Flemington
Race 6 – Salsa Fellow
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1000m – Barrier 7
Talented sprinter Salsa Fellow resumes from a spell this evening, first-up since bumping into a smart field at this track in September. The gelded son of Blue Point won his first two starts two preparations ago, finishing powerfully at Sandown over this trip before overcoming traffic issues to score down the Flemington Straight. Jockey Mitch Aitken leaves from the centre of the line and can let his four-year-old find his feet in the early parts, seeking cover before looking to run over the top late.
Speed will be on with Reigning King and Hello Romeo to come across from towards the outside, while expect Soju, Pano’s Pride and Celerity to settle in the front half of the field. Hello Romeo was a first-up winner last preparation and has looked good in a pair of recent jumpouts. He’ll give them something to catch in the final furlong, one of the main chances. Celerity has been around the mark in two starts this tie in and is slightly back in grade for this. She should receive a soft trail throughout and could have the last crack. Strong claims, but couldn’t entertain at even money. Each way claims to Harry Got Styles and Commands Success.
Salsa Fellow will improve from today’s run, better with race fitness and over slightly more ground. He’ll get back and enjoy a soft trail throughout, able to wind up and swamp them late. Strong claims.
Currently, Salsa Fellow is a $7 chance in the market.
Warrnambool
Race 2 – Where Eagles Dare
Jockey – Alana Kelly
1700m – Barrier 1
Three-year-old galloper Where Eales Dare is second-up and fitter when out slightly in trip at Warrnambool this afternoon. The gelded son of Alpine Eagle was solid over a mile first-up, settling towards the rear before running on strongly at Terang a fortnight ago. Jockey Alana Kelly draws the inside today and can find cover midfield or worse, looking to find room to run on in the home straight.
Speed appears just moderate with Fierce Fighter likely to find the top from the centre of the line, while expect Knucklehead to roll forward from a wide gate and challenge for the front early on. Fierce Fighter has been good at all three starts this time in, runner-up his past couple and suited rising in trip today. He should find an ideal position in the run and is clearly the one to beat. Cosmic was solid at a mile first-up having jumped out well leading in. She’ll want more ground but has each way claims in this. So too Gran Paradiso, who is open to improvement after getting a long way back at Werribee when resuming. Others have their work cut out.
Where Eagles Dare put in an encouraging effort first-up at Terang and any improvement from that has him in contention here. He’ll be better again over more ground, look for him to be winding up late. Strong each way claims.
Currently, Where Eagles Dare is a $5.50 chance in the market.
Warrnambool
Race 3 – Tupac
Jockey – Neil Farley
2000m – Barrier 11
Shamus Award gelding Tupac stays at 2000-metres third-up at Warrnambool this afternoon. The four-year-old galloper raced in restricted room first-up when not beaten far at Ballarat, before sent out as favourite at Stawell three weeks ago when fifth, beaten three-and-a-half lengths. Jockey Neil Farley draws towards the outside again today and will drift back early, looking for a cart into the race before staking his claim in the home straight.
Speed comes from towards the outside with Bologna Baby likely to roll forward in search of the lead, while expect Heart’s Embrace and He’s Electric to be thereabouts heading into the back straight. Sea Danger has improved with each start this preparation, suited to this trip fourth-up today. He’ll receive an economical run throughout and have something to offer turning for home. Hardest to beat. Cowarrie and Russian Royalty finished third and fourth respectively at Stawell last start, beating home Tupac in the process. Leaning to the latter of that pair but both with each way claims. So too Fox Strike, who was three lengths off Sea Danger at Horsham last time out.
Tupac finds a winnable race today, though he’ll have the job ahead from an outside draw. If Neil can find the right part of the track to run on turning for home, he can prove hard to hold out late. Strong claims.
Currently, Tupac is a $5 chance in the market.
Warrnambool
Race 7 – Paradise Storm
Jockey – Neil Farley
1700m – Barrier 8
Talented stayer Paradise Storm takes on the Woodford Cup first-up at Warrnambool this afternoon. The ex-European galloper went to the paddock on a high last preparation, posting consecutive wins at Morphettville and Sandown, and returned with a lovely jumpout at Horsham nine days ago. Jockey Neil Farley leaves from towards the outside and can drift back in the early parts, looking for a cart into the race approaching the home bend.
Speed comes from Mister Me towards the outside who will look for the lead, while expect Ardakan and Atomic Gold to punch through and be thereabouts on settling. Unseen Ruler looks the one to beat in this, coming here second-up on the back of a solid effort at Sandown three weeks ago. He draws for a soft trail midfield and should get his chance to run on in the hoe straight. Hard to hold out. Ocean Beyond is the other chance in the race, though does struggle to win when perhaps he should. He was beaten under a length in Group-3 company three starts back when third behind Casino Seventeen. Mister Me next best, he’ll get his chance from the front.
Paradise Storm will improve over more ground and with race fitness as his preparation continues. He’ll settle back and have his chance to run on down the middle of the track, which may be the right play today. Each way claims.
Currently, Paradise Storm is a $5.50 chance in the market.
