down the top of the track into the home bend that can often bring some undone. Kilmore is rated a Good 4 for racing today and with fine, warm weather forecast there may even be an upgrade at some point. They haven’t had to apply too much irrigation to the track to keep it in that Good 4 range, which is a positive.
Race 1 (1.30pm) Bet 365 Protest Promise Maiden Plate
No.7 CRISTOFINA – Michael Poy (Barrier 7)
CRISTOFINA heads to Kilmore today where she will contest a 1450m Maiden. She has drawn gate seven and Michael Poy will ride.
CRISTOFINA has shown a nice turn of foot in her two recent starts and that should stand her in good stead getting out to the 1450m for the first time. She was home the 3rd best last 400m split of the meeting first up at Terang in what has turned out to be a reasonable maiden with the horse who finished just in front of her (Moral Force) subsequently going to Pakenham and winning at his next start. While the Warrnambool run last time out wasn’t much to look at to the eye at least she still worked home in the 7th best last 400m split of the day in a race that wasn’t run to suit the backmarkers.
She should be able to roll forward from the barrier and sit outside the leader which will most likely be BOTTOM DECK, she will be very competitive in this race and is a good each way chance and is fit enough to fill the placings.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $7.50 (as at 8am)
Race 3 (2.30pm) C&M Build Group 3YO Maiden Plate
No.10 STAR OF MANHATTAN – Michael Poy (Barrier 9)
STAR OF MANHATTAN makes her debut on Thursday in an 1100m 3YO Maiden. She has drawn gate nine and Michael Poy will ride.
STAR OF MANHATTAN has been doing her jumping-out down at Cranbourne with Julien Welsh. She was a touch tardy in her first jump-out this time in but she worked to the line alongside a runner of Luke Oliver’s who has since run well. She was again just slightly slow in her recent jump-out before using the advantage of the inside to get into third, under hard riding.
She looks to have some ability, but from the wide draw she will be spotting them a fair start and that may make it a tough assignment on debut. She will gain plenty of improvement out of today and will most likely be a betting proposition later in her campaign.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $12 (as at 8am)