Black type racing returns to The Valley on Saturday and a quality edition of the Group 2 Australia Stakes headlines the ten-race program.
The rail will remain in the true position around the entire course, and while the weather has been a little overcast in Melbourne this week, we’re faced with a track rated in the Good (4) range at publish.
Check out all my thoughts and Australia Stakes Day Tips below.
Race 1 - 12:15pm AEDT
Ladbroke It! Handicap (1500m)
Acid Wash takes winning form into the first at The Valley on Saturday and can continue his rise through the grades.
The American Pharoah gelding debuted for consecutive second placings in maidens at Sandown and Flemington respectively in December, before producing a performance that was nothing short of dominant at Cranbourne last time out.
He takes further improvement into this race and the booking of Jamie Kah certainly doesn’t hinder his chances again.
2 Units Acid Wash
Race 2 - 12:45pm AEDT
Ascend Sales Trophies Challenger Handicap (1600m)
Ceerseven steps out on Saturday second-up and primed to strike.
The Complacent gelding turned in some eye-catching performances last time in, winning in BM64 company most notably, while he was well beaten by the impressive Elouyou at Geelong earlier this month, he kept his best work for late.
He’s yet to miss placing at this point of his preparation and gets some relief in the weights under Jaylah Kennedy.
2 Units Ceerseven
Race 3 - 1:20pm AEDT
Entry Education Handicap (1600m)
Kind Gesture has improved for three runs back from a break and finds herself in a very suitable contest at The Valley this week.
She’s yet to strike this preparation, but placings in two runs have suggested that a win isn’t far away, and was only just denied by Regal Vow at Flemington last time out.
She’s untested at The Valley, but Damian Lane and barrier 4 are huge ticks.
2 Units Kind Gesture
Race 4 - 1:55pm AEDT
Simpson Construction Handicap (1600m)
Running By has found top gear and looms as the one to beat again in Race 4 at The Valley on Australia Stakes Day.
The Impending mare stripped fitter with a competitive run for second in BM64 company at Sandown in November and has since recorded consecutive BM78 wins at Caulfield at Randwick.
Her one run at The Valley was in Listed company and was credible, and she’ll go straight to the lead and make all of her own luck up front on Saturday.
4 Units Running By
Race 5 - 2:30pm AEDT
Happy 50th Jeff Waters Handicap (1200m)
There’s a case to be made for a few of the gallopers engaged in this BM70 sprint, including Lazy Susan, has returned several competitive performances this time in.
Having only just missed behind the likes of Rey Magnerio and Aminatu in a couple of races not dissimilar to this one in late spring, Lazy Susan was rewarded for her form with a nice win at Cranbourne last time out.
She’s hard fit, proven here at The Valley and her form lines do look superior to those of several key rivals this week.
2 Units Lazy Susan
Race 6 - 3:05pm AEDT
Ranvet Travis Harrison Cup (2040m)
Mankayan couldn’t have done a lot more without winning the Listed Lord Stakes first-up from a break, and he gets a great chance to go one better on Australia Stakes Day.
The evergreen veteran settled at the tail of the field with topweight in the Lord Stakes and mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to only just miss behind the talented Zennzella.
As typically a backmarker, he will need some luck in running here at The Valley, but he boasts and excellent second-up record and should only improve getting out to the 2040m this week.
3 Units Mankayan
Race 7 - 3:40pm AEDT
Chandler Macleod Handicap (2040m)
Miss Tarzy is yet to taste anything but success this time and is the one to beat again in Race 7 at The Valley.
An easy winner in BM58 company at her first run back, the Tarzino mare has since recorded similarly impressive victories in consecutive races over this route last month.
She does rise a couple of kgs in the weights, but she’s hard fit and I’m inclined to stick with her until she gives us a reason not to!
5 Units Miss Tarzy
Race 8 - 4:20pm AEDT
Lawn Rules Handicap (1000m)
Philosopher is another galloper that boasts a perfect record this time in, and this looks another perfect race for him.
Having spent nearly a year away from the races, the Zoustar kicked clear at Mornington to break with maiden with ease first-up last month and has continued to improve with each start and as the bar has been raised.
He’s a month between runs but clearly goes well fresh, and he’s another whose winning chances have been enhanced by the booking of Damian Lane.
4 Units Philosopher
Race 9 - 5:00pm AEDT
Group 2 Australian Stakes (1200m)
Veight makes his eagerly awaited return to the races in the Australia Stakes, and it looks to be a perfect campaign launchpad for him.
The Grunt colt has made only seven appearances at the races so far, but stamped himself as one to watch by winning twice, only just missing on another occasion and finding form around some genuine Group 1 calibre horses.
He’s undefeated at this point of his preparation, is drawn and weighted ideally and will take plenty of beating.
4 Units Veight
Race 10 - 5:40pm AEDT
Piper-Heidsieck Handicap (1200m)
Pereille looks to be a rather clear standout top pick in the last on Australia Stakes Day, in my opinion.
The Fastnet Rock gelding has been a consistent performer for Godolphin throughout his career and returned to action to finishing second in a sharp BM78 race up in Sydney.
Two previous starts at The Valley have heralded a dominant win over this route and a close-up second placing, and natural improvement into this second campaign target will see him extremely difficult to toss.
5 Units Pereille