Melbourne racing comes from Sandown Hillside on Saturday, with a nine-race card set to get underway at 11:50am.
Showers are forecast for Wednesday night and Thursday but are expected to clear by Friday. A Soft 5 or 6 rating seems likely but keep an eye on track updates closer to the day.
Race-by-race preview, tips and best bets below …
Moody-trained filly Miss Gabbiano (11) has drawn well for her debut and gets the services of an in-form Billy Egan. She’s won three of her four well-spaced jumpouts, with Moody giving her plenty of time/education before her first outing.
Listentozou (5) has been given three recent jumpouts at Flemington in preparation for his debut. He found the line nicely in the most recent hit-out and has drawn perfectly for Jye McNeil.
Mafia (1) has race experience on his side, fronting up for his fourth career start after breaking through at Wyong last start. He has decent gate speed and looks a pretty professional colt for the Snowdens.
Altruist (2) has been given time since his even debut over this route back in January. He could be a sharp improver.
VERDICT: Miss Gabbiano (11) has looked good at the jumpouts.
This is a handy race with a number of hopes. I was keen on Vagrant (5) at Flemington last start and she ran well but was just no match for Jenny Jerome who made it 2 from 2 this campaign. She should be able to turn the tables on that galloper here with the big weight swing, provided the track isn’t too wet.
Second To Nun (6) was hugely impressive winning at Murray Bridge last start, producing the win of the day there when coming from 11th at the 400m to score by 2.6L. Barrier one is an obvious query given she’s not a great beginner.
Extratwo (7) went straight to the front on resumption and never looked like losing, dashing clear to win by 6L. This is much harder but that was a nice return and there’s no reason why she can’t show further improvement second-up from over 200 days on the sidelines.
Jenny Jerome (1) has plenty of weight, even after Lafferty’s claim, and a wide draw, but she’s a real line-chaser who has come back well from a break.
VERDICT: Vagrant (5) on top but this is open.
Jaykayann (9) is a promising stayer who was utterly dominant winning over this route last start. Since stepping beyond 2000m, the Payne-trained mare has put up winning margins of 2.5L, 2L and 6L on a Soft 5 to a Heavy 9. She’s drawn wide but looks very versatile in terms of her racing pattern.
Irish Butterfly (1) flopped in the Warrnambool Cup (2350m) last start as a $5.50 favourite on the back of a brilliant victory at this track/distance prior. It might have been the Heavy 9 track that brought him undone, so he’s certainly capable of bouncing back on a firmer deck.
Strawberry Rock (5) comes down from NSW after two runs and a bunch of trials this campaign. He boasts a consistent record over this journey (8:1-2-3) and has drawn favourably.
Sound Of Cannons (12) wouldn’t shock at big odds. He was too strong for Dahwilly over 2200m last start, with the runner-up then scoring by a lazy 4.25L at Sale on Wednesday.
VERDICT: Keen on Jaykayann (9) to win again. BEST BET
Arktika (2) got through near the fence on resumption and loomed large before perhaps just peaking on her effort late to finish a close-up 4th. It was a solid first-up effort, with good backing, and the winner Party For One has since won again in strong fashion. She’ll strip fitter for this mile assignment and it’s hard to look past her unblemished second-up record (2:2-0-0).
Frigid (4) has been steady in three well-spaced runs in Victoria. She closed nicely for 3rd over this route last start and drops in grade third-up, with only a marginal weight increase thanks to Pinn’s claim.
Gentilly (18) has sound claims if she can gain a start off the emergencies list. She’s had three runs back from a break and should be ready for the mile.
On-pacer Cyclone Sally (3) potentially wants it wetter (Soft 6 or worse for her) but she’ll be tough to get past regardless if Lachlan Overall can get her across from the wide gate without burning too much early petrol.
VERDICT: Arktika (2) for the win.
This is a very competitive sprint with a stack of speed on paper. Dance To Dubai, Esta La Roca and Starry Legend are all capable of landing in front, with Curran the only real noted backmarker.
