The Henry Dwyer Racing stable has three runners today in VALENTINO’S ON and BRUNGLE BERTIE running at Bendigo and ARAPILES running at Ballarat.
Bendigo- Soft (7)
Bendigo is rated a Soft 7 and with cold overnight temperatures and a likely morning frost, it may only improve to a Soft 6 come race time. The rail is back to the true for this meeting and Bendigo is generally a track that races reasonably fair.
Race 3 (12.50pm) Catanachs Jewellers Maiden Plate
No.14 VALENTINO’S ON – Jamie Kah (Barrier 13)
VALENTINO’S ON heads to Bendigo today where she will tackle a 1500m Maiden. She has drawn gate thirteen and Jamie Kah takes the ride.
VALENTINO’S ON has moved nicely in her jump-outs prior to the recent debut at Geelong where she settled just off a reasonable tempo before not having much luck at all in the straight. She certainly should’ve finished close than she did and the step to 1500m here looks right up her alley. Having a very much in-form Jamie Kah on board is another tick for this filly who has plenty of upside. She isn’t totally screwed down but today’s field means she is still going to be really competitive.
The barrier is the only slight concern so we just need even luck in running and if she runs up to her last start she looks the one to beat.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $3.20 (as at 8am)
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Race 6 (2.35pm) Bendigo Skin Clinic 0-58 Handicap
No.2 BRUNGLE BERTIE – Ben Allen (Barrier 9)
BRUNGLE BERTIE also heads to Bendigo today where he will tackle a 2200m 0-58 Handicap. He has drawn gate nine and Ben Allen takes the ride.
BRUNGLE BERTIE is on a path to a maiden hurdle at Caserton and today’s flat run is a stepping stone towards that. He is in really good order and goes back in distance 400 metres from last start three weeks ago, so today is a good preparation run for his hurdle assignment. He will roll across from the barrier and Ben Allen will put him on the speed, and he will stay all day and one-bat to the line, so with some luck he can run into some prizemoney for his connections. One for the multiples at best.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $14 (as at 8am)
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Ballarat – All Weather Track
The Ballarat Synthetic track has generally advantaged those closer to the speed earlier in the meeting before evening up as the day goes on.
Race 2 (1.10pm) Cervus Equipment 3YO Maiden Plate
No.1 ARAPILES – Lucinda Boyd (Barrier 5)
ARAPILES heads to Ballarat today where he will resume in a 1200m Maiden. He has drawn gate five and Lucinda Boyd will ride.
ARAPILES has had two jump-outs this campaign: Geelong and St Arnaud. He was really strong on speed winning his Geelong jump-out, putting a good gap on his rivals over the final furlong when extending. His recent jump-out win at St Arnaud was again solid, riding the speed throughout and winning under light riding late. He has come back very well this campaign and from gate five he should roll forward and be in this a long way.
This is an easy first-up introduction for ARAPILES given it’s on the all weather track and in our backyard and the quicker tempo on the synthetic will suit, with Lucinda looking to settle him where he is comfortable. TESSNEEM looks a progressive filly and is the one to beat with ARAPILES and CROCODILE DUNDEEL looking like her main danger in this race. He should run a good race and improve from it.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $9.50 (as at 8am)