Dark Pearl has been a strong competitor in tougher races than this and is ready to win. The Chris Waller-trained gelding finished fifth over 2000m at Randwick when returning from a brief let-up and has since finished second in BM78 races over 2400m and 2500m at Randwick. The rise in trip looks good at this point of his prep and he’ll take beating.
Dark Pearl
Peak mustered a decent turn of foot to fill the minors at The Valley when resuming and will enjoy good improvement into this race. The Team Hawkes-trained gelding was a strong and consistent performer last time in and his first-up run this time suggested that he is in for another smart preparation. He’ll have the benefit of claiming apprentice Michael Poy in the saddle and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
Peak
Iknewshewasmine could hardly have been more impressive at this track and distance a fortnight ago and looks well placed to complete a hat-trick of wins on Wednesday. The Magnus mare doesn’t know how to run a bad race and franked a lovely win at Stony Creek two back when finding the line close to three lengths ahead of her closest rivals last time. She’s rock-hard fit and will take plenty of beating again.
Iknewshewasmine
Hidden Legend is yet to run a bad race and the fourth at Ladbrokes Park on Wednesday looks another great target for him. The Pluck gelding won on debut at Mornington and was sent to the paddock after filling the minors in BM70 company and resumed this time with another strong effort to finish third at The Valley. This looks a weaker race than that and he will enjoy good improvement from his first-up hit-out.
Hidden Legend
This is shaping as one of the more open contests on the card at Ladbrokes Park on Wednesday and there is a case to be made for several horses in the market.
The Dan O’Sullivan-trained Affair To Remember hasn’t been seen at the races since November, but she is a filly of ability and is up to making a winning return. The three-year-old daughter of Toronado easily broke her maiden at this point of her preparation last time in and returned several pleasing efforts in the wake, including third behind Nudge on Oaks Day.
Affair To Remember
Hokkaido Miss returned the best performance of her preparation to finish on the placegetters’ heels at Newcastle last time out and she looks capable of another competitive performance at Ladbrokes Park this week. The Orferve mare has talent and this does represent her best chance of winning this time, particularly with Craig Williams jumping into the saddle. Happy to have something small on each-way.
Hokkaido Miss
Dune Field was an impressive winner of a maiden race here a couple of weeks ago and looks capable of continuing his rise through the grades on Wednesday. The Jamie Edwards-trained gelding needed the run but ran home well to finish fifth at his only other start this time, and there’s little doubt that he’ll enjoy good improvement from his last-start win. Craig Williams stays aboard and has options from barrier 1.
Dune Field
Savvy Ken has been freshened and has had a change in trainer since finishing five lengths behind the smart She’s Ideel at Randwick and I’m eager to see what he will do in the last at Ladbrokes Park on Wednesday. Now trained by David Brideoake, the Savabeel gelding has been stepping out in strong company and probably hasn’t been quite up to it, but he is another horse that looks as though he’ll be suited by a drop in class this week.
Savvy Ken