Moonee Valley
Race 1 – Moaksun
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1000m – Barrier 2
Three-year-old galloper Moaksun makes his racetrack debut at The Valley over 1000-metres tonight. The gelded son of Akeed Mofeed has jumped out well in preparation, leading throughout to win his most recent hitout impressively. Jockey Mitch Aitken leaves from barrier two and can be positive early, looking to land outside or just behind the speed approaching the first bend.
Speed comes from My Name Is in gate three, while Olive Baguette, Kamchatka and Core Concept can look to roll across from out wider and take up forward positions. Foxykoby may punch through from the inside, which could set up a lovely trail for Moaksun in the run. My Name Is has been solid at both career starts, finishing runner-up at Mornington and Sale. He’s drawn to find the lead and will take catching late. Hardest to beat. Olive Baguette impressed at his latest jumpout, leading throughout to win by a space. If he steps cleanly, he can serve it up to My Name Is at the front. Core Concept has each way claims, though needs to overcome a tricky draw.
Moaksun finds a nice race to make his debut and should receive a nice run from the outset. If he can find the back of the leaders, he’ll get his chance to peel off their backs and challenge in the home straight. Strong each way claims with even luck.
Currently, Moaksun is a $5.50 chance in the market.
Colac
Race 2 – Shesellsseashells
Jockey – Jack Hill
1200m – Barrier 6
Headwater filly Shesellsshesells is second-up and fitter when she heads to Colac this afternoon. The three-year-old galloper was solid at this trip on debut three weeks ago, beaten under three lengths and not far away from subsequent winner Dios on that occasion. Jockey Jack Hill retains the ride and can be positive early, looking to come across and sit outside or just behind what looks a moderate tempo.
Not a great deal of early speed in this, with Etara and Chiaro Di Luna likely to roll forward and have the lead between them. Etara resumes from a spell today, having shown ability in her first preparation. She was narrowly beaten as favourite on debut before finding the paddock after not measuring up in much stronger company. A pair of jumpout wins suggest she’s come back well and shapes as the one to beat here. The other speed horse, Chiaro Di Luna, is second-up following a sound effort at Pakenham a fortnight ago. She strips fitter for that effort and should overcome a tricky draw to settle handy in the run. Each way claims. So too Honeymoon Miss who has jumped out well. Hard to enthuse others.
Shesellsseashells raced in restricted room for periods in the home straight on debut and may have peaked on her run late in the piece. She’ll improve from the run and can settle much closer to the speed today, always advantageous around this circuit. If Hill can find a position early, she can be in this for a long way. Strong each way claims.
Currently, Shesellsseashells is a $5.50 chance in the market.
Colac
Race 5 – Gaze Grise
Jockey – Will Price
1200m – Barrier 4
Puissance De Lune mare Gaze Grise races at Colac this afternoon, fitter for three runs this preparation. The six-year-old galloper was solid at Geelong last start, beaten just over a length in a much-improved performance behind what could be a smart commodity. She crossed the line with Russian Front on that occasion, who has since run well at The Valley in similar company. Jockey Will Price has drawn well in gate four and can settle leaders’ back from the 1200-metre chute.
Phoenix Global will go fast from the outset and look to control the race from the front, while True Nobility won’t be far off him in the early stages. Keitel sets up for a soft trail behind the speed, looking to remain unbeaten at his fourth career start today. He was a strong first-up winner at Pakenham a fortnight ago and looks ready for the rise in class today. Clearly the one to beat. The race drops away outside of that galloper, perhaps Phoenix Global next best following a luckless first-up run at Camperdown. He never got a crack at them in the home straight there and his second-up record is good (9:3-2-0).
Gaze Grise draws for a lovely run here and will get her chance to run on in the home straight. She’ll likely have Keitel to her inside throughout the run, and the longer Price can keep it there, the better. She can be right there with a furlong to travel, strong each way claims in this.
Currently, Gaze Grise is an $11 chance in the market.