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There are three meetings set to take place on Wednesday, with those fixtures including action on the synthetic track at Ballarat.
Race 6 Ballarat Synthetic
Boadicea @ 9.00
Race 5 Gundagai
Heavenly Legend @ 4.60
Race 6 Tamworth
Full Commitment @ 4.20
Boadicea to upset Calculated at Ballarat
The finale at Ballarat is a Benchmark 58 handicap set to be contested by fillies and mares over a distance of 1100m.
There are a number of non-runners in the field, with Fully Calculated expected to start a short-priced favourite.
Trained by Ben, JD & Will Hayes, the filly trailed home last of 10 when debuting in Listed company down the straight at Flemington in February.
The three-year-old showed a liking for the synthetic track at Pakenham when trialling over 750m last month and duly broke her maiden at the same track nine days later.
The daughter of Deep Field came home nearly three-lengths clear of her rivals in a 1000m maiden on that occasion, however, she has a wide alley to contend with here.
Trainer Andrew Bobbin has his string in good form at present, with a 32% strike-rate (6/19) in the last 30 days and his BOADICEA is preferred on this occasion.
The six-year-old came home less than half-a-length behind the winner when runner-up in an 1100m Benchmark 58 handicap at Stawell in May.
Boadicea was racing first up that day and has been beaten less than two lengths in both subsequent appearances.
The most recent of those saw her finish fifth in a Restricted 58 highweight event at Casteron at the end of June.
Boadicea has been freshened since that effort and has an inside alley three from the rail for this event.
The daughter of Smart Missile was beaten 10 lengths in a small field in her only previous outing at this track but she looks worth another attempt on this surface.
Jockey Linda Meech is going well at present and she looks up to partnering the pick to victory.
Legend for second up success
The fifth race at Gundagai is an 1180m benchmark 58 handicap set to take place on a soft 7 surface.
Todd Smart's representative Straight Fire is expected to prove popular with punters having demonstrated good form earlier this year.
The filly broke her maiden at the second attempt when successful by half-a-length in a 1200m maiden held on a good 4 surface at Wagga in February.
The four-year-old followed that effort up with a half-length defeat in a 1200m Class 1 handicap event at Goulburn.
While the daughter of Vancouver failed to shine when eighth at Albury on her final start of her first prep, she jumped at big odds for a Benchmark 74 handicap that day.
The drop in grade first up here is a positive, however, HEAVENLY LEGEND is the pick here having had a run already this prep.
The gelding returned with a solid sixth, beaten just over three lengths in a 1200m Benchmark 58 handicap.
Heavenly Legend raced on a soft 6 track that day and, while unproven on the going forecast here, he is expected to handle it.
Nick Heywood's mount has made just six previous starts, including when breaking his maiden by over three lengths in a 1208m maiden at Sapphire Coast in February.
The pick has a good barrier five from the rail here and is taken to double his career tally for the Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones team.
Commitment for Tamworth success
The penultimate race on Tamworth's seven-race card is a 1400m Benchmark 58 handicap.
A soft 7 track is expected for the race with FULL COMMITMENT the selection for trainer Jeremy Gask.
The four-year-old has finished in the first five in all six previous starts, including when runner-up over 1300m on a soft 7 surface at Gunnedah on her penultimate start.
Full Commitment went on to deliver an impressive two-and-a-half-length success when stepping up to 1450m for a maiden at Quirindi last month.
The daughter of Harry Angel remains open to improvement and jumping from barrier three she is taken to complete a double.