Kilmore
Race 3 – Impending Love
Jockey – Madison Lloyd
1100m – Barrier 4
Three-year-old filly Impending Love looks to graduate from maiden grade this afternoon when she stays at 1100-metres at Kilmore. The daughter of Impending has had three race starts, running well in two and having excuses in the other. She was slow out last time and ran on well in a leader-dominated race – today Madison Lloyd will want to step cleaner from a good draw and land no worse than midfield in the running line. Speed comes from Bella Cinque drawn out wide while Eileanaur will boot up from her inside gate to hold her position. The market has struggled to identify a clear top pick here and it’s no wonder, this is tricky! Gemstar has been good at two spaced runs in her career, hitting this first-up on the back of a pair of sound jumpouts. Drawn for an ideal run behind the speed and won’t be far away. Some Sheila will take improvement from a good debut performance where she made steady ground at Kyneton. Will need luck from barrier one but with even luck can be in the finish here. First-starter Jennamal looks to have ability but where she gets to from an awkward draw will be key to her chances. Impending Love has drawn for a favourable run providing she jumps on even terms. She’s been strong to the line in career runs to date and comes here with a genuine each way chance if she’s close enough approaching the home bend.
Currently, Impending Love is a $12 chance in the market.
Race 7 – Friday At Five
Jockey – Jaylah Kennedy
1600m – Barrier 12
Zoustar mare Friday At Five finds firmer footing and drops in class for today’s mile race at Kilmore. The consistent four-year-old strung two wins together in February before a solid performance at Sandown after a short let-up. The Dwyer galloper didn’t handle the bog at Warrnambool last time out in stronger grade and looks suited in today’s field. Apprentice hoop Jaylah Kennedy offsets a rise in weight with her 3kg claim but jumps from the extreme outside gate in a field of twelve. Plenty of speed drawn towards the inside with Bangerang Redback likely to push through and hold his spot on the rail while Our Tigersun will look to sit outside him on settling. Mawkeb was a dominant maiden winner on heavy ground two starts back before an okay effort at Cranbourne last start. She’s drawn awkwardly and will need luck to find a position early on and while a good chance in the race, is far too short in betting. Coyote will enjoy getting back in soft conditions today after a plain run at Bendigo last start. This gelding mixes his form but has drawn ideally and anything near his best puts him right in this. Bangerang Redback will get all the favours from his inside gate and will keep kicking to the end. If he gets his own way in front he’ll be hard to get past. Friday At Five would start this race as favourite if she’d drawn better. Take out the run at Warrnambool where she just didn’t get through the heavy conditions, she clearly carries the best form into a race like this and must be considered a winning hope. Luck will play a key role from the barrier but if runs appear at the right time she looks the winner.
Currently, Friday At Five is a $2.60 chance in the market.
Race 8 – Pannier
Jockey – Declan Bates
2000m – Barrier 7
Last start maiden winner Pannier gets out to 2000-metres today in a moderate benchmark-58 event at Kilmore this afternoon. The Tavistock gelding has been good at all runs this preparation, winning strongly during the Warrnambool carnival last time out and looking progressive enough to be more than competitive in this. Jockey Declan Bates leaves from gate seven and will look for cover midfield in the early parts. Stylish Icon will press forward from an outside draw while Wyatt Earp will kick up and hold its position from barrier two. This galloper is another coming straight out of maiden grade having won well at this distance at Cranbourne a fortnight ago. With natural improvement he’ll be thereabouts again today. Modernissimo has been racing very consistently in this grade of late, finishing runner-up at his past two and looking close to a win. Barrier ten is the negative but if he finds even luck he’ll be hard to beat. Yulara drops in grade here and the apprentice claim gets him in well at the weights. He’s the one over the odds. Pannier won with a bit in hand last start and a race like this looks within his scope. Everything we’ve seen suggests he’ll get the trip and if Bates can present him at the right time he’ll prove very hard to hold out. A strong each way chance.
Currently, Pannier is a $4.50 chance in the market.