The Henry Dwyer Racing stable has four runners today, with LEXINGTON LAD at Stawell and BUDD FOX, LA FALAISE and MOSCOW RED at Pakenham.
Stawell – Soft (5)
Race 1 (1.06pm) Bet365 Maiden Plate
No.5 LEXINGTON LAD – Zac Spain (Barrier 6)
LEXINGTON LAD heads to Stawell today where he seeks to break his maiden status in a 1600m Maiden. He has drawn gate six and Zac Spain will ride.
This is quite a weak maiden so LEXINGTON LAD is well placed here today. The favourite DONDESKA is the one to beat but the race should pan out well for us and we can take a sit on the favourite and have every chance to finish over the top of them. This is peak run for the preparation and he is at full fitness, with even luck he is a good chance here and he should run well.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $8.50 (as at 8am)
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Pakenham – Good (4)
Pakenham is one of the best laid out tracks in the country with a lovely, long 490m home straight and generous runs into most of the bends. The strong north easterly winds forecast could well make it tough for those without cover today.
Race 3 (2pm) Iron Jack Australian Lager BM78 Handicap
No.2 BUDD FOX – Damien Thornton (Barrier 14)
BUDD FOX heads to Pakenham on Cup Day where he will tackle a 2000m BM78. He has drawn out in gate fourteen and Damien Thornton will ride.
BUDD FOX has found them too sharp in two runs this preparation, failing to beat a runner home in each but he’s getting fitter with each run. This is going to be a genuinely run race and being a horse that has performed well over 2400m and 3000m that should suit BUDD FOX, but he will find many of these again too sharp today. He is going to be better once he gets to a 3000m race at The Valley or Flemington in the week’s ahead.
This is a strong race and we are looking for another run here to gain fitness for a couple of longer assignments ahead. Not a betting proposition today.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $101 (as at 8am)
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Race 8 (5.15pm) TAC VOBIS Gold Bullion
No.6 LA FALAISE – Damien Thornton (Barrier 1)
LA FALAISE also heads to Pakenham today where she runs in the $150,000 VOBIS Gold Bullion over 1400m. She has drawn gate one and Damien Thornton will ride.
She kicks off her campaign today at 1400m, she is in great order and has had a trial at Geelong. She has bigger fish to fry this campaign, but that said we are keen to see her finishing off strongly in what is a very handy field that meets her better at the weights. THE ASTROLOGIST looks hard to beat and with fitness to come and carrying 58 kilograms, she will be ridden for luck from barrier 1 and hopefully she can track something in the run.
She will be looking for 1700m next start and will derive plenty of benefit out of today.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $61 (as at 8am)
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Race 9 (5.50pm) Cliffos Nose Operation F&M BM78 Handicap
No.1 MOSCOW RED – Will Price a(3) (Barrier 3)
MOSCOW RED is our third runner today at Pakenham where she will contest a 1400m Fillies and Mares BM78. She has drawn gate three and Will Price will ride, claiming 3kg.
The forecast showers could well help MOSCOW RED if they eventuate as she’s a mare that relishes the sting out of the track and she has run well here at Pakenham. She resumed in the Ballan Cup where she was ridden much quieter at Geelong and never really got warm but she should strip fitter into this. Her best ratings would have her competitive in a race like this and she is well in at the weights with Price’s 3 kilo claim.
She is a long price, but she should run a good race and if the rain comes she is a chance to place here.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $71 (as at 8am)