The HDR stable has two runners today in MAGIC CITY and FIREBASE CORAL at Donald.
Donald – Soft (5)
As at Friday, Donald was rated a Soft 5 and with no real rain forecast you’d think it will be a similar rating come Saturday morning. It is a track with a lovely, long home straight that generally races quite well.(Form Analyst Matt Welsh)
Race 2 (12:41pm) Festival Hire Handicap 1200m
No.6 MAGIC CITY– Mitch Aitken (Barrier 5)
MAGIC CITY (5) heads to Donald on Saturday where he will contest a 1350m Maiden (Race 2, 12.41pm). He has drawn gate five and Mitch Aitken will take the ride.
MAGIC CITY had no luck at a crucial stage first up at Geelong when chopped out a couple of times up the straight before hitting the line well enough once in clean air. He draws ideally in gate five and should enjoy the run of the race stepping to 1350m on Saturday and this looks a very suitable race for him. I thought he would improve on whatever he did first up based on his jump-outs and his form last campaign suggests he’s better than maiden grade.(Form Analyst Matt Welsh)
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $5 (as at 11am)
Race 3 (1:12pm) Carlton Draught Maiden Plate 1200m
No.8 FIREBASE CORAL– Mitch Aitken (Barrier 13)
FIREBASE CORAL (13) resumes at Donald on Saturday where she will resume in a 1350m Maiden (Race 3, 1.16pm). She has drawn gate thirteen and Mitch Aitken will ride.
FIREBASE CORAL produced a strong run at her most recent outing prior to spell, reeling off the 7th best last 400m split of the meeting when closing strong over 1400m. She looks like a mare that will get better over further than 1350m but this is a nice kick off point ton the campaign. She has had one soft jump-out at St Arnaud which was hard to gauge and first up over a trip likely short of her best I think she will spot them a start. She might struggle to reel a few of these in up the straight but as the campaign unfolds she will get better over a little further.(Form Analyst Matt Welsh)
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $17 (as at 11am)