Ballarat
Race 1 – Macocha
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1000m – Barrier 1
Two-year-old filly Macocha makes her racetrack debut over 1000-metres on her home deck this afternoon. The promising daughter of Street Boss has been seen twice at the jumpouts, finding the line well on both occasions when cruising around on the bridle. She meets just three rivals today after scratchings, jockey Mitch Aitken can look to jump cleanly and hold the lead from the inside alley in the early parts and settle into a nice rhythm.
Invincible Beau is the only runner with race experience of the quartet, well held at Flemington on debut before an improved effort at this track and trip a week ago. He can roll forward and set the tempo here. As for the first-starters, they’ve kept their cards close to their chest in all public outings. Lovey jumped to the front when finishing second in a recent Benalla trial. There will be more pressure today but she wasn’t asked for much by the rider in the closing stages. Te Anau has left the gates quickly in a pair of Flemington jumpouts, not bustled thereafter. Both will have their share of ability. This could go any of four ways.
Macocha has shown good ability at home and has handled herself well at the jumpouts on both occasions. It’s very difficult to know what she’s up against today or even how the race will be run, but we know she can gallop and she’ll take good improvement out of the raceday experience. A top four chance.
Currently, Macocha is a $5.50 chance in the market.
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Race 5 – Brungle Raider
Jockey – Neil Farley
1600m – Barrier 8
Resuming galloper Brungle Raider kicks off his preparation over a mile at Ballarat this afternoon. The gelded son of Rebel Raider enjoyed an excellent preparation last time in, winning his maiden at this distance first-up before progressing through his grades and chalking up three more wins up in trip. Jockey Neil Farley rides from an outside draw and will drift back early, finding cover throughout before working into the race approaching the home bend.
Tewkesbury will go forward from a middle gate and look for the front, while Cadazio and True Nobility won’t be far away on settling. Tidal Force draws to get the soft run tucked in behind the speed and comes back in grade for today’s race. He won two in a row before pulling up with issues at Bendigo last start. Expect him to bounce back here and prove hard to beat. Cadazio was sound when resuming at Warrnambool three weeks ago and will appreciate the extra ground today. He ran into Globe and Watadeel in two runs last campaign, there doesn’t look to be anything of that ilk this afternoon. A winning hope. So too is Tewkesbury who was solid in weaker grade last start. He should be able to control the race from the front and get every chance to finish off. Each way chances to others in an even affair.
Brungle Raider was very impressive winning over this trip when fresh in maiden grade last preparation, punching another win out at his next start in an excellent start to his campaign. This is harder today and a few of these may be too sharp at a mile, but the lightly-raced six-year-old comes to hand quickly and can’t be written off on his home track. An each way chance, with plenty of improvement to come.
Currently, Brungle Raider is a $17 chance in the market.
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Race 6 – Imapagethree Girl
Jockey – Jaylah Kennedy
1000m – Barrier 4
Resuming mare Imapagethree Girl bumps into a competitive benchmark-58 contest at Ballarat this afternoon. The daughter of Press Statement had one start in her three-year-old season, storming home from back in the field at Swan Hill to win impressively on debut. Jockey Jaylah Kennedy claims 3kg and will look to settle closer to the speed with the rail out today, finding a position one or two pairs back heading into the home straight.
Speed is solid enough with Carolina Sunrise and Fields Of Athenry to roll forward early, while Alpinova and a A Good Yarn can punch forward from low draws. Good race for this class. Carolina Sunrise is one of several runners resuming here, and looked sharp winning a recent Bendigo trial by a space. She’ll jump straight on the bunny and give them all something to chase in the run home. Zabeelist was a dominant maiden winner at this trip last start and could be ready to go on with it second-up. Look for her to be strong late. The veteran galloper of the field, A Good Yarn, comes through a strong form race at Warrnambool last start and is sure to be fighting for the lead from the inside early. No surprise to see him in front with a furlong to run. Power Missile comes right back in grade for this, but 1000-metres? Concede an each way chance to Zouthur first-up.
Imapagethree Girl looked very good at a recent jumpout, and the form coming out of her debut win has been strong. She’ll improve over a touch more ground but draws for a lovely trail here and can be right in this on ability alone. A winning hope in a good race.
Currently, Imapagethree Girl is a $6.50 chance in the market.
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Race 8 – Friday At Five
Jockey – Madison Lloyd
1400m – Barrier 5
Resuming mare Friday At Five finds a suitable race to kick-off at Ballarat this afternoon. The five-year-old daughter of Zoustar has had a quiet jumpout in preparation for today, likely to find 1400-metres short of her best today. Jockey Madison Lloyd rides from a soft draw and will drift back early, letting her mare find her feet and finish off in the latter parts of the race.
Tough race to sort out. Pontificate is the speed influence, rolling forward from a middle draw and looking to go one better than a runner-up effort at Hamilton last start. She’s racing well and will be in this for a long way. Ferlazzo was luckless when resuming in stronger company at The Valley, held up for much of the home straight in a difficult watch for backers. With even luck today she can bounce back and prove hard to beat. Moor Mumm has been very good from the back at Kyneton at her past two starts, and the extra distance today looks right up her alley. She’ll need to get rolling early with the rail out but look for her late. Plenty Of Ammo has had two jumpouts since an impressive maiden win and could be ready to go on with the job here. Others with claims in an even affair.
Friday At Five will be better for today’s run, suited out to a mile next start and thereafter. She’ll get every chance to balance up and run home, but with a likely on-pace bias today, she’ll find it hard to make ground down the centre. Look for her to warm up late.
Currently, Friday At Five is a $23 chance in the market.