RACE 1:
COUER VOLANT interests me and especially at the current odds of around $12. Looks a nice type by Proisir and in a strong stable. Impressed by his recent Flemington jumpout when he settled rearwards but moved through the field under a vice-like grip to finish a close third, running through the line very well indeed. Like his draw here when he can settle off speed and then should be able to unleash. Worth the gamble. Another first starter in BUY ME A BIRKIN may be the danger. Has looked very good winning two recent jumpouts and showed a lot of speed on each occasion. AUSTMARR led at Hillside on debut and just cut down late by Herecomesthestar. That run will improve and doubt he really revelled in the heavy track conditions that day. Better placed on firmer footing. RHAPZODISE is a half sister to the smart Gravina from the Godolphin yard and has also jumped out nicely.
Suggested bet: Couer Volant each way.
RACE 2:
This is a wide open affair but I still think FLYING ON A LIMB is over the odds at the $14 mark. She did a great job when resuming at Cranbourne two weeks ago. She had to track wide most of the trip, albeit with some cover, hook to the outside on the home bend and then powered away to win as she liked. She was eased down close to the line and still ran second fastest last 200m of the night. I know she is jumping from maiden grade to this but she is talented and comes in with 4kg less after the claim. She’s drawn to get the gun run off a sizzling speed here and will be the one hitting the line hard. Also can’t believe the price for TANTO. She was brave behind End Journey here three weeks back and like the fact she has the good draw again to sit behind this hot tempo. She did beat subsequent Flemington winner South Of Houston easily here in March. END JOURNEY is fast and she is a fighter too, having never looked like being run down last time. Will be more pressure here but looks a top chance again. BUBBLE PALACE resumed with a soft win at Horsham last start and does have her share of ability.
Suggested bet: Flying On A Limb each way.
Dashing, ridden by Declan Bates, wins the Selangor Turf Club Handicap at Hillside.
RACE 3:
RIVAPORT is resuming from a break but looked good in a recent jumpout at Cranbourne when she cruised to the line under a good hold. Two starts ago over this course and distance she was heavily backed to beat the handy Defining by a space. Former French galloper who looks talented and like her draw here, where she can park behind the leaders and then unleash late. GOOD AND PROPER is in great form and made up a stack of ground behind Party For One at Flemington last start. The only query I have here is whether there will be enough pace on to suit her big finish but the smaller field will certainly help her chances. BELLE SAVOIR wasn’t herself when leading at Hillside three weeks ago but she is better than that. LACRIMA ran on well at big odds in that same Party For One race and rates a hope again here.
Suggested bet: Rivaport to win.
RACE 4:
This is the hardest of hard races. Good luck. I’m in the camp of SKYWOLF. Loved his recent Flemington trial when he finished a close second in smart time and he was hard held all the way down the straight. Has a great first-up record, unbeaten in two tries this track and distance, handles all track conditions and importantly gets a soft draw to be handy in the run. TASMAN PARK, on the other hand, has to get some luck from the wide draw but if he can find some cover, he is pretty smart and also jumped out well for his return. CARDIGAN QUEEN resumed and showed a glimpse of her best at the Bool last start. Kept fresh and will be running on hard. SANDY PRINCE bolted in at the Bool last time and gets the sting out of the ground again here, which he loves. Drawn well too. Host of other chances.
Suggested bet: SKYWOLF each way.
RACE 5:
Reckon it’s really hard to tip against DASHING and he does look to be at a very juicy price. He was simply too classy for his rivals over 1800m at Hillside last start. Admittedly he enjoyed a lovely run behind the leader but he was still too strong. Think he is better back to 1600m where he has only missed a place once in five tries and that was the Caulfield Guineas when beaten less than two lengths. He goes well this t/d, handles all track conditions and, with the claim, carries 1kg less than last start. Admittedly he hasn’t drawn as well this time but he’ll be handy to the pace and may be just too classy for them again. ARTZINO could be the danger. He has always shown some promise and he has looked good in two recent junpouts. EUPHORIC keeps on getting better and was impressive at Flemington last start. Big threat again. SIMEON is likely to roll forward and put himself on speed from the good draw and can take catching.
Suggested bet: Dashing to win.
Katsu, ridden by Jordan Childs, wins at Hillside in April.
RACE 6:
All things being equal, it does look like KATSU’s race to lose. He loves 1000m, he drops 4.5kg on his last win at this track and trip, he has been freshened and, importantly, he has drawn out so that he can get clear air. He looks the leader again and despite a rise in grade against the older horses, he should win. INVINCIBLE CAVIAR is no slouch and will make him work for the win. She hasn’t ever been at 1000m but she is a first-up winner and there was a touch of arrogance about her recent jumpout win. She will park behind the leaders and charge late. TAUNTING won in Listed grade at Oakbank before a fighting effort in the Wangoom. This is easier and has to be considered. PINTOFF resumed with a narrow but tough win this t/d three weeks ago and he loves the sting out of the ground.
Suggested bet: Katsu and Invincible Caviar in boxed exacta.
RACE 7:
The inside barrier draw sways me to PASCERO. He was good hitting the line hard behind Chassis here three weeks back in what developed into a sprint home. He looks to be right at his peak now and think he can settle better from the rails draw and be hard to hold out late. His stablemate HE’S OUR BONNEVAL produced fastest last 200m of the meeting in the same Chassis race and he too looks ready to win. Gets the blinkers on here. Liked the return of CHIEF ALTONY in the Wangoom at the Bool and he’s better off at this big track. Any more rain would help him. MONARCH OF EGYPT was good in that Chassis race and won’t be far away again.
Suggested bet: Pascero to win.
RACE 8:
GREEN FLY definitely caught the eye when he resumed at Flemington two weeks ago and charged late to be beaten less than 2 lengths behind King Magnus. His closing sectionals were among the best of the day. Unbeaten in three second-up tries and gets to his right distance of 1600m. Does rise in weight but down in class. Big threat. I doubt BRAYDEN STAR was completely happy in the heavy ground at this track last start but he still held his own down the straight to beat all but British Colombia. Promising type better for the run and drops in weight here. FRENCH EMPEROR was cruising in the run and looked home until overcome by the smart Altivo when resuming last start. Not as well drawn this time but he has come back well and hard to toss. UNUSUAL CULTURE goes from strength to strength and drawn to get the gun run again.
Suggested bet: Green Fly to win.
RACE 9:
Always thought NORMANDY BRIDGE had talent and he may be ready to show that now after being plagued by really wet tracks and higher grade in Sydney. Loved his effort last start when he chased hard without threatening behind the very good Globe here three weeks back. He beat home subsequent winner Daytona Bay and like the weight pull he has over some main rivals here. GUNSTOCK was very good to overpower Keats when resuming and will be even better stepping out in distance. D’AGUILAR looks back to his best and has had a trial to keep him up to the mark. PINSTRIPED was excellent last week but does go up 2kg and drawn badly.
Suggested bet: Normandy Bridge each way.
BEST BET:
Dashing (race 5)
BEST VALUE:
Normandy Bridge (race 9)