Ballarat
Race 7 – Harbourmaster
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1600m – Barrier 9
The Dwyer camp saddle up two runners in this mile event, the first of which is four-year-old gelding Harbourmaster. It’s been over seven weeks since his last start – experiencing a couple of setbacks – but has trialled soundly in recent weeks and looks forward enough for today’s contest. As is his racing pattern, the son of Cable Bay will drift back from a wide draw and be ridden quietly, with jockey Mitch Aitken looking for a back to follow into the race when he builds up for a sprint home. His win two starts back at this trip bodes well for this afternoon’s race and Aitken will want to present him to the middle of the track full of running. Huguenot and British Columbia appear the main speed influences here, with the latter short in the market and hard to beat. Blow In is dropping in grade here and must also be considered amongst the chances. Harbourmaster will enjoy the drop back to a mile and the stable are happy with his work, confident he can be competitive on his home track today.
Currently, Harbourmaster is a $17 chance in the market.
Race 7 – Our Destrier
Jockey – Harry Coffey
1600m – Barrier 6
The second stable runner in this benchmark-70 event is distance specialist Our Destrier. The six-year-old has had eight starts at the mile, recording five wins and a placing for his former stable. His last start effort at Sandown over 1400-metres was excellent, running home hard to be beaten under three-lengths in a metropolitan class field. With winkers going on today, jockey Harry Coffey will settle more forward than last start, looking for a midfield position and not leaving himself too much to do at the pointy end of the race. The middle of the track will likely be the place to be by this stage of the day and Our Destrier should find himself in a good lane to build momentum and run home into the placings.
Currently, Our Destrier is a $20 chance in the market.
Terang
Race 5 – Kasami
Jockey – Tahlia Hope
1000m – Barrier 6
Speedy mare Kasami can convert good racing into a win on soft ground at Terang this afternoon. The five-year-old daughter of Shooting To Win has been thereabouts all three starts this preparation, and her trainer expects further improvement on a spacious track today. Tahlia Hope jumps from an outside gate but that is of little disadvantage given the outside rail may be the place to be by this point of the day. The 1000-metre chute sees runners gallop largely in a straight line and Hope can settle just behind the speed and navigate wide for her final sprint. The speed will be genuine with a few runners looking for the lead, and if the inside going is good then It’s Kind Of Magic will prove hardest to beat. The race opens up from there, the Dwyer runner appearing well over the odds at her long quote. If the outside fence is better ground, Kasami can be a major player in this.
Currently, Kasami is a $26 in the market.
Race 6 – Better Tomorrow
Jockey – Dean Yendall
1200m – Barrier 7
Lonhro gelding Better Tomorrow gets out to 1200-metres today looking for his first win in sixteen months. The five-year-old hasn’t had things go his way in his past couple of starts and will be hoping for a solid tempo to allow him to run on late and collect some prizemoney. Champion hoop Dean Yendall will settle rearward and hook to the outside of runners in the long run home, but today’s trip will be short of his best efforts. Seven of the eleven runners are quoted in single figures, however the top-weight A Lone Hero presents as hardest to beat in this. Better Tomorrow can be competitive if the leaders overdo it up front and the stable are looking for him to be hitting the line strongly with a view to stepping out in distance next start.
Currently, Better Tomorrow is a $9 chance in the market.