Racing Preview: Wednesday 13/4/16

Apr 12, 2016
7 min read

Racing today comes to us from Balaklava, Ballarat and Warwick Farm.

Balaklava

The track is rated a Good (3) and the rail is in the true.

Race 1 1050m Maiden Plate

Maiden, Set Weights, Three-Years-Old and Upwards, Apprentices can claim.

3 first starters line up in this. Of the raced horses, none have done anything of note yet. Splash Of Cristal is with Lloyd Kennewell after being transferred from the Peter Moody stable. She was restrained in a recent trial when showing a lot of speed. Fancy she leads here and may be hard to run down. Tempting Faith ran into some handy horses in its Maidens last time in. She could improve and run well. This one looks like a good race to watch to start the day. No bets.

Race 2 1050m Maiden Plate

Maiden, Set Weights, Two-Years-Old, Apprentices can claim.

7 first starters here doesn't make it any easier than race 1. Of those, three are unseen at public trials. Malmoosa was sound on debut at Oakbank behind two nice types. Toyshop impressed in its trial, running through the line nicely late for 2nd. Posh Journey ran soundly on debut behind two smart ones also. As with race 1, it may pay to just watch. No bets.

Race 3 1600m Maiden Plate

Maiden, Set Weights, Two-Years-Old and Upwards, Apprentices can claim.

Ready Right Now had to do a bit of early work last start and fancy that told at the end, he draws barrier 4 here and should get the right run. Bangarang hasn't finished further back than 4th in his five runs to date, the last of which was a nice 3rd coming from back in the field. The mile should suit. Damocles had no luck last start and was untested, his form prior was sound. Sanima Star ran on well last time at 1500m at Gawler and can run well again. Watch De La Cruz at her first start for Nick Smart. Tough race with a few chances. No bets.

Race 4 1300m Maiden Plate

Maiden, Set Weights, Two-Years-Old and Upwards, Apprentices can claim.

14 horse field here and it certainly doesn't get any easier! Heidi Star was good last start here at 1400m. She's drawn 4 and will get the right run to be winning. I thought the 2 year old Morvada was okay last start in 2 year old grade, but fancy the step up to 1300m suits it. Just Wally battled on well last start over 1050m here, the 1300m should be okay. Sacred Days gets the blinkers on after an okay debut at Strathalbyn over 1100m, the extra 200m here helps. With Gravy was a decent second last start. The increased trip helps it also. The Castle Kat was a good 3rd last time. Getting to Balaklava may help. Too many chances here for mine. No bets, again!

Race 5 1400m BM 80

BenchMark 80, Handicap, Minimum Weight 54kg, Apprentices can claim.

Alcobro was a good 3rd behind Mr Backchat at Oakbank after being three wide without cover the trip. Barrier 3 and 54.5kg are big advantages in this. Mullinger Lane ran a nice race 2nd up at 1400m. I fancy he improves further 3rd up with 54kg. Flow Meter was 2nd in that Mr Backchat race after a good 2nd to Ferrari Star on the Parks circuit. Has to carry 60kg here. Magical Tycoon was 2nd to C'est Beau La Vie last start and that form looks good now.

I like Alcobro in this, although there are some dangers. Happy to have a 1 unit win bet on him.

Race 6 1200m Class 2

Class 2, Handicap, Minimum Weight 54kg, Apprentices can claim.

Windsor Cup from barrier 11 will have a task finding cover or crossing to the lead. It won its Maiden three starts back and then raced in much tougher grade and wasn't disgraced. Streaming By wants a lot further than this and has to carry 61.5kg, but fancy he can ran a cheeky race fresh. Snake Farley has been racing in good form and finds another winnable race here.

I think Windsor Cup can win this race. 1 unit win bet.

Race 7 1600m BM 60

BenchMark 60, Handicap, Minimum Weight 54kg, Apprentices can claim.

Rooboy has to carry 60.5kg here, but his three 2nd's in a row have been good enough for this. His 2nd to Adirondack reads well. Beau Acre has been good at all of his runs to date. He will get back and if they are running on he's in the mix. Carries 56kg after the claim for Poon. Go Carol Go was disappointing last time but she gets another chance here. I think she is much better suited here than at Strathalbyn with barrier 4. That's A Slab has registered 2 good wins either side of a close 4th at Morphettville Parks. Should run well again. Perpetual Bliss is down in grade and a win wouldn't shock at at all. This race looks quite open. No bets.