Warrnambool
Race 8 – Brung King
Jockey – Sarah Field
1700m – Barrier 13
Six-year-old galloper Brung King comes back in grade when he steps out to 1700-metres at Warrnambool this afternoon. The gelded son of Crackerjack King has been solid at his past two starts, battling gamely here after missing the start two back before cornering widest and finding the line okay at Mornington a fortnight ago. Apprentice hoop Sarah Field again leaves from an outside gate, looking to roll forward this time and land outside the speed along the back straight.
Feargal knows only one way and is the likely leader from the middle of the line, while Thunder Point and Van Roy will likely roll across with Brung King from the outside, while My Uncle Did It and Side Piece can use inside draws to settle just behind the speed. A few with claims. My Uncle Did It was a narrow runner-up at Terang last start having won her maiden when first-up two starts prior. She’s up in grade but all runs this time in have been good, and she draws for the right passage here. One of the main chances. Cachink has been close up at both runs since resuming and comes back a notch in grade for this. His runs behind Taken last preparation read well for this. Strong claims. Each way chances to Van Roy, who has a good record at the track (3:1-2-0) and Kingsford, who broke through for a deserved maiden victory last time out.
Brung King hasn’t had the best of luck of late, his effort at Mornington last start franked with the winner saluting again at Cranbourne on Saturday. He needs to begin cleanly to find a forward position and does look suited back to this company. Each way claims.
Currently, Brung King is a $10 chance in the market.
Echuca
Race 1 – Grecia Girl
Jockey – Cian MacRedmond
2100m – Barrier 7
Improving stayer Grecia Girl is third-up and fitter when she rises slightly in trip at Echuca this afternoon. The three-year-old daughter of Magna Grecia found the Stawell circuit too tight last time out, having finished off well on debut at Swan Hill the start prior. Jockey Cian MacRedmond can let his filly find her feet in the early parts, likely to settle in the second half of the field before winding up in the home straight.
Not a great deal of speed in this. Arch Of Dargeo can use the inside alley to hold the lead heading into the back straight, while expect Devine Grunt, Phoenician and Dejavast to be thereabouts on settling. Very even affair. Shefflin hits this third-up having been sound when up sharply in trip to 2000-metres last start. He’ll receive a soft trail throughout and will get his chance in the home straight. One of the main hopes. Devine Grunt found traffic issues at Tatura when resuming over a mile, finding the line well in the closing stages. First go at this distance but not without claims. Each way chances to Phoenician, Motherduck and Amplification.
Grecia Girl will enjoy the bigger track at Echuca today, having time to balance up and hit the line in a nod to further next start. She’ll likely have most of the field in front of her turning for home, look for her to be picking them off late. Each way claims.
Currently, Grecia Girl is a $10 chance in the market.
Echuca
Race 1 – Amplification
Jockey – Fred Larson
2100m – Barrier 6
Three-year-old filly Amplification is quickly up in trip this afternoon, rising to 2100-metres at at Echuca. The daughter of Microphone found 1400-metres too sharp at Geelong on debut before a better effort at Terang a fortnight ago when finishing soundly over a mile. Jockey Fred Larson leaves from a middle draw today and can be positive early, looking to land in the front half of the field and kick on in the home straight.
Not a great deal of speed in this. Arch Of Dargeo can use the inside alley to hold the lead heading into the back straight, while expect Devine Grunt, Phoenician and Dejavast to be thereabouts on settling. Very even affair. Shefflin hits this third-up having been sound when up sharply in trip to 2000-metres last start. He’ll receive a soft trail throughout and will get his chance in the home straight. One of the main hopes. Devine Grunt found traffic issues at Tatura when resuming over a mile, finding the line well in the closing stages. First go at this distance but not without claims. Each way chances to Phoenician, Motherduck and Grecia Girl.
Amplification will appreciate getting to this distance today, able to travel closer to the speed off a predicted steadier tempo. She’ll have something to offer in the home straight and can be right there at the business end. Strong each way claims.
Currently, Amplification is a $10 chance in the market.
Echuca
Race 6 – Over The Stars
Jockey – Cian MacRedmond
1000m – Barrier 1
Four-year-old mare Over The Stars is second-up and fitter when she stays at 1000-metres at Echuca this afternoon. The speedy mare was sound off a let-up at Terang a fortnight ago, feeling the pinch late in stronger company when beaten four lengths on firm ground. Jockey Cian MacRedmond sticks on today and can let his galloper roll from the inside alley, landing on or outside the speed turning for home.
Speed will be on from the get-go with Lightning Lizard to roll forward in search of the lead, while Minesite and Miss Lottie won’t be far away straightening for home. Dry Fire was solid first-up before just okay at Kyneton last time out. He raced well in stronger company last preparation and expect him to bounce back with a soft trail here. Hardest to beat. Wareo Road will be back in the field and appreciate a strong tempo up front. Just one win from sixteen starts a query, but he’ll be finding the line late. Each way claims. So too Damas and Miss Lottie, who have been around the mark of late in similar grade.
Over The Stars comes here better for her first-up effort, dropping in grade for this afternoon’s race. She should find a comfortable position in the run and have a kick left in the closing stages. Strong each way claims.
Currently, Over The Stars is a $5.50 chance in the market.