Saturday At The Valley Preview

We’re back and racing at The Valley for the first time this season and the countdown to the 2024 Ladbrokes Cox Plate officially begins!

There is so much to look forward to at The Valley throughout the coming months and Saturday’s nine-race program is dripping with talent, providing plenty of great betting races.

If you’re yet to do the form, don’t worry! I’ve taken the hassle out of it for you with my Moonee Valley tips below.

Waimarie takes winning form into this contest and rates as a key winning chance again.

The Busuttin & Young-trained galloper has won two of her last three starts, highlighted by her utterly dominant performance in BM70 company last time out.

There is a little more depth in this race, but she’s hard fit and well placed again.

2 Units Waimarie

I think that Blue Stratum might be a pretty good horse, and this looks a lovely Saturday metro race for him.

The Blue Point colt didn’t break his maiden in three starts during his debut prep, but he was anything but out of his depth in some really good feature races.

He meanwhile returned to action last month for a dominant victory in maiden company at Pakenham and with natural improvement, something like this does appear well within his abilities.

2 Units Blue Stratum

Flamin’ Romans was scratched from an easier race last week to instead step out third-up at The Valley and I am confident that he can justify that decision.

The full brother to Group 1 winner Smokin’ Romans clearly needed his first run back this time when fading late to finish fourth at Geelong, but he took plenty of improvement into a smart win at the same track last time out.

Getting out to the Ladbrokes Cox Plate trip this week looks to suit and he can bowl along in front again under Johnny Allen.

1 Unit Flamin’ Romans

This looms as one of the more open races on the program and there’s a case to be made for many of them, including Dictionary.

Dictionary hasn’t missed placing at his last four trips to the races, winning a BM64 back in June most notably, while he was only a length third behind Ferago in the VOBIS Gold Stayers last time out.

He meets that horse substantially better at the weights this week and under regular rider Patty Moloney, I’m confident he can fight out the finish of this.

1 Unit E/W Dictionary

Mornington Glory was too bad to be believed first up and I am keen to give him another chance back at The Valley on Saturday.

Mornington Glory was great during his summer and autumn prep, picking off some nice metro races including one here at The Valley before ending his season third in Group 1 company.

There’s no doubt that his fitness will be improved from his distant fifth placing behind Recommendation in the Sir John Monash Stakes, while he should get every chance in this small, weaker field under Jamie Kah.

4 Units Mornington Glory

The first leg of the quaddie looks to be a pretty open race with a few key chances engaged, but Big Me is yet to turn in a poor performance and he is going to be the one for me.

Big Me made two appearances at the races during his debut prep in Hong Kong, winning his first before filling the minors behind the likes of Pleasant Endeavour back in October 2022.

It was long gap between then and his Australian debut last month where I thought he was really good into third behind Moonhaven down the straight at Flemington, and I’m confident he’ll only improve for that hit-out.

2 Units Big Me

This is an excellent race with some serious talent engaged, and I am going to give Duke De Sessa another chance third-up from a spell.

He was a decent performer as his preparation progressed last spring, and Duke De Sessa clearly needed his first run back this time when finishing seventh, beaten more than four lengths in the Listed Winter Championship Final last month.

He was a little better when fifth in BM100 company last time out, but with further improvement and getting out to a more suitable trip this week, I think he’s ready to do something.

1 Unit Duke De Sessa

The penultimate race also features a few winning chances including Our Empress Zoe, who will just need some early luck from a sticky gate.

Our Empress Zoe was really well rated out in front to lead all the way at Pakenham two back, and I thought that he was similarly tough when third, within a length of the winner at Flemington last time out.

Jordy Childs jumps into the saddle this week and if she can jump well and find her way to the lead, I think she’ll be suited to the Valley, and she can be in it for a long way again.

1 Unit Our Empress Zoe

Extratwo loves The Valley and she’s a winning chance in the last this week.

The Toronado mare hasn’t been seen at the races since June, but she was great last time in, winning a pair of springs right here while also adding the VOBIS Gold Distaff to her CV.

She’s a winner at this point of her preparation previously and we know she’ll relish the conditions.

2 Units Extratwo