Race 8 1400m BM 60

BenchMark 60, Handicap, Minimum Weight 54kg, Apprentices can claim.

C'est Vrai was a good winner 1st up over 1200m, coming from the tail of the field. Up to 1400m second up suits. He's on the up. Jocks Glen was good last prep over a bit further than this. He's another with upside and is well in at the weights. 9 year old Incandescent was a good winner last time. He can run well again. Lucky On Black is racing consistently and is in the mix again.

Happy to back C'est Vrai here. 1 unit win bet

Bets

Race 5 Alcobro - 1 unit win bet @ $4.80

Race 6 Windsor Cup - 1 unit win bet @ $10

Race 8 C'est Vrai - 1 unit win bet @ $11

Ballarat

The track is rated a Good (4) and the rail is in the true.

Race 4 1600m Maiden Plate

Set Weights. Three-Years-Old and Upwards, Fillies and Mares. Maiden. Apprentices can claim.

Mount Omei ran well last start at Cranbourne from back in the field. She draws kindly in barrier 4 here and hopefully settles closer. A repeat of that effort could see her win this. Nakataan looks the only logical danger. Her first two runs for Hayes & Dabernig have been sound and she will win her Maiden soon. Barrier 11 makes it difficult here though.

Backing Mount Omei to break through in this. 1 unit win bet.

Race 5 1200m BM70

Set Weights. Three-Years-Old and Upwards, Fillies and Mares. BenchMark 70. Apprentices can claim.

Serenade contested, and ran well in, some good races as a 2 year old, including the Golden Slipper, where she was beaten 2.1L. Her return over 1100m was good, especially her last 50m where she found the line strongly. 1200m 2nd up suits nicely. Miniver seems the only danger. She ran some nice races early in her career but was finding it a bit difficult to win in this grade at the end of her last prep. I think Serenade with the run under her belt has the edge.

Highly confident here. Serenade 3 unit win bet.

Race 6 1600m Porter Plant Cup

Handicap. No age restriction, no sex restriction. BenchMark 78. Apprentices can claim.

Street Sharp has won his last two races, both in good fashion over the mile. I particularly liked the last 100m of his latest win in BM64 grade. He gets in with 54kg here and is drawn for a cosy run from barrier 2. Haradafull was a good winner in a small field first up at 1400m. He has ability and will likely improve again 2nd up at 1600m. Has to carry 61kg though. Similarly, Plot The Course is a horse with a lot of talent. He was sound 1st up in the Haradafull race when back on the rails. He only got going late. Carries 60kg today. Zlatan is racing well and will be hard to run past, especially if there is an on pace bias. Siga La Vaca won nicely last time out.

Think Street Sharp can run over the top of the topweights with a 6/7kg weight pull. 1 unit win bet.

Bets

Race 4 Mount Omei - 1 unit win bet @ $2.25

Race 5 Serenade - 3 unit win bet @ $1.95

Race 6 Street Sharp - 1 unit win bet @ $6

Warwick Farm

The track is rated a Good (3) and the rail is +3m the entire course.

Race 5 1200m BM72

BenchMark 72, Handicap, Minimum Weight 54kg, Three-Years-Old and Upwards, Fillies and Mares, Apprentices can claim.

Butterboom was a good winner 1st up after two good trials. Her form last preparation was sound also. Will carry 58.5kg for Innes after his claim and jumps from the inside barrier. The danger looks to be Viaductress with 55.5kg who should press forward.

Like Butterboom in this. 1 unit win.

Race 7 1000m BM77

BenchMark 77, Handicap, Minimum Weight 54kg, Three-Years-Old and Upwards, Apprentices can claim.

I think Mesa is a horse with considerable upside. He ran well in some handy 2 year old races early in his career and was a winner in very good time over 1100m when he broke his Maiden at Hawkesbury. He had some issues but returned with a very good win on a Heavy track after three sound trials. He is clearly the one on the up here.

Very confident Mesa wins this race. 2 unit win.

Bets

Race 5 Butterboom - 1 unit win bet @ $3.40

Race 7 Mesa - 2 unit win bet @ $2.80

SUMMARY

AR5 Alcobro - 1 unit win bet @ $4.80

AR6 Windsor Cup - 1 unit win bet @ $10

AR8 C'est Vrai - 1 unit win bet @ $11

MR4 Mount Omei - 1 unit win bet @ $2.25

MR5 Serenade - 3 unit win bet @ $1.95

MR6 Street Sharp - 1 unit win bet @ $6

SR5 Butterboom - 1 unit win bet @ $3.40