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New Zealand mare Dolmabache can make a winning Australian debut in today's Sportsbet.com.au Handicap (race 8) at Ballarat.
The lightly-raced mare, prepared by Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, has only one win to her name but has some good figures behind here in stakes grade and looks wlel placed over a mile in this RB68 Handicap.
Her win came second up last campaign, over 1670m, where she was well fancied and did the job, scoring by over a length.
A few starts later she was tested over 2000m and finished seventh in the Listed Sunline Vase behind Annie Higgins then finished off her campaign with a three length sixth behind the classy Fast Love in the Listed Warstep Stakes.
After a good spell the mare kicked off over 1400m at Te Rapa and ran on into second in a good form race behind Gottino, before tackling a mile last start at Matamata.
There she finished a three length fifth before heading over to Australia to make her debut today.
The well bred mare is a daughter of Redoute's Choice from the Zabeel mare Our Echezeaux, who is a full sister to Group 1 winner Grand Echezeaux.
She may be well suited over 2000m but with three weeks between runs the mile suits today.
Dolmabache has a light weight, a good draw, and should be finishing on hard.
Hamel and Kingdom Of War fought out a 1400m race at Echuca last time and both horses look leading chances again.
Kingdom Of War, prepared by Tony Vasil at Caulfield, can turn the tables on Danny O'Brien's Hamel as he meets him a couple of kilos better at the weights.
Kingdom Of War resumed over 1200m at Swan Hill and ran on well to claim his maiden succees, before stepping up to 1400m in an RB62 where he sat midfield and ran on well to finish runner-up.
He couldn't match Hamel with his 56.5kg but drops to 53.5kg today and will be fitter again.
Although awkwardly drawn, the Redoute'c Choice colt should be parked off the speed and hard to hold out.
Hamel meets him 2kg but drops a kilo on his last start win in this slightly tougher grade.
He was fresh up over the 1400m and after getting well back hit the line powerfully to score.
The gelding is a son of Redoute's Choice from the General Nediym mare Regimental Gal, a Group 1 winning sprinter.
But Hamel has indicated he has always wanted a bit of ground and looks well suited at the 1600m second up.
Mr Consolidator is expected to be much improved on his fresh-up run over 1223m at Mornington.
The Leon Corstens trained gelding was a 2000m Mornington winner last campaign before placing over 2100m then finishing last in the Group 2 Alister Clarke Stakes.
At Mornington fresh he was beaten for speed before hitting the line well and he is well suited by the extra couple of furlongs this time.
