The new racing season kicks off in Melbourne at Moonee Valley on Saturday with a nine race program.
While the Moonee Valley card isn’t studded with Spring Carnival stars, we don’t have to wait long before the cream of the crop start to roll out with the first Group race of the 2015 – 2016 season, the Group 3 $150,000 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m), scheduled to be run at Flemington on Saturday week.
But first we have to sort out Saturday’s meeting and find some Moonee Valley track specialists.
Race 1 – 12:05pm $80,000 United Refrigeration Handicap (1000m)
The Ciaron Maher trained Petits Filous scored a six lengths win over this course and distance on debut and looks the one to beat again in the United Refrigeration Handicap (1000m) for the three year old fillies. Haybah showed plenty of potential in the Autumn and is having her first start since running fourteenth in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill in the Autumn. The Big Dance and Stream Ahead are coming to town after Bendigo wins and Deja Blue and Classy Chanel are last start Geelong winners. Street Cry filly Maternal is regally bred being out multiple Group 1 winner Divine Madonna.
Race 2 – 12:40pm $80,000 1PRINT Handicap (1000m)
Damien Oliver has taken the ride on first starter Attack The Line who will wear blinkers in the 1PRINT Handicap (1000m) for the three year old colts and geldings. Equinova heads back to Moonee Valley after winning over this course and distance at his latest outing and will be one of the main chances again. Pure Justice can make amends for his last start Morphettville second as favourite and the betting trends will be the best guide for Top Me Up who has been gelded since finishing fourth in the Group 3 $150,000 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) at Caulfield in February.
Race 3 – 1:15pm $90,000 Melbourne Signage Concepts Handicap (1000m)
Il Cavallo made amends for a first up defeat as favourite at Ballarat with a win over 1000m at Flemington on July 18 and gets his chance to score back to back wins in the Melbourne Signage Concepts Handicap (1000m). Hard Romp has been around the mark with a win and two thirds from his last three starts at Flemington and will appreciate Katelyn Mallyon’s 1.5kg claim. Sweet Emily is resuming and is a three times winner over this course and distance and has a massive drop in weight following a third over 1000m at Flemington in February and Sea Lord can mix his form but was a Moonee Valley winner two starts back.
Race 4 – 1:50pm $80,000 Mitchelton Wines Handicap (1600m)
The Darren Weir trained First Bloom has been placed at her last two starts over this course and distance and a 2kg drop in weight will help her breakthrough for a win in the Mitchelton Wines Handicap (1600m) for the fillies and mares. Shadow Of The Mist beat First Bloom home last start and is certain to be around the money again and Dig A Pony looked like she was finding some form again with a last start fourth over 14o0m at Flemington.
Race 5 – 2:25pm $90,000 Jockey Celebration Day Handicap (2040m)
Trainer Chris Waller holds the key in the Jockey Celebration Day Handicap (2040m) with his three runners Bagman, Diametric and Our Voodoo Prince. Topweight Bagman has been lumped with 60kg, the same weight he carried to victory over 2000m at Flemington last start and has to be a danger again from the inside gate with Damien Oliver in the saddle. Diametric will be fitter for two runs from a spell and the 2040m is more to his liking while Our Voodoo Prince has had a slight freshen up since running fifth over 2400m at Rosehill over a month ago. Lord Durante and Venture On are often around the mark while Hioctdane returns to Melbourne with some good Adelaide form.
Race 6 – 3:05pm $80,000 Ranvet Handicap (1200m)
Tawteen is resuming in the Ranvet Handicap (1200m) and has a very good first up record as well as two wins and a third over the 1200m at Moonee Valley. Adelaide sprinter Nearest To Pin has been around the placings at his last few starts without breaking through and has been runner up on three occasions over this this course and distance. Flash Of Doubt is also a winner over this course and distance and has no weight on her back.
Race 7 – 3:45pm $90,000 Jeep Handicap (1600m)
Digitalism loves Moonee Valley with three wins on the track, two over the 1600m of the Jeep Handicap. The John Sadler trained gelding was a Moonee Valley winner over 2040m two starts back then ran third over the same distance on June 20. Streets Away is fitter for one run back when fourth over 1400m at Flemington and is a winner over this course and distance. Raposo is a winner at two of his last three starts and the Peter Moody trained Sino Eagle could be a rough show.
Race 8 – 4:25pm $50,000 Sweeney Estate Agents Handicap (1200m)
Grand Emperor has been sent out as the favourite at his last three starts and has failed to deliver with a fourth and two fifths. Darren Weir has put the blinkers back on the six year old for his assignment in the Sweeney Estate Agents Handicap (1200m) hoping to get an overdue win. Handsome Tycoon was also a beaten favourite last start when fourth over 1200m at Flemington but gets his chance to make amends with Glen Boss back in the saddle. Charles In Charge could figure in the finish if he can find the form that saw him in the winner’s circle at Caulfield in May.
Race 9 – 5:00pm $80,000 BenchMark 96 Handicap (2500m)
Both of Darren Weir’s runners in the BenchMark 96 Handicap (2500m) will arrive at Moonee Valley in good form with Doctor Care winning twice at Morphettville Parks over 1950m and 2400m while Artistic Lass was a winner at Morphettville and Sale before a last start third to Zazparella over 2350m at Warrnambool on July 12. Crafty Cruiser is a winner over this course and distance and heads back to Moonee Valley after finishing fourth over 2000m at Flemington. You can never leave out Chris Waller’s runners and the leading trainer will saddle up Danchai, Reigning and Sir Mako.