Moonee Valley Preview: Friday 30/9/16
- Sep 30, 2016
- 5 min read
Buffering has won 3 of the last 4 editions and the Moir Stakes and is a great chance again.
Picture: Vince Caligiuri, Getty Images
How sweet it is to have Group 1 racing on a Friday night! It's a brilliant weekend of racing and sport in Australia and there is a great card of racing at Moonee Valley on Friday night to kick us off. The headline act on the card is the $500k Group 1 Moir Stakes over 1000m with the World's Best Sprinter Chautauqua the $2.25 favourite. It might not be all smooth sailing for him though, with the winner of 3 of the last 4 editions of this race, Buffering, engaged. Last season's Blue Diamond Stakes winner, Extreme Choice, also lines up for his first run as a 3 year old and he showed an abundance of talent throughout his 2 year old season. The $200k Group 2 Stocks Stakes for the Mares and the $200k Group 2 Stutt Stakes for the 3 year old's will also be run and have attracted high quality fields.
Moonee Valley
The track is rated a Good (4) and there is a bit of rain about, but we should stay in that range for the meeting. The rail is in the true position.
Race 1 1500m MSC Signs Handicap
Handicap. No age restriction, No sex restriction. BenchMark 90. Apprentices can claim.
Mr. Individual had been racing in great fashion in BM78 company before stepping up the Group 1 class in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and was handy to a hot speed before finishing 5L from the winner. I'm happy to forgive that effort, as not much went right for him there. If you go on his previous form then he is the one to beat here. Two back he drew wide over this track and trip and was caught 3 wide facing the breeze on speed. he still took over on the turn and was only beaten 0.3L to the smart horse Vostok. He carried 58.5kg on that occasion and drops down to 53kg after Ben Thompson's claim. He's drawn 1 which should mean he gets a comfortable run on speed in this and races well at this circuit. Looks the one to beat.
I think the biggest danger to him here is the Mitchell Freedman trained Marwood. He has been in good form and steps out to 1500m for the first time here. Two back he was only beaten 2L to Jungle Edge who subsequently ran very well behind He's Our Rokki. At his last start, he took a while to wind up in the straight, but ran home well over his last 150m to be beaten 4.8L to subsequent Group 1 winner Bon Aurum. He draws well enough in barrier 6 and is a live hope. The other one I'm wary of is Plot The Course. As highlighted in our horses to follow write up from the 17th of September, he looks to have returned in top order. I like him at 1500m 2nd up and he is good value at around the $7 mark here.
Race 2 1200m Quest Moonee Valley Plate
Set Weights plus Penalties. Three-Years-Old, Colts and Geldings. No class restriction. Apprentices cannot claim.
I'm of the opinion that Dam Ready can turn the tables on Ken's Dream from their last encounter over this track and distance in the McKenzie Stakes. On that occasion, Ken's Dream led and Luke Currie sat three quarters of a length behind him in 2nd on Dam Ready. When they turned for home, it looked as though Dam Ready was going to run past him but his condition gave out and Ken's Dream was too strong, winning by 1L. Ken's Dream was 2nd up there and Dam ready was having his 1st run since a 23 week spell. In this race however, it is Ken's Dream who may a touch soft. He has not had a race since the McKenzie which means he will be 6 weeks between runs. He's drawn out wide, which I don't mind with on pace runners, but if he has to do any work in the early stages then he may be found wanting late. Dam Ready on the other hand ran in the Danehill Stakes 3 weeks ago and acquitted himself nicely. He had every chance to win there, but was only beaten 2.2L to Saracino/Archives/Samara Dancer/Wazzenme. That is very strong form for a race like this and given he has the fitness edge over Ken's Dream ($2.90!) I'm more than happy to have an each way bet on him at $5/$1.95.
If there's anything that can beat him it will probably come from one of either Blue Tycoon or the Gordon Richards' trained Benz.
Race 4 955m Inglis 55 Second Challenge Heat 2
Handicap. No age restriction, No sex restriction. BenchMark 90. Apprentices can claim.
This looks a very, very tough race on paper with a whole lot of chances, including Gun Case, Gallant Harmony, General Jackson, Estaminet and Aunty Mo. In saying that, I'm willing to have something on Moonee Valley specialist It Is Written at $11. His record at the track is 26:7-3-4 and includes a 2L 3rd to Holler in the Australia Stakes last time in. His fresh record isn't flash (8:1-1-0) but I noticed he had 3 trials prior to resuming here. Going back through his form he has never had more than 1 trial in readiness for a preparation and I'm thinking he may be better prepared to win 1st up here than he has in the past. His best form is over slightly further than the 955m dash here but with the extra grounding under his belt I think he can run a good race. He gives the others at least 4.5kg but he is a good horse and races very well here so I'm going to have an each way bet on him at the odds.
As mentioned earlier, there are a host of chances in this race but I feel Estaminet and Aunty Mo are the best of them. Estaminet beat some good horses down the straight at the end of her last preparation after winning a 955m Fillies & Mares race here. She trialled very nicely for her return. Aunty Mo is a good horse as well and can definitely win this.
Bets
Moonee Valley
Race 1 - Mr. Individual - 3 unit win @ top tote
Race 2 - Dam Ready - 1 unit win/3 unit place @ $5/$1.95
Race 4 - It Is Written - 1 unit win/2 unit place @ $11/$2.70
*Top Tote price as shown on punters.com.au in their results section*
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