The HDR stable has four runners today in HARBOURMASTER, THE SISCOS KID, ALORS TU CROIS and RIDING HIGH at Ballarat.
Ballarat – Soft (5)
As of Friday, the Ballarat track is rated a Good 4 and with fine weather forecast on both days of the weekend, it will likely start a Good 4 on race morning before getting an upgrade at some point throughout the meeting. (Form Analyst Matt Welsh)
Race 2 (1:20pm) Brandt 3YO Maiden Plate 1600m
No.4 HARBOURMASTER – John Allen (Barrier 3)
HARBOURMASTER (4) heads to Ballarat on Sunday where he’ll contest a 1600m Maiden (Race 4, 1.20pm). The son of Cable Bay has drawn gate three and John Allen will ride.
HARBOURMASTER looks ideally suited to the mile now. He looked a touch on-paced first up at Terang before really improving second up. He was doing his best work on the line at Donald over the 1350m and was particularly strong through the line. The gelding draws ideally in gate three and from there should be able to lob into a lovely spot, somewhere near the speed. The rating through his Donald run is strong enough to be winning this race and at the $4.40 on offer looks a very fair assessment of his chances. (Form Analyst Matt Welsh)
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $4.50 (as at 10am)
Race 4 (2:30pm) Mortimer Petroleum Maiden Plate 2000m
No.13 ALORS TU CROIS – Will Price (Barrier 9)
ALORS TU CROIS (9) heads to Ballarat on Sunday where she’ll tackle a 2000m Maiden (Race 4, 2.30pm). The daughter of So You Think has drawn gate nine and Will Price will ride.
ALORS TU CRIOS is up sharply in trip stepping from 1400m to 2000m but based on the way she has been racing it certainly looks suitable as she gets fitter. She looked a little one-paced at Ballarat which gives the suggestion she was looking for further than 1400m. From gate nine, stepping up in trip and coming out of a relatively fast-run race the daughter of So You Think should be able to settle in the first 5-6 in the run and that should ensure she gets a reasonable trail in the race. The 2000m is undoubtedly a query and even if she does get the trip she still needs to improve on recent form to be winning this. (Form Analyst Matt Welsh)
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $15 (as at 10am)
Race 7 (4:25pm) Sportsbet Bet With Mates BM64 Handicap 1200m
No.6 THE SISCOS KID – John Allen (Barrier 1)
THE SISCOS KID (1) heads to Ballarat on Sunday where he’ll tackle a 1200m BM64 (Race 7, 4.25pm). The son of Danerich has drawn gate one and John Allen will ride.
THE SISCOS KID goes to this heat of the Grand Handicap Sprint which is a BM80 1200m race down the straight in four weeks time, The five-year-old gelding needs to run a place or win to be eligible for that race. Although the barrier one draw will be difficult to ride him quiet therefore he will look to ride him aggressively and with scratching there isn’t too much speed to challenge him in the lead, if he can get to the front and dictate the tempo he should be strong through the line and gaining points towards the end goal in four weeks. (Stable)
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $6.50 (as at 10am)
Race 8 (4:55pm) Hygain Winners Choice BM64 Handicap 1600m
No.7 RIDING HIGH – Maddi Price (Barrier 11)
RIDING HIGH (11) heads to Ballarat on Sunday where he’ll tackle a 1600m BM64 (Race 8, 4.55pm). The son of Raise The Flag has drawn gate eleven and apprentice Maddi Price will ride.
Riding High steps out today after a long spell since his strong third in the 2021 Grand National Steeplechase on August 29th. The son of Raise The Flag will be using this race to commence his preparation towards bigger and better things in this years jumps racing season. He has come back to the Ballarat stable looking well and the team is happy with where he is at to kick off the campaign. Just looking for Riding High to run a good race today as he looks to begin the defence of his Australian Steeple title in May. (Stable)
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $81 (as at 10am)
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