Ballarat (poly)
Race 5 – Nightstick
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1200m – Barrier 3
Toronado gelding Nightstick is second-up on Ballarat’s synthetic track this afternoon. Henry Dwyer’s four-year-old finished third when fresh at Pakenham a fortnight ago, running on strongly from the tail to just miss on the line. That was his first go on a synthetic track and all signs point to another good performance today. Jockey Mitch Aitken has drawn well in gate three and can settle midfield or worse throughout the run.
Speed is drawn towards the middle of the track with Burton Street, Miss Magnifico and Zequel all drawn alongside each other and with ambitions to find the top in the early stages. Bangholme has drawn an inside gate and can kick-up to hold them all out, setting up a spirited battle before the turn. This runner is dropping in grade after leading a fast-run race at Sandown last start. He finished behind some handy gallopers there and will appreciate coming back to this class today. He should be able to hold the front from a good draw and can be in this for a long way. Burton Street is another dropping in grade and could improve back on top of the ground. Comes in well after the apprentice claim. Miss Magnifico was good first-up at this track over 1000-metres, the extra furlong today shouldn’t pull her up. Zequel races well here (3:1-2-0), but 1200-metres? Any of these could win without surprising.
Nightstick will watch the aforementioned runners battle it out at the front of proceedings before hooking out to make his run in the home straight. Aitken will want to avoid traffic and find clear running for his gelding to wind up and reel in the leaders, who could be vulnerable late. If there is any hint of a run-on bias, Nightstick will be very hard to hold out. An each way chance in a competitive race.
Currently, Nightstick is a $4.60 chance in the market.