Back to the home synthetic track today where three runners wear the black shorts.
Race 1 – Midnight Vagrant
Jockey – Tahlia Hope
Barrier – 6
Midnight Vagrant strikes a small field of seven in race one, hoping to break his maiden at 2100-metres. The four-year-old gelding has had excuses at his past two starts at Geelong, but back to the synthetic surface where he has worked and run well before could welcome sharp improvement. Jockey Tahlia Hope will look to ride him more positively today and put the son of Fiorente into the race early, rather than copping the kickback at the rear of the field. The form for this race is a bit all over the place to be honest, but the market looks to have it right with Matty Ellerton’s Madam Mayhem posted as favourite, it looks the one to beat.
From the trainer:
He’s always trialled and raced well on the synthetic.
We’ll try and be positive on him…there’s not a heap of speed in the race.
I think he’s a decent chance today, going on his best runs this preparation.
Midnight Vagrant is currently a $12 chance in the market.
Race 7 – Palatial Prince
Jockey – Damien Thornton
Barrier – 12
One of of two runners for the stable in race seven is last-start maiden winner, Palatial Prince. The gelded son of Xtravagant was strong late in the race on the synthetic track three weeks ago and will need to draw on similar tactics today given the wide draw. Damien Thornton will need to get him going around the bend and find clear air at the top of the straight to be any chance of winning, but he’s a runner that’s shown there’s a turn of foot in him so we can look for him late in the piece. Hardest to beat today could be another late closer, Poysed To Rein from the Bobbin yard, who is dropping way back in grade from a luckless first-up run in town. Team McEvoy’s Boss Queen is drawn well and has jumped out satisfactorily for this kind of race fresh from a spell.
From the trainer:
We’ll have to ride him quiet, he’s drawn very wide
The way he won first-up suggests there’s more wins in him
I think he’ll finish in the first three or four today
Currently, Palatial Prince is a $5 chance in the market.
Race 7 – The Siscos Kid
Jockey – Lachlan Overall
Barrier – 11
The other Dwyer runner in the race is The Siscos Kid, returning to the races after five months away from the track. Proving there’s no favours in racing, Dwyer certainly copped the visitor’s draw for his runners today, this six-year-old gelding is drawn next to Palatial Prince in gate 11. Apprentice Lachy Overall will claim 3kg but the son of Danerich will still lump 61kg for the 1200-metre journey. Previous first-up performances suggest he’ll need the run today, but he usually comes to hand quickly so look for him to be doing his best work late.
From the trainer:
He kicked off last prep on the synthetic and ran really well over the same distance
There should be good speed in the race so he’ll get his chance to finish off
There’s definitely improvement to come…if he can finish around midfield today that would be good
Currently, The Siscos Kid is a $9 chance in the market.