We didn’t have a lot of luck with Blackbook runners last week but we’re back again with a few to follow across three states.
We’ll start at Eagle Farm where it’s Stradbroke Day and I’m keen on one at double figure odds in the Listed Hinkler Handicap.
Appin Girl was only fair when resuming in the Chief De Beers but was found to have pulled up with a slow recovery rate.
The daughter of Capailist isn’t short of talent but she’s had more than her fair share of back luck and her record should read better than it does.
A winner of three races, one at Listed level, she’s also been stakes placed on three occasions and boasts solid form around her.
She holds a strong record at her home track and performs very well second up.
Off to Rosehill and we’ll start with race 4.
Codetta returned to the races with a very encouraging performance over this course and distance and she will have taken plenty of benefit from the outing.
Slowly away, the daughter of Nicconi settled back in the second half of the field and hit the line strongly behind King’s Secret to claim second, beaten less than length.
She’s unbeaten in two second up appearances and meets that galloper 2kg better in weights this time around.
A very progressive filly, she’s putting together a handy record and I think she’s one to follow.
Stepping out in the feature event at Rosehill is Don Diego De Vega and there was a lot to like about his first up performance over 2000m.
The former French galloper settled well back off the wide gate and finished off strongly in the straight to claim fourth.
He’s yet to step out over this journey but he way he worked through the line suggests it will suit and he did salute second up in his first Australian campaign.
He failed to fire in two runs last preparation but they were both on firm tracks and he gets conditions to suit this time.
Looking at Sandown and there’s a few that I’m keen on.
We had Terrilee in the blackbook prior to her latest outing but again, the filly was luckless.
Caught very wide off in the early part she was taken back in the field but was never closer than three deep and still powered home to claim second.
She drops back slightly in grade, she draws to get a kinder run throughout and with even luck, she’ll be winning.
Dirty Grin produced an eye-catching performance last start on the back off a five week freshen up and I think he’ll relish stepping out to 1400m.
The gelding has been in career best form since joining the Nick Ryan yard, having won three of his five starts this campaign and he nearly made it four wins last time.
Settling well back over the 1200m at Caulfield, he was presented to outside in the straight and sprouted wings 100m out, charging home to get within a nose of Namesake.
He does rise 5.5kgs but drops back in grade and the low draw can see him settle in striking distance.
Sayedaty Sadaty turned out an encouraging first up performance over this course and distance a fortnight ago and he will have taken improvement from the outing.
The European import failed to fire in two previous starts on Australian soil and given time, he looks to have settled in nicely.
Stakes placed on two occasions in the UK, he also finished a very credible fifth in the Epsom Derby so he’s not short of talent.
He travelled well behind the leader last time and gave a good kick in the straight but just had Saban get he better of him late.
With the added fitness, I think he can go one better and he’s certainly one to follow this preparation as he step out over more ground.