Bendigo
Race 3 – Offcast
Jockey – Alana Kelly
1600m – Barrier 6
Four-year-old galloper Offcast returns to the races six weeks after a forgetful debut at Mount Gambier. The daughter of Dissident has since jumped out well in blinkers at Camperdown, and keeps the headgear on for today’s race. Jockey Alana Kelly leaves from barrier six and can come out neutral, finding cover in the second half of the field before finishing off late.
Womanizer will jump fast and look for the lead from a middle gate early on, while Itsukushima and Follow Sea won’t be far away from low draws in the initial stages of the race. A few chances in this. Inevitable Award was solid first-up at Geelong and out to a mile looks ideal today. He’ll need luck to find a position from a sticky gate, but if he finds cover early, will prove hard to hold out late. Top chance. Itsukushima’s fresh run at Wangaratta was very good before pulling up with issues last start. Drawn for a lovely run here and can bounce back without surprising. Must be considered. Half Yours looks the other main hope following his runner-up effort at Camperdown on debut. Only needs natural improvement to figure in the finish here. Adjaani has jumped out well and been the subject of market support, while Following Sea can improve into the placings off a sound first-up performance at Sandown.
Offcast will be better for the run today and be better over more ground next start. She should receive a soft run back in the field and get her chance to be strong through the line late. Look for an improved showing today.
Currently, Offcast is a $101 chance in the market.
Ararat
Race 3 – Finnish Girl
Jockey – Madison Lloyd
1300m – Barrier 6
Four-year-old mare Finnish Girl is second-up and fitter when she travels to Bendigo this afternoon. The daughter of Deep Field was sound when fresh at Geelong three weeks ago, travelling sweetly in the run before being out-sprinted late. Jockey Madison Lloyd has drawn gate six and can settle two or three pairs back in the running line with cover, looking to finish the race off better today.
Speed is drawn wide with Matinee Lad and Oh SO Vein to roll across early, while Shiraz Shaboo can settle handy and give Finnish Girl a nice cart into the race. Open affair. Divine Miss Gee was sound on debut, finishing on the heels of subsequent Werribee winner The Lupercal. Any improvement from her debut run has her in the mix here. Qubella has been solid at two runs this campaign and peaks third-up here. She should receive a soft run from an inside draw and prove hard to hold out late. Matinee Lad will be better for a sound on-speed showing on debut. He’ll find the front again and can be in this for longer. Oh So Vein can show up fresh off a solid jumpout, while Alisent has jumped out well for her debut. Tough race.
Finnish Girl looked a winning chance on straightening last start but couldn’t go on with the job. She’s fitter today and the form out of that Geelong race has been okay. Lloyd can give her every chance from a good draw and no surprise to see her improve into the placings here.
Currently, Finnish Girl is a $23 chance in the market.
Naracoorte
Race 3 – Shakib
Jockey – Neil Farley
2000m – Barrier 1
Consistent galloper Shakib looks to break a run of runner-up efforts when he drops back to 2000-metres at Naracoorte this afternoon. The gelded son of Proisir has gone close at his last three outings, finding one better on each occasion in similar grade. Jockey Neil Farley has drawn the inside alley and will jump to the front early, looking to control the racer throughout.
Artie’s Aviator and Full Of Dash will look to cross from wider out on the course and settle handy, but Shakib should use the advantage of the inside to hold them out and lead all comers. Arctic Princess looks the main danger here, but has drawn awkwardly to the extreme outside. She’s been sound all runs this preparation, and if Shakib is forced to overdo things in the run, she’ll be the late closer. The race drops away from her, conceding an each way chance to Artie’s Aviator, who should get a nice run behind the speed throghout.
Shakib is five weeks between runs and back to 2000-metres looks ideal today. He can control the race from the front and turn it into a staying contest at the halfway mark, making the rest of the field chase a long way from home. All things being equal, he should prove hard to beat today.
Currently, Shakib is a $2.70 chance in the market.
Naracoorte
Race 7 – Brungle Raider
Jockey – Neil Farley
2000m Naracoorte Cup – Barrier 5
Six-year-old galloper Brungle Raider gets blinkers reapplied in the Naracoorte Cup this afternoon. The gelded son of Rebel Raider has had a jumpout at Great Western between runs, showing good speed and running through the line nicely on that occasion. Jockey Neil Farley leaves from a middle gate and can look to lob one or two pairs back with cover, working into the race from the 800-metre mark.
Speed looks okay with Frankel Star and Mug’s Game to roll forward from the outset, while Scenic Host won’t be far away on settling. Clever Man has been good at his past two outings and gets in well after an apprentice claim today. He’ll have a soft run back in the field and if the race sets up for a late closer, he’ll be mighty hard to hold out. Frankel Star was solid at Morphettville last start and comes here third-up and fitter. Yet to trouble the scorers at this trip, but is racing well. Concede an each way chance to Scenic Host.
Brungle Raider has the ability to win this and should get every chance from the draw. He’ll corner in front of his main rival in Clever Man and give him something to chase down. Must be considered a winning hope.
Currently, Brungle Raider is a $3.60 chance in the market.