The HDR stable has four runners today in MORPURGO, BUTTERBALL BROWN, LAMPKIN LANE and KASAMI at Ballarat.
Ballarat – Good (4)
The track is a Good 4 as at Saturday but with fine, warm weather forecast expect it to get an early upgrade to a Good 3. The rail goes out 6m and at the most recent meeting here they wanted to get away from the fence. I suspect with light winds, those on speed might have a slight edge. (Form Analyst Matt Welsh)
Race 3 (1:55pm) Brandt Maiden Plate 2600m
No.7 MORPURGO – Michael Poy (Barrier 9)
MORPURGO (9) heads to Ballarat on Sunday where he’ll contest a 2600m Maiden (Race 3, 1.55pm). He has drawn gate nine and Michael Poy will ride.
MORPURGO is on the quick back-up from Stawell on Tuesday where he worked home steadily in a 0-58. He didn’t take the corner too well there at Stawell which cost him valuable ground and he was strong to the post. While this is technically a drop back in grade to maiden level, I do think it’s a slightly stronger race. That said, he looks like he will stay all day this horse and the step to 2600m looks ideal. He doesn’t look like a horse that musters a huge amount of pace out of the barriers but maybe up to the 2600m he can be somewhere in the first half of the field. I like stayers on the quick back-up and I think he’s a winning chance. (Form Analyst Matt Welsh)
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $3.70 (as at 10am)
Race 4 (2:30pm) Ingenia Lifestyle Three-Years-Old Maiden Plate, 1200m
No.11 BUTTERBALL BROWN -Michael Poy (Barrier 9)
BUTTERBALL BROWN (9) heads to Ballarat on Sunday where she’ll tackle a 1200m Maiden (Race 4, 2.30pm). The daughter of Rebel Raider has drawn gate nine and Will Price will ride.
BUTTERBALL BROWN debuts today on her home track in a reasonably even maiden contest. Coming off some strong gallops at home over the last few weeks, this looks like a suitable kick-off point for the filly who looks like she will get over more ground being out of Rebel Raider. The stable is looking for a good showing here with her target races coming over more ground later in the preparation. (Stable)
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $71 (as at 10am)
Race 4 (2:30pm) Ingenia Lifestyle Three-Years-Old Maiden Plate, 1200m
No.2 LAMPKIN LANE – Mitch Aitken (Barrier 12)
LAMPKIN LANE (12) heads to Ballarat on Sunday where he’ll contest a 1200m Maiden (Race 1, 2.30pm). The son of Savabeel has drawn gate twelve and Mitch Aitken will ride.
LAMPKIN LANE has the winkers and a tongue tie on for this debut coming off three jump-outs this campaign. He was very slow out in his recent jump-out at Colac and I felt was entitled to do a little more in the straight, although with its undulating nature Colac can be a tricky track. He was much better in his Avoca jump-out prior where despite finishing sixth he was running up onto heels over the concluding stages and did show some talent. This is a pretty handy maiden and from the wide draw, I think he faces a task to make a winning start to his career. (Form Analyst Matt Welsh)
Another debutant for the stable at the home track today with LAMPKIN LANE stepping out in the same race as stablemate BUTTERBALL BROWN. The son of Savabeel will have winkers on for this run as he will be a horse that will need blinkers later in the preparation as he is very lackadaisical in his work at home. (stable)
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $61 (as at 10am)
Race 5 (3:05pm) Porter Plant BM64 Hcp – Grand Handicap Sprint Ballot Exempt Race 4, 1000m
No.7 KASAMI – Mitch Aitken (Barrier 3)
KASAMI (3) heads to Ballarat on Sunday where she’ll contest a 1000m BM64, which is a heat of the Grand Sprint Series (Race 5, 3.05pm). She has drawn gate three and Mitch Aitken will ride.
KASAMI had the run of the race in breaking her maiden at Murray Bridge last time out in what has proven to be a reasonable form race with second and third since winning. She has been freshened up leading into this which is no issue staying at the 1000m and a little jump-out between runs at Colac was strong. From gate three, she gets an ideal run in the race but there’s no doubting this is tougher than last start and she needs to again raise the bar. (Form Analyst Matt Welsh)
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $13 (as at 10am)
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