The Henry Dwyer Racing stable has one runner today in STRATESSA running at Coleraine.
Coleraine – Soft (7)
This meeting was moved from Warrnambool to Coleraine mid-afternoon on Wednesday and the track is rated Soft 7. Coleraine is a track that is regularly turning and it has a short, 250m long straight. Given the track layout, being on speed can be a plus.
Race 6 (3.30pm) Sungold Milk BM64 Handicap
No.9 STRATESSA – Damien Thornton (Barrier 5)
STRATESSA heads to Coleraine today where she will contest a 1400m BM64. She has drawn gate five and Damien Thornton will take the ride.
STRATESSA should balance up just behind the speed and this looks a very winnable race for her with the tongue tie going on for the first time. She got a fair way back at Geelong last start but she did have the winner’s back throughout and she wasn’t able to sprint with them late. She didn’t run out the mile at Sandown the start prior and that 1200-1400m distance range definitely appears to be her sweet spot. She was very good at Ballarat three starts back on a heavy track, dashing home very well into second off a moderate early tempo, and if she can repeat that sort of performance then she is going to be competitive. She is now deep into her campaign so there’s not much improvement left and this is certainly a fairly winnable BM64 if she’s at her best.
The track change isn’t ideal but there have been a lot of scratchings which will help her chances, with IRISH ROCKSTAR the obvious danger. She gets in well at the weights here, will stalk the speed and if she race’s up to her best with the tongue tie on she will be fighting out the finish here.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $5 (as at 8am)