A trio of runners head across the border to attack the dog-leg at Mount Gambier today.
Race 1 – Midnight Vagrant
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
Barrier – 1
Midnight Vagrant drops back in distance to 1827-metres today in search of a maiden victory at start number nine. The gelded son of Fiorente has stepped out over 2000-metres at his past four starts, and the stable will be hoping the shorter trip – and weaker opposition – will help their runner progress from maiden grade. The four-year-old has been racing inconsistently on both turf and synthetic ground this preparation, making it difficult to know what to expect from him in the opening event. Mitch Aitken has drawn the pole and will no doubt look to kick up and be on speed if his mount can muster any early toe on a track than lends itself to on-pace runners more often than not. Looking for obvious dangers in this one, it’s pretty thin. Fizique for the Brook stable at Oakbank has placed it’s last couple and home-tracker Ravnikar had excuses last start, but that’s about the long and the short of it.
From the trainer:
He was ok on the synthetic when leading.
He gets a weaker maiden than he would’ve been contesting here (in Victoria) so he gets his chance.
Currently, Midnight Vagrant is a $4.80 chance in the market
Race 4 – Phoenix Fireball
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
Barrier – 4
Phoenix Fireball makes his racetrack debut today in a very winnable 1416-metre maiden event. The half-brother to stablemate Irish Butterfly has had six trials leading into this, and should be fit enough to be competitive in what looks a modest field. Jockey Mitch Aitken draws well and can obtain a gun run behind the leaders if his mount begins just evenly. The market has 32-start maiden Dr Choccy as a leading chance, suggesting this is an excellent option for the Dwyer runner to kick-off it’s racing career. If Darryl Dodson’s runner, Giving Cheek, can run up to her debut performance then it’s not without a show.
From the trainer:
H’es had several trials and has shown ok ability.
He’ll be seen to best advantage over further.
This is a good opportunity to get his career off to a winning start.
Currently, Phoenix Fireball is a $3.50 in the market.
Race 6 – Let It Rip Reggie
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
Barrier – 4
After an ill-fated trip to Mildura where he couldn’t find a jockey, Let It Rip Reggie strikes a mildly-competitive benchmark-58 field over 1556-metres. The son of Ocean Park had zero luck at Warracknabeal last start where he caught the back of tiring horses, so should be fit and ready to go for today’s contest. Although he’s likely better suited over more ground, the five-year-old gelding can settle on-speed from another good draw for jockey Mitch Aitken and prove hard to run down approaching the dog-leg bend and the Mount. Ziggi Rocks and O’Reilly McLuke are obvious dangers, conceding a chance to Keysor on two-starts ago.
From the trainer:
Currently, Let It Rip Reggie is a $11 chance in the market.