The Henry Dwyer Racing stable has one runner tonight in NIGHTSTICK at Pakenham.
Pakenham- Soft(5)
The track at Pakenham has come up a Soft 5 on race morning after just 3mm of irrigation has been applied in a week that they’ve received no rainfall. They are clearly having very cold nights which are keeping plenty of moisture in the soil. I suspect they may ease away from the fence as the night goes on but Pakenham is a lovely layout that has a long straight that generally gives every horse a chance. (Form Analyst Matt Welsh)
Race 8 (9:15pm) R&C Asphalt BM64 Handicap 1400m
No.5 NIGHTSTICK – Damian Thornton (Barrier 7)
NIGHTSTICK (7) heads to Pakenham on Thursday night where he will contract a 1400m BM64 (Race 8, 9.15pm). He has drawn gate seven and Damien Thornton will ride.
NIGHTSTICK was plain first up but I think he has more ability than he showed there at Ballarat. He was super in his debut win at Ararat when ripping home 22.9/11.6 secs the last 400/200m splits – the quickest of the meeting. He jumped-out well enough prior to Ballarat but just never got warm late, with the rider citing the shifty track as a potential excuse. I have to say I didn’t really like his jump-out between runs at Stawell but that again looked like a track that had plenty of cut in it, so maybe he just doesn’t handle any moisture in the track at all. By the time this race runs the track should be a Good 4 and the wide-open expanses of Pakenham should really suit his get back, run on style.(Form Analyst Matt Welsh)
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $10(as at 6pm)