Ararat
Race 5 – Nightstick
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1300m – Barrier 11
Toronado gelding Nightstick returns to the track where he broke his maiden as he looks to chalk up a second win at start number eight. The four-year-old has been sound at two runs back this preparation and is nearing peak fitness third-up from a spell. A alight drop in grade and stepping out to 1300-metres are both ticks for this galloper, who will get back from a wide draw and run on late in the race. Jockey Mitch Aitken can get a good cart into the race on the back of short-priced favourite Inala Michelle and, if runners can make ground today, these two might finish over the top of the leading division. Inala Michelle is clearly the one to beat for the in-form Lindsey Smith stable but the Dwyer camp won’t be too worried about any other commodities in the race.
Currently, Nightstick is a $9.50 chance in the market.
Race 7 – Friday At Five
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1600m – Barrier 5
Four-year-old mare Friday At Five is another Dwyer runner presenting third-up and ready to perform at Ararat this afternoon. The daughter of Zoustar has been good in both runs this campaign and will appreciate the step up to a mile in a race that looks to be well within her grasp. Mitch Aitken will roll forward from a good draw and sit on or outside the speed in the short run to the bend from the 1600-metre chute. Paris Shiraz looms as the main competitor here in an otherwise open race where the market has six runners at a single-figure quote. Dwyer’s Friday At Five must be considered a leading hope however, and will take beating in this grade of race today.
Currently, Friday At Five is a $5 chance in the market.
Bordertown
Race 1 – Quick Fingers
Jockey – Jacob Opperman
1200m – Barrier 5
Caravaggio filly Quick Fingers has a golden opportunity to graduate from maiden status today when she ventures back to Bordertown. The three-year-old was very good here three starts back when she ran second to a pretty smart galloper and today’s event looks a far more moderate contest than that outing. The Dwyer runner has been ok at two runs since and today the stable are confident she cam get that breakthrough win and gain some confidence. Jacob Opperman hops on for his first ride on the galloper and can give her a gun run from a good draw around a track that usually rewards those near the speed. The main danger is Lady Of Splendour who was beaten a nose last start but she will have to work hard for the lead from gate fifteen here. Quick Fingers on top in this.
Currently, Quick Fingers is a $3.20 chance in the market.
Race 4 – Kasami
Jockey – Jarrod Lorensini
1000m – Barrier 3
Speedy mare Kasami stays in benchmark-58 grade today as she drops back to 1000-metres at tight-turning Bordertown. The consistent daughter of Shooting To Win has had a couple of runs this preparation where she has been good without winning, and will want to register career win number three this afternoon. Jarrod Lorensini rides from barrier three and will likely sit outside the speed horse All Clubs in the early stages. Providing these two runners don’t overdo things in front, they look the obvious quinella and it will come down to who can be strongest late at the short sprint trip. Evergreen galloper Reward With Return will give his usual honest effort and the topweight Norse Mythology is an interesting runner, but Kasami and All Clubs can run the race to suit and battle it out in the concluding stages.
Currently, Kasami is a $5 chance in the market.
Race 7 – Kyteler
Jockey – Jarrod Lorensini
1300m – Barrier 1
Shamus Award gelding Kyteler lines up for his third start for the stable today, hoping to bounce back from a sub-par run at Warrnambool on new year’s eve. The ex-Osborne galloper was sound in this grade when first-up at Geelong and a similar performance here can see him competitive today. 1300-metres is at the shorter end of his distance range and Jarrod Lorensini will need luck from an inside draw when he drifts back from the start. Andrew Bobbin’s Boadicea looks hardest to beat in this but conceding a knockout chance to bottom-weight Jenefactor who will make her own luck from the front. Dwyer will be looking for improvement from his runner today and he is a chance to finish top-three if luck falls his way.
Currently, Kyteler is a $10 chance in the market.