Ballarat
Race 1 – Mountjoy
Jockey – Declan Bates
1000m – Barrier 4
Promising filly Mountjoy makes her racetrack debut on home soil this afternoon. The two-year-old daughter of Street Boss trialled well before an extended break in New Zealand, and has looked good in a pair of local jumpouts in preparation for today. Jockey Declan Bates leaves from a soft draw and can let his filly land where comfortable, likely midfield with cover before looking to run on in the home straight.
Speed is good with Angelic Rise and Victimised showing speed in their respective race starts, while debutants Nicctini, Aston and Strength Within have all displayed good gate speed at the trials. Tricky race with seven first-starters involved. Nicctini has won her past two jumpouts, her latest in slick time at Caulfield Heath. If she’s allowed to roll along and control the race, she’ll take catching late. One of the main chances. Victimised matched motors with Divine Dot at Warrnambool and stuck to her task okay. That form looks strong after yesterday, each way claims. So too Aston and Strength Within, who won their respective latest jumpouts.
Mountjoy hasn’t been asked much at the trials and will be better for today’s experience. She draws for a soft trail and could have the last crack at them. Strong each way claims.
Currently, Mountjoy is a $4.80 chance in the market.
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Race 1 – Sezzle
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1000m – Barrier 10
Two-year-old galloper Sezzle is first-up since December at his home track this afternoon. The gelded son of Tiger Of Malay was spelled immediately after his debut at Pakenham, returning with a pair of jumpouts in preparation for today. Jockey Mitch Aitken leaves from an outside gate and can let his galloper roll in the early parts, likely landing just behind the speed approaching the home turn.
Speed is good with Angelic Rise and Victimised showing speed in their respective race starts, while debutants Nicctini, Aston and Strength Within have all displayed good gate speed at the trials. Tricky race with seven first-starters involved. Nicctini has won her past two jumpouts, her latest in slick time at Caulfield Heath. If she’s allowed to roll along and control the race, she’ll take catching late. One of the main chances. Victimised matched motors with Divine Dot at Warrnambool and stuck to her task okay. That form looks strong after yesterday, each way claims. So too Aston and Strength Within, who won their respective latest jumpouts, and Mountjoy, who will likely be suited over further.
Sezzle will improve on whatever he does today, better for the experience and with race fitness under his belt. He can find a forward position in the run and look to kick in the home straight. Top four claims.
Currently, Sezzle is a $23 chance in the market.
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Race 4 – Baltic Blizzard
Jockey – Declan Bates
1400m – Barrier 7
Talented filly Baltic Blizzard returns to the races today, first-up since a pair of runner-up efforts in December last year. The three-year-old daughter of Hanseatic has two jumpouts under her belt this time in, winning her latest at Ararat when asked to take a gap and find the line late. Jockey Declan Bates leaves from towards the outside and can land where comfortable, likely in the second half of the field before looking to run on late.
Speed is just okay with Cumulate the likely leader from gate four, while expect My Shalona and Faith In Zadar to hold their positions on settling. Faith In Zadar has improved each start this preparation, hitting today fourth-up and fitter. She wasn’t far away when runner-up last time out, any improvement on that sees her as the one to beat. The race drops away a bit from there, with each way claims to Cumulate, who will get her chance from the front, and Julep, who is first-up for a new yard.
Baltic Blizzard finds an ideal race to resume today, coming here on the back of a sound jumpout win. She’ll find cover from the outset and get rolling on the home bend to chase the leaders. Strong claims.
Currently, Baltic Blizzard is a $1.80 chance in the market.
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Race 7 – Our Wynd Chymes
Jockey – John Allen
1000m – Barrier 2
Debut winner Our Wynd Chymes is second-up and fitter when she returns to Ballarat this afternoon. The three-year-old daughter of Spirit Of Boom found the front and kept kicking to record an excellent first-up win here at 1100-metres, having a short let-up since and coming back in trip today. Jockey John Allen stays on and can let his filly roll from an inside draw, looking to find the top again and keep rolling into the home straight.
Speed comes from Pacific Glamour and Cumboogle towards the outside, while expect Shamateur to drive through with Our Wynd Chymes from nearer the rail. Pacific Glamour won her maiden at this track and trip and was around the mark in metropolitan company thereafter. She’s won a pair of jumpouts ahead of her resumption today and shapes as hardest to beat. Ex-Hong Kong galloper Bear Champ won his local debut at Werribee by a margin and comes here full of confidence. Each way claims up in grade. Moaksun draws for a soft trail and is rarely far away, while Mistifyzou will look to have the last crack. Both with each way claims. Done Leavy next best.
Our Wynd Chymes never gave anything a look in on debut, leading throughout and pulling away late. She’ll look to do similar today, though always hard to back up after a maiden win. Strong each way claims.
Currently, Our Wynd Chymes is a $4.20 chance in the market.
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Race 7 – Moaksun
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1000m – Barrier 4
Five-year-old galloper Moaksun is fourth-up and fitter when he returns to Ballarat this afternoon. The gelded son of Akeed Mofeed has improved with each run this preparation, only a length from the winner at Mornington last start and rises in grade today. Jockey Mitch Aitken leaves from an ideal gate and can look to land just behind the speed, winding up to chase in the home straight.
Speed comes from Pacific Glamour and Cumboogle towards the outside, while expect Shamateur to drive through with Our Wynd Chymes from nearer the rail. Pacific Glamour won her maiden at this track and trip and was around the mark in metropolitan company thereafter. She’s won a pair of jumpouts ahead of her resumption today and shapes as hardest to beat. Our Wynd Chymes was an impressive debut winner here and comes back in trip today. She’ll look to roll forward and could take catching late. Strong claims. Ex-Hong Kong galloper Bear Champ won his local debut at Werribee by a margin and comes here full of confidence. Each way claims up in grade. Mistifyzou and Done Leavy next best.
Moaksun draws for the right run today and will enjoy the soft conditions on offer. He can work to the middle of the track and run on late to chase the leaders. Each way claims.
Currently, Moaksun is a $19 chance in the market.
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Race 8 – License To Excite
Jockey – Eoin Walsh
1500m – Barrier 3
In-form galloper License To Excite shoots at a hattrick of wins when she steps out on home soil this afternoon. The three-year-old daughter of Flying Artie was an easy maiden winner at Kerang before proving too strong in the closing stages at Kyneton last time out. Jockey Eoin Walsh leaves from an inside draw and can let his filly roll from the outset looking to land on or just behind the speed on settling.
Speed is okay with Timeonlees and Elegant Contessa to roll across from towards the outside, while expect Il Cielo and Territorian to receive soft trails camped just in behind. Il Cielo is racing consistently this preparation, getting the job done in similar at Geelong last start. Rarely puts in a bad one and must be considered one of the main chances. Territorian jumped out well before a dominant maiden win here three weeks ago. Always difficult to back up from a maiden win but impossible to knock his last start. Strong claims. Each way chances to Timeonlees and Eishaa.
License To Excite is up in grade today and is a month between runs. She’s racing in terrific fashion and draws for the right run. Strong claims.
Currently, License To Excite is a $5 chance in the market.