Eight races will be run and won under lights this Friday night at Moonee Valley.
The track is currently rated a good 4 and the rail will be out 7m for the entire circuit.
We’ve had a close look at all events on the card and our thoughts can be found below.
Hedonist has been racing well and drops back in grade.
The Headwater gelding was luckless when stepping out here two runs back, held up at a vital stage in the straight he never had a crack at them.
Last time, he was very strong through the line in an open three year old Plate at Flemington on Cup Day, finishing a close second behind the very handy, Manolo Bling.
He should find this a touch easier and with luck from the draw, I think he’ll be powering over the top of them late.
1 unit – HEDONIST
Puglia has been the runner up in both starts to date and there was plenty of merit in her most recent run.
Over the 1519m here, the Cable Bay filly settled back at the tail just had to wait as she had nowhere to go approaching the turn but hit the line strongly once clear to go down by less than a length.
The slight rise to the mile looks ideal and if she can hold a position closer off the low draw, she should prove hard to beat.
1 unit – PUGLIA
Empress of Wonder kicks off for the new stable.
Formerly prepared by Annabel Neasham, the lightly raced daughter of Choisir has put together a very tidy record and the form around her is solid.
Stakes placed at her first two outings, she wasn’t far away in the 2023 Magic Millions or the Sweet Embrace Stakes and certainly looks to have a touch of class.
Given three solid jump outs, she looks ready to go and Blake Shinn will do the steering for Anthony and Sam Freedman.
1 unit – EMPRESS OF WONDER
Grey Ice was a touch disappointing when resuming over 1400m in the sunshine state, but her two subsequent runs have been full of merit.
Stepping out over the mile here late last month, she raced in restricted room over the final part and did well to get within half a length of the eventual winner.
Last start, up to 1700m at Flemington she was held up in the early part of the straight and charged home late into fourth.
The rise to 2040m looks ideal for this daughter of Reliable Man and from the wide gate, she’ll get back and be doing her best work late.
1 unit – GREY ICE
Placentia Bay hasn’t been far away in recent runs and I think he’ll relish getting out to this trip.
A strong winner on debut over the mile, he was only narrowly beaten at his second start over that same trip.
All four his runs have been over the 1600m and last time he shot for home 200m out, looked the winner but just failed to quicken when challenged.
A son of Churchill, he looks very progressive and gets in nicely here with the claim for Celine Gaudray.
1 unit E/W – PLACENTIA BAY
Grand Larceny comes off a terrific first up performance over this course and distance and looks a top chance here from the low draw.
The Zoustar gelding got back off the wide gate but covered plenty of ground and still powered home late to finish just over a length from the winner.
Lightly raced, having just had the five starts, he showed plenty of natural talent early on but just failed to fire in two runs last prep when returning off a long break.
The team look to have him back in top order and he’s sure to be afforded every chance from barrier three under Michael Dee.
3 units – GRAND LARCENY
Here The Crowd was lucky to stay on her feet when resuming at Kyneton.
Racing in restricted room behind the leaders, she had nowhere to go when they tired but she will have taken good fitness benefit from the outing.
Having had just the four starts, she has performed very well on each occasion, scoring a strong win on the Caulfield Heath at just her second outing and she looks to have plenty of upside.
The slight rise in trip looks ideal and barrier six should see her afforded every chance.
2 units – HERE THE CROWD
He’ll Rip has been racing well and looks nicely placed to get the job done.
Beaten by the barest of margins at Geelong two runs back when powering home, he was strong through the line last time, finishing a close fourth in a BM90 on Oaks Day.
He drops back sharply in grade and I think he’ll appreciate getting back to the mile.
Billy Egan knows him well and the wide gate shouldn’t prove too much of issue as he produces his best when he’s allowed to find his feet and have one last crack at them.
He’s fit and has won over this track and trip previously.
1 unit – HE’LL RIP