We’re set for another huge day of racing across the country this Saturday and I have five runners that I’m keen to follow across three states.
We’ll kick off at Caulfield where we have a triple-header of Group 1 action and I’m keen on one in race 2, along with one in the Toorak Handicap later in the day –
POINT BARROW ($3.20 at time of publish) has just the four race starts and she looks a very talented filly with a bright future.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman trained daughter of Blue Point debuted late last year with an eye-catching performance in the Merson Cooper. Taken back to last off the wide gate, she found traffic turning into the straight but charged home late into third.
She returned in fine order to make it back-to-back wins at Bendigo and then Sandown and it was an outstanding performance last start at Moonee Valley in the Group 3 Champagne Stakes.
Restrained back to the tail of the field, she stormed home into third to get within .8 of a length of the winner.
Once again, she does have a wide draw to overcome but I think she’ll be suited back at Caulfield and she’s definitely one to follow.
FEROCE ($13 at time of publish) looks ready to peak as he steps out to the mile in the Toorak Handicap.
He just found the 1100m too short when resuming in The Heath but turned out an excellent performance last start in the Rupert Clarke.
Settling in the second half of the field, the son of Super Seth travelled in the three wide line and closed off strongly to claim third.
Winner of the Australia Guineas winner and last year’s Caulfield Guineas runner up, he has proven himself a class galloper and he’ll certainly relish getting back out to 1600m.
It’s Hill Stakes day at Rosehill Gardens and I also have two to keep an eye on there –
POUNCE ($19 at time of publish) will make her Australian debut when she lines up in The Nivison. Now under the care of Chris Waller, the American mare has recorded four wins from her twelve starts and is unbeaten in two first up appearances.
Two have her victories have been at Group 3 level over the mile but she did salute on debut over 1206m, so while you’d expect her to improve as she steps out over further, she certainly looks capable kicking off at this trip.
Given two trials in preparation for her return, she found the line well in her latest heat over 818m at Warwick Farm.
She’s drawn beautifully in gate four and I think she can run a big race fresh and is one worth following.
MISS ROUMBINI ($4.80 at time of publish) has been superb in both runs this campaign and I have no doubt she’ll find herself back in the winner’s stall very soon.
The daughter of Zoustar resumed with a bold performance in the Cockram Stakes, where despite enduring a tough run, four wide and exposed, she still fought strongly to finish second.
Last time out in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, she faced a tough task from barrier thirteen. Settling second last, she unleashed a powerful finishing burst to get within three quarters of a length of Sepals.
A very honest mare, she’s yet to miss a top four spot in eleven career starts and she looks primed to strike in the $1.5m Alan Brown Stakes.
Up to Brisbane, where the babies will kick off the card at Eagle Farm and there’s a filly that has not gone unnoticed at the trials –
LADY OF FIVE ($1.85 at time of publish) is a two-year-old from the Peter and Will Hulbert stable set to make her raceday debut in the opener.
I don’t normally throw short priced favourites in the blackbook, or two-year-old first starters for that matter, but this filly seemed deserving of a mention.
A daughter of Hanseatic, she’s turned heads with two standout trial performances at Doomben. Her first hit-out in August was a dominant display as she surged ahead to win by over eleven lengths, all without being asked for an effort.
She returned late last month for another 840m heat and, while the margin was a more modest 4.5 lengths, the manner of her win was equally impressive.
Cruising to the line untouched, she once again stamped herself as a filly to watch.
Regular rider Adin Thompson, who’s been aboard for both trials and has done plenty of work with her at home, will partner her for her debut.