This is a tough way to start the meeting for punters as the majority of this field will be making their racing debuts. Loving Gaby did impress with her barrier trial win at Pakenham on January 15 and she clearly has some ability, but there are too many unknowns to bet into this contest with any real confidence.
No Bet
Sequitur produced a tough effort on debut at Ladbrokes Park and a repeat of that performance would make her tough to beat in this contest. She showed a good amount of early speed in that contest and she should be able to hold a forward position from the inside barrier draw. As long as Dwayne Dunn doesn’t go too slow on her, she will prove tough to run down.
2.5 Units Sequitur
San Remo has proven to be a very frustrating horse for punters, but I am willing to give him another chance in this contest. He wasn’t disgraced behind The Gatting Ball at The Valley last Friday and there is no horse of that quality in this field. The step back-up to 3000 metres is ideal for him and there is no fitter runner.
2 Unit San Remo
This is the most open betting race of the day and there are a host of winning chances. Silverhawk’s last start effort at Flemington was too bad to be true and I am willing to give him another opportunity. This is a genuine drop in class and his two wins at Werribee were full of merit. The $6.50 currently available is a good bet in what is an open race.
1 Unit Silverhawk
The market suggests that this is a two-horse race between Crown Witness and Condor Heroes and both horses definitely have talent. Condor Heroes was touted as a Golden Slipper winner as a younger horse and he hasn’t really gone on with the job. In saying that, he has been sent to the Lindsay Park stable and there is no doubt that this is the weakest race that he has contested since his maiden race win. He does have a huge amount of early speed and it would not surprise to see Mark Zahra elect to cross the field and take up the running.
Crown Witness only had the one race start in the Spring, when she produced a fairly flat effort in the Doveton Stakes, but a return to her best form would have her right in this contest. She has recorded two wins from three race starts over 1000 metres and you do need to have talent to win a race like the Quezette Stakes. This is a very interesting race, but I think the market has it just about right.
No Bet
Twitchy Frank is a horse with plenty of ability and she does look like the class runner in this field. She has recorded two wins from her four race starts this campaign and she had excuses when she was beaten at Flemington last start. This is a genuine drop in quality and she does map to get a lovely run in transit with Ethan Brown in the saddle.
2 Units Twitchy Frank
Shaq is a horse that rarely produces a poor performance and he finds himself in a winnable contest. It has been a while between race wins, but he hasn’t missed the placings in his past four race starts and he is knocking on the door of another win. He should get a lovely trail just behind the leaders from barrier one and this is his chance to return to winning form.
The early favourite with Ladbrokes is the lightly-raced Mosh Music. She has recorded two wins from four race starts to date and she wasn’t given the best ride when she was beaten at Ladbrokes Park last start. The wide barrier draw is a little bit of concern, but she does look like the main danger to Shaq.
1.5 Units Shaq
The market has zeroed in on Expansion and Age Of Chivalry and they do look like the leading contenders. Age Of Chivalry showed some promise during his maiden racing campaign and he went to another level when he returned to the races with an impressive win at Ladbrokes Park. He still has the scope to improve on that performance and he is well-placed to make it two wins on the trot.
2 Units Age Of Chivalry