RACE 6 CANADIAN CLUB ROUGH HABIT PLATE (2000M)
Would be surprised if anything came from outside the obvious here. Senor Toba ($3.30) was terrific in the Packer Plate and looks a real staying prospect. Will Doomben suit him? High Supremacy ($3.70) should get the A-1 run closer to the speed. No match for Senor Toba last time, but Doomben looks like it will suit him perfectly. Khoekhoe ($4.80) is a talent … it’s just a matter of harnessing that talent. He was a total forgive in the Packer Plate and the two runs before that were good. Has a turn of foot and just hoping Justin Huxtable can conserve enough energy for one crack at them in the straight.
SELECTIONS: 1 Khoekhoe, 7 High Supremacy, 8 Senor Toba
RACE 6 CANADIAN CLUB ROUGH HABIT PLATE (2000M)
Eduardo ($1.95) has the Rolls Royce form and if he’s in the same mood he was on Galaxy day, this will be all over on the turn. If he has an off day, it opens right up. Trekking ($8) disappointed first-up, but had trialled well prior. He was a giant killer on this day last year beating Gytrash and he can bounce back. Wild Ruler ($5) has done a good job this prep, but now needs to go up another level on ground that is not likely to be his most preferred. Vega One ($14) has to take an even bigger leap, but he will be fitter again after just peaking last time and loves wet ground.
SELECTIONS:
6 Vega One
2 Eduardo, 1 Trekking,
RACE 8 MAGIC MILLIONS BRIGHT SHADOW (1200M)
It’s a little leap of faith, but Athiri ($3.20) has to be the top pick. She took on 1300m first-up and ended up in an average spot after jumping well and then getting shuffled back. She ran out of room in the straight, but I’m not convinced she was going well enough to win. I expect more assertion early this time in a race without huge speed. She’s fine on wet ground and her best from last prep is better than these. Spring Heat ($13) has mixed it with the best in New Zealand and is well placed in this class. No worries wet. Fiesta ($7.50) wants a drying track and likely gets it by this stage.
SELECTIONS: 3 Athiri, 2 Spring Heat, 1 Fiesta
RACE 9 MITTYS BENCHMARK 85 HANDICAP (1350M)
Keen on Superium ($4.60) for a number of reasons. Could have run in the Listed Luskin Star in Sydney, but shrewd stable opts to bring him north for this restricted race. He looks brilliantly placed for mine.
Ryan Maloney just needs to find a little bit of cover and I think he can let rip in the straight. Axe ($3.40) is the one to run down after terrific effort last time. He finds the front here and will give them something to catch.
Just worried about him being the sitting shot again. Maybe Cristal Breeze ($5.50) next best. Up where it hurts in the weights, but at least brings winning form.
SELECTIONS: 10 Superium, 11 Axe, 3 Cristal Breeze