The Henry Dwyer Racing stable has four runners today with MISTER MOGUL at Sandown and WITCH QUEEN, CRISTOFINA and GIMME THE GOSS at Horsham.
Sandown – Good (4)
The track will be in perfect order with fine weather forecast and at some point it should be upgraded to a Good 3. Sandown Hillside is one of the fairer tracks in the country with a lovely, long straight. The 1000m start is from a chute off the top of the home straight and barriers are of little relevance as they only have one slight turn to navigate.
Race 2 (12.35pm) Clanbrooke Racing Handicap
No.1 MISTER MOGUL – Will Price a(2) (Barrier 3)
MISTER MOGUL heads to Sandown today where he will contest a 1000m BM78. He has drawn gate three and Will Price will ride.
MISTER MOGUL has had his three runs this preparation spaced and it would be fair to say he hasn’t set the world on fire this time in. There were a few excuses at The Valley when he covered a bit of ground and copped a bit of a check over the concluding stages in what was a fast run race. However, MISTER MOGUL might be about to turn a corner based on his recent jump-out win at Avoca where he looked to move well in winning that heat. The last time MISTER MOGUL was in BM78 grade he was a winner at this track and trip and from gate three he should get a very nice run in transit.
He will look to lead from the barrier but there might be a bit of speed on so we will leave it up to Will, he will need luck and a good ride to be a winning chance, but he is over the odds given his class in this grade.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $61(as at 8am)
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Horsham – Soft (5)
The track is rated a Soft 5 after they applied 12mm of irrigation over the past 24 hours, which is a significant amount. Given the forecast fine weather it should dry out into the Good 4 range but with that amount of artificial irrigation be on the look out for any track pattern.
Race 1 (12.55pm) Bet365 Top Tote Plus 3YO Maiden Plate
No.11 WITCH QUEEN – Neil Farley (Barrier 2)
WITCH QUEEN heads to Horsham today to contest a 1100 metre 3YO Maiden. She jumps from barrier 2 and Neil Farley will ride.
WITCH QUEEN kicks off her preparation today and isn’t totally screwed down for her first-up run. She will be ridden quietly from the barrier and has the blinkers off today which she wore at her first start, she will be working to the line late and will more likely be a betting proposition later in the campaign. She has ability to win a race like this at her peak, but today is more of a starting point before we look to see her more competitive next time out.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $19 (as at 8am)
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Race 2 (1.30pm) Shannon Brothers Maiden Plate
No.14 CRISTOFINA – Neil Farley (Barrier 6)
CRISTOFINA also heads to Horsham today where she will tackle a 1400m Maiden. She has drawn gate six and Neil Farley rides.
CRISTOFINA should be at peak fitness now deep into her preparation and she strikes a very winnable maiden here. Prior to Kilmore last start, this filly had shown a good turn of foot both at Terang and again at Warrnambool in stronger maidens than what she will contest today. She went forward last time out but by no means had a testing run at all going 5L below standard for the first 650m of the race, so the run was a bit disappointing on face value. The tongue tie goes on here and she has jumped-out well between runs at Avoca and can bounce back here in what is a very moderate maiden.
Fitness won’t be an issue and she is a genuine winning chance at each way odds.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $14 (as at 8am)
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Race 6 (4pm) Dallas Rintoule Memorial BM64 Handicap
No.10 GIMME THE GOSS – Jake Duffy (Barrier 8)
GIMME THE GOSS is our third runner at Horsham today where she will contest an 1100m BM64. She has drawn gate eight and Jake Duffy will ride.
GIMME THE GOSS covered plenty of extra ground at Werribee last time out but she was at her top a fair way and out and was a touch disappointing. From gate eight, she should be able to come across and sit just behind the speed and hopefully secure a decent run in transit. This is a pretty sharp BM64 and she is going to find something like her best to be winning.
The quick back-up will suit her today but the favourite in RETROVAILLES does looks hard to beat, she will be ridden positively from the barrier and that will give her a chance to be in the placings if she gets a good run in transit.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $26 (as at 8am)