Geelong
Race 3 – Kyokushin
Jockey – Jack Hill
1400m – Barrier 7
Last start winner Kyokushin rises in class for this afternoon’s assignment at Geelong. The gelded son of Scissor Kick has been racing well this preparation, just lasting to get a deserved win at Kyneton over 1450-metres three weeks ago. Jockey Jack Hill rides from a middle gate and can come out neutral, looking slot in with cover in the second half of the field.
Speed comes from Elouyou in barrier eight, who will look to cross and find the lead, while Greenhill Prince and Zou Sensation will punch forward from lower draws to hold their positions. Polanco and My Mate Sonny won’t be far away on settling, setting up a solid early tempo. Wide open race. Cantina was a good winner two starts back before a solid effort from the tail at The Valley behind Zou Sensation. Up in trip looks ideal, she’ll be running on hard. So too Ceerseven who is first-up here. He’s two from two fresh and opted to run here rather than Warrnambool tomorrow. Rumbled Again comes back in grade following a good performance at Caulfield last start. Where she lands from the gate will be key to her hopes, but must be considered. Shakattak should get a lovely run from a soft draw, while Elouyou could measure up straight out of maiden grade. Both with each way claims. Doesn’t end there.
Kyokushin loses the blinkers today and should receive a soft run back in the field throughout. He’ll get a nice cart into the race approaching the home bend and have every chance to run on and make an impact late. He’s a top four hope in a very open affair.
Currently, Kyokushin is a $16 chance in the market.
Geelong
Race 9 – Prairie Flower
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1200m – Barrier 15
Evergreen mare Prairie Flower returns to Stakes class at Geelong this afternoon. The four-year-old daughter of Star Turn has been runner-up in three of four runs this campaign, finishing third at the other, and strikes a very competitive race today. Jockey Mitch Aitken has drawn very wide in gate 15 and will be forced back from the start, hoping runners can make ground down the centre of the track.
Plenty of speed as you’d expect in this. Little Miss Gutsaa and Holly Lolly will jump fast from the outside and search for the lead, while Vallencourt will punch through from the middle and be prominent early, with Starlite Valley to use the inside alley to hold the rail. Va Via was good from the back when fresh at Randwick a fortnight ago and will appreciate the extra 100-metres she gets today. She’s drawn for a soft run and will be strong late. Hardest to beat. A host of runners on the next line including Eternal Flame, Marble Arch and Waverider Buoy. Eternal Flame goes well fresh and looks the best of that trio. Megamea could be the forgotten runner, boasting an excellent second-up record (6:2-1-2). Others with place claims.
Prairie Flower will get a long way back the the barrier and will be hoping for a genuine tempo throughout. Aitken can hook to the centre of the track to run on, ideally not circling the entire field in the process. She’s racing well and with even luck, can run into the top four without surprising.
Currently, Prairie Flower is a $14 chance in the market.
Werribee
Race 3 – Twopence
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1006m – Barrier 3
Three-year-old filly Twopence makes her racetrack debut over 1000-metres at Werribee this afternoon. The daughter of Artie Schiller has jumped out well in preparation, showing good speed in her latest hitout at Colac when given an easy time late. Jockey Mitch Aitken rides from a good draw and can let her punch forward early, able to sit outside or just behind the speed in the early parts.
Jehbenti has drawn the inside and will go fast from the outset, looking to hold the lead, while Mighty Fox will roll across from wider out to contest the lead, which could set up a lovely trail for Twopence throughout. Ablett had one start in his debut preparation, finishing down the track in a strong two-year-old race at The Valley in July. Suggest he’s better than that performance indicates, and will be thereabouts in this. Hells Empire has jumped out well and expecting a forward showing from her on debut, while Arctic Desert could be ready to run well first-up here. A bit to learn in what looks a moderate affair.
Twopence will improve on whatever she does today, but has shown enough to suggest she can be in the mix on debut. Her jumpouts have been good and she should get the run of the race if she steps cleanly from the gates. No surprise to see her in the finish today.
Currently, Twopence is a $4.60 chance in the market.
Werribee
Race 5 – Villager
Jockey – Madison Lloyd
1412m – Barrier 5
Inconsistent galloper Villager drops in grade for today’s race at Werribee. The eight-year-old gelding showed what he is capable of at Ararat two starts ago, storming home from the back to win at big odds, before being well-beaten last start when settling closer to the speed. Jockey Madison Lloyd has drawn well in gate five and can enjoy a soft run with cover in the second half of the field, looking to finish off in the home straight.
Speed comes from Valenki and Dixie Built, while Roc De Russian won’t be far away when runners find their positions. Moderate event. Valenki had been trending the right way before folding in the lead last start against better opposition. Back to this grade, he can be in this for a long way. Roc De Russian’s best efforts would win this, but he contends with a sticky draw here. Dixie Built wasn’t far away in a similar contest last start, while The Turffinator only needs to hold his form to go close. Both with each way claims. Maiden galloper Rock The Joint heads the market…
If Villager runs up to his Ararat victory he can be winning again, and he’ll be better suited ridden back in the field. He’ll find this easier than Geelong last start, and is an each way chance in this field.
Currently, Villager is a $23 chance in the market.
Werribee
Race 7 – Shakib
Jockey – Madison Lloyd
2744m – Barrier 10
Six-year-old galloper Shakib returns to Werribee today, following a second-placed effort here over the same distance four weeks ago. The gelded son of Proisir drops in class for today’s race, having finished runner-up at his past two outings, and another good performance is expected this afternoon. Jockey Madison Lloyd rides from barrier ten and can be positive early, looking to settle on-speed heading into the home straight for the first time.
Maunarente will boot forward from a middle gate and look to take up the running, while Launnie Nights and Aquila Valore won’t be far away in the early parts. Omeo is third-up and fitter for this, having been well-beaten in stronger grade last start. That was behind Speranzoso, who has form around the red-hot Glentaneous this preparation. That looks good form for this, and shapes as hardest to beat. Aquila Valore is another coming back in class, following a good effort at Cranbourne a week ago. Finds it hard to win, but each way claims in this. So too Maunarente, who finally broke through for a maiden win two starts back. Vividredsky will appreciate the rise in trip and will keep coming late. Others with place claims.
Shakib is racing well and strikes a winnable – if not even – race today. He’ll get every chance from the front to control the race and is hard fit at this point of his preparation. With an eye to the jumps season, he can outlast these and be right in the finish.
Currently, Shakib is an $8 chance in the market.