3 minute read
Nine races will be run under lights this Friday night at Moonee Valley.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
The track is currently rated a soft 5 and the rail will be back in the true position for the entire circuit.
We've had a close look at all events on the card and our thoughts can be found below.
RACE 1 - 5:45PM: LUXURY ESCAPES PLATE MAIDEN 3YO SW (1200 METRES)
Clean Reef returns to the races.
Prepared by the Lindsay Park team, the daughter of Lope De Vega has just had the two race starts and showed good ability, placing on both occasions.
Making her debut over 1000m on the Hillside, she got back and hit the line nicely and at her following outing, she settled in the box seat and just held her ground to the line over 1300m
Given time, she looks to have come back in top order, having won both jump outs in convincing style and the 1200m kick off looks ideal.
2 units – CLEAN REEF
RACE 2 - 6:15PM: LADBROKES FORM GENIUS HANDICAP BM64 3YO FILLIES (1200 METRES)
Miss Altair could not have been more impressive when resuming at Pakenham earlier this month.
Over 1200m the daughter of Capitalist took up the running and over the final part she extended strongly and kicked away to post a four length margin on the line.
She just had the two runs in her first campaign and did a few things wrong but the penny has certainly dropped this time in and she looks to have plenty of upside.
She does rise in the weights but there's only a 1.5kgs spread across the field and she's drawn ideally in gate two.
2 units – MISS ALTAIR
RACE 3 - 6:45PM: HYGAIN TRACKTORQUE HANDICAP BM70 (2040 METRES)
Autumn Storm is racing well and comes off a solid effort to finish second over this track and distance.
Lightly raced, having had just the six starts, the son of The Autumn Sun made it successive wins, going straight from a maiden to a BM70.
He had no luck at all when stepping out at Flemington on Oaks Day where he was badly held up for the majority of the straight.
He's a horse on the rise and presents here hard fit.
Blake Shinn partnered him on debut back in April and he goes back board for the Griffiths / de Kock team.
1 unit – AUTUMN STORM
RACE 4 - 7:15PM: SYMAL HANDICAP BM64 (2500 METRES)
Divus Romulus is building a very tidy record and looks a genuine stayer on the rise.
The Irish bred gelding just had the one run in his homeland before making his way down under and was placed in his first two starts.
Given plenty of time to settle in, he then returned to make it back to back wins before a solid effort to finish third in BM78 company.
Only lightly raced, the gelding has finished off well in two runs this campaign, both of which have been over the 2040m here and he's sure to relish stepping out over this trip.
He drops back in grade and gets 2kgs off with the claim for Tatum Bull, who will do the steering for Nick Ryan.
1 unit – DIVUS ROMULUS
RACE 5 - 7:45PM: THE DRUG DETECTION AGENCY HANDICAP BM64 (1200 METRES)
Down Low had no luck when resuming over 1100m at Geelong but the Deep Field mare bounced back with a deserved victory at Mornington last start.
Stepping out over 1200m, she settled back at the tail and when brought to the outside at the top of the straight, she let down powerfully to get her nose down right on the line.
It was her second victory from her seventh race start and with two stakes placings to her name, she's certainly not short of talent.
She looks nicely placed and gets 2kgs off with the claim for Jett Stanley.
Barrier seven could be tricky but if she finds clear air, she'll be very strong late.
2 units – DOWN LOW
RACE 6 - 8:15PM: MGI GOLF HANDICAP BM64 (1600 METRES)
Raetihi kicked off his campaign with a terrific effort over the 1210m at Sale.
Taking up the running he looked the winner 100m out but was just nosed out right on the line.
He then stepped out to 1400m there, but he wanted to overdo it and it tolled late.
A son of Savabeel, he strips again and with a few gear changes, I think he can bounce back.
He's two from three over this track and distance and drops back in grade.
Billy Egan knows him well, he stays in the saddle and the low draw is a big plus.
1 unit – RAETIHI
RACE 7 - 8:45PM: LADBROKES 55 SECOND CHALLENGE - HEAT 7 BM64 HANDICAP (955 METRES)
Big Me has the task ahead off the wide gate but I think he's got the class to overcome it.
The lightly raced gelding launched his career in Hong Kong, where he just had the two runs for a win and a third placing before making his way to Australia.
With twenty-one months away from the racetrack he kicked off with a very encouraging effort down the Flemington straight, before stepping out here over 1000m where he looked the winner but was nabbed right on the line.
He had excuses in two subsequent runs and resumes here on the back of a very quiet jump out.
The 955m looks ideal and with Blake Shinn to do the steering for Nick Ryan, I'm happy to stick with him.
1 unit – BIG ME
RACE 8 - 9:15PM: ADORIA JEWELS HANDICAP BM78 (1200 METRES)
Gold Revolver returns to the races.
The Russian Revolution gelding worked through his grades with relative ease last campaign recording five wins from eight raceday appearances, including a gutsy victory over this track and trip.
Prepared by the Waterhouse / Bott team, he really found his niche being able to roll along in front and two recent jump outs suggest he's come back in good order.
He does race well fresh and the blinkers go back on here.
A tongue tie has also been applied and from gate three he can stride forward under Jye McNeil without doing any work early.
1 unit – GOLD REVOLVER
RACE 9 - 9:45PM: DSV HANDICAP BM78 (1200 METRES)
The Open will kick off his campaign.
The highly talented son of Deep Field has put together an enviable record of five wins and four placings from just his ten races starts.
His only unplaced run saw him beaten just over a length behind Baraqiel at Caulfield and he bounced back from that with a solid win over 1200m on the Sandown Lakeside.
Boasting solid form around him, he should find this easier than what he was contesting last preparation and he remains unbeaten in two first up appearances.
Tom Prebble has enjoyed success on the gelding previously and he'll again do the steering and take 3kgs off.
1 unit – THE OPEN
