Ararat
Race 3 – Garnet Bay
Jockey – Declan Bates
1600m – Barrier 8
Promising filly Garnet Bay kicks off her preparation over a mile at Ararat this afternoon. The three-year-old daughter of Embellish has been rearward in a pair of jumpouts this time in, suited straight to this distance first-up since August. Declan Bates leaves from a middle gate and can find cover in the second half of the field from the outset, looking to run home in the closing stages.
Speed is drawn to the inside with Rose Diamond and Swing Your Magic to punch forward and settle handy, while expect Macha to roll across from a wide draw and apply some pressure heading into the back straight. This galloper has been solid in both runs this campaign, beating home subsequent winner Mrs Secombe when third at Bendigo three weeks ago. Needs to begin cleanly from a sticky draw but shapes as hardest to beat. Rose Diamond draws to get every chance from the inside, coming here a runner-up from two of her past three starts. Only needs to hold her form to be around the mark. Each way chances to Swing Your Magic and Win Elegance, in a race that drops away quickly.
Garnet Bay gets to a suitable trip first-up here, with improvement to come on whatever happens today. She’ll be back in the field and warming up on the bend, look for her to pass a few late.
Currently, Garnet Bay is a $35 chance in the market.