Class is the query but Nasraawy (8) makes some appeal at double-figure odds given he maps for the perfect run off what shapes as a strong speed. With Pinn’s claim, he’ll carry just 50kg coming back to his pet distance (7:2-1-2). His two efforts back from a spell have been sound and he should be nearing his peak third-up.
Dance To Dubai (4) has struck a pretty hot race for her return but she’s well-weighted with only 51kg after Hefel’s claim. With hot speed drawn on her outside, Hefel may elect to take a sit just off the leaders rather than fighting for the lead.
Curran (2) isn’t the easiest horse to catch on the punt, largely due to his racing pattern, but he’s very good on his day and this race sets up nicely tempo-wise. He’ll certainly find this easier than last start’s Group 1 Goodwood.
Esta La Roca (3) is a 1000m specialist who will be thereabouts again.
VERDICT: Nasraawy (8) makes some appeal at around $10.
It’s probably worth revisiting this race closer to Saturday given two of the main chances are on the emergency list, needing multiple scratchings to gain a run. The unbeaten Mutamanni (19) was first-up for almost 600 days when scoring over 1400m at Sandown Lakeside last month. He debuted over 1800m, so the rise to the mile is certainly no issue.
VERDICT: Will circle back to this race once the field has taken shape (main hopes on the emergency list).
Barrier one has the potential to be problematic for Hard To Cross (5), who ironically will be easy to cross out of the gates. If McNeil can avoid being buried back and can give the Payne-trained gelding sufficient galloping room, he should be strong late having his third run for the campaign. He was a stylish winner when third-up over this trip last prep.
Golden Path (10) was a dominant winner on debut after trialling in encouraging fashion. This is obviously tougher but he looks a promising miler.
Lethal Thoughts (2) was very disappointing last start but the fact Maher and Eustace are pushing on with him this campaign needs to be respected. His form prior to that fourth-up flop was very good.
Elkington Road (1) was a surprise winner in a busy finish here last start. He has a wide draw to overcome, but Pinn’s claim helps.
VERDICT: Hard To Cross (5) looks overs. BEST VALUE
He’s Our Bonneval (2) is starting to become a little costly but he gets some serious weight relief here third-up. He was good with 61.5kg on resumption, before working home nicely for 2nd over 1400m when carrying 2.5kg more than the winner Monarch Of Egypt here last time. Pinn is better than most 3kg claimers going around and this should be pretty straight forward from the wide gate – go back and come with an unimpeded run down the outside.
Pacific Ruby (12) resumes on the back of four straight wins. She had to fight hard in her last couple, showing a genuine will to win. She’s had three first-up runs and is yet to finish worse than 2nd.
Sandy Prince (8) maps to get across and race in the first few without too much trouble. He only felt the pinch very late in what was a real swoopers race here last start.
First Accused (1) was solid in the Wangoom and it’s easy to like his form around The Inevitable.
VERDICT: He’s Our Bonneval (2) on top, but D-day is looming …
Normandy Bridge (5) was too strong for a handy field here last start headlined by Pinstriped and Gunstock. Prior to that he ran home well for 2nd behind a potential topliner in Globe. He’s really starting to hit his straps in Australia and looks well-placed to win again with Shinn jumping aboard.
Flash Ah (7) looks the overs in the race and is definitely one to throw in the quaddie. His first-up 3rd behind Stradbroke runner Cardinal Gem was a cracker, before battling on okay up to the mile second-up. He’s drawn to get every possible hope.
Daytona Bay (9) had been just plugging away this campaign until last start when he pulled off a shock victory over the promising Altivo. They put a gap on the rest and a repeat of that performance would see him figure in the finish again.
Deepstrike (10) will be giving them a start from the wide gate but should be dangerous late, particularly if the middle/outside is the place to be in the straight.
VERDICT: Normandy Bridge (5) can win again.