Cracking race to start the night and although he is on the drift in early markets Midnight Calm looks really hard to beat.
He was buried along the markers in his heat of this series 11 days ago and once he got clear he hit the line hard to finish just behind Mr McLaren in good time.
He gets gate one this time around, has options from that plum draw and whether in front or behind a suitable horse he’ll shake the life out of this.
Cardlesfromheaven gets his best draw for some time here and in an open contest he looks the way to go.
He likes to be driven sit/sprint in his races, so he will be looking for some cover in the run tonight, which will more than likely come from Make Mine Memphis or Key Largo, depending on whether they decide to rev up Key Largo first up over the 2138m.
That’s the tricky part with backing him, as he’ll need a bit to go his way early on, but if he sees the passing lane in time in the stretch, they’ll have trouble holding him at bay.
I went looking for something to beat The High Commander here, but those that I might have given a hope of knocking him off have a few convictions, even though they may draw/map better, so I’m sticking solid with the favourite here.
He has been crying out to win another race after finishing runner-up at his past five outings, the latest on this circuit where he did most of the work only to be mowed down by Hipstar, who has raced well since, so there’s a nice form reference.
This does look his best chance of cracking it for another win.
Consolation event here for those that failed to qualify for the Final (race 1 tonight) and from the perfect draw Captains Pick should give a good account of himself.
He lobbed on the bunny from gate two at Redcliffe last start and ran them along up front before being mowed down by Lets Blaze, who sat right on his hammer and is a quality sit/sprint type, so there was no disgrace in running second.
He has options from the barrier, but I’d like to see him go for an all-the-way win, as if he handed up to say a Classie Washington, he’d more than likely be fighting it out for minor prizemoney and in front he can dictate his own terms knowing Speak With Sam sitting behind him probably won’t get him down.
Either role, he gets every chance, however.
For those that like to back an absolute moral at around the $1.50-$1.60 mark then Stormtide is your go, if you can stay patient enough to bet into the last event tonight.
He has been in ripping form and comes off an arrogant Redcliffe victory two weeks ago where he went back from his wide gate before proving much too strong over the concluding stages.
He is a gate speed horse, draws perfectly in barrier one and although Copperfield will have a good look at him late up the lane, he should be too slippery for him.