Bendigo
Race 3 – Stiletto Falls
Jockey – Madison Lloyd
1300m – Barrier 1
Improving mare Stiletto Falls is second-up and fitter when she heads to Bendigo this afternoon. The four-year-old daughter of Headwater was okay on debut for the stable at Ararat over 1200-metres, settling in the second half of the field and overracing when finishing midfield. The extra trip today suits and jockey Madison Lloyd will want to step cleanly from the inside alley to hold a position, letting her mare settle into a nice rhythm from the get-go.
Expect Terminus to roll forward early from a good draw and with blinkers applied, while Cantolago won’t be far away in the early parts. This galloper was a beaten odds-on favourite ($1.40!) last time out, looking to get every chance in the run but fading late. She’s suited back in trip today and must be considered a winning hope. Actionero has been good in the latter part of his races this preparation and he’ll appreciate getting out in trip today. Look for him to be winding up late. Debutants Irish Cavalry and Cleopatra Link have both shown enough at the jumpouts to suggest they’ll win races, no surprise to see either of them in the thick of things today.
Stiletto Falls finds a race hit by scratchings today and will be improved from her first-up effort a fortnight ago. She should get a lovely trip from the inside draw and if she settles in the run, can improve into the placings here. She’ll be better again next start over further, but shapes as an each way chance today.
Currently, Stiletto Falls is a $27 chance in the market.
Bendigo
Race 8 – Kyokushin
Jockey – John Allen
1300m – Barrier 7
Five-year-old galloper Kyokushin returns to the races today following a disappointing effort in Adelaide a month ago. The gelded son of Scissor Kick had been trending towards a win prior to that performance, and will appreciate the drop in class for today’s race. Jockey John Allen leaves from barrier seven and can be positive early, with a nice straight run into the home bend to find his position.
Scratchings have cruelled the early speed, leaving Mondo and Kyokushin as the most likely go-forward horses in a competitive event. Innocent Moves was a deserving maiden winner two starts back and didn’t look out of place in this grade last time out. Almost always runs well and must be considered again today. Jet Jitsu makes life hard for himself by getting so far back in his races, but does possess a powerful turn of foot when asked. He was luckless at Warrnambool two starts back before – again – leaving his run too late at Echuca three weeks ago. As always, he’ll be thundering late. These two look the main dangers, but concede an each way chance to King’s Taj who was good to the line when fresh.
Kyokushin gets blinkers applied today and has jumped out soundly since his last run. How he handles the soft going is the query but if he gets through it without concern, he’s a genuine winning hope in this.
Currently, Kyokushin is a $4.80 chance in the market.