G’day Legends! We are back again for another week of our new Around the Ground racing previews. We will look at Mornington, Morphettville, Doomben, and Hawkesbury as we look at some country cups! Let’s get into it!
Mornington
RACE 4 #7 CONVENOR – $2.50
The Maher and Eustace Colt was terrific on his Australian debut when a luckless second inn a strong BM78 contest behind Saint Bathans. I think this a much easier assignment than that was, he has some added fitness under his belt, and 2000m is going to be right up his alley. The gate (13) is horrific but I think he might just be way too good for them and that can offset that. I trust Blake Shinn to give him every chance and I think he is going to be too good for them.
RACE 5 #11 MISS MIDDLE PARK – $5
This Maher and Eustace Mare has won two of her last three and I think she finds another suitable race here. She settled back at the Valley in her two wins at that track two and three back when on a genuine tempo and she flashed home down the straight last start behind a handy horse. She draws perfectly here (5), she loves tight turning tracks which Mornington is and without there being a whole lot of speed in this race I expect Micky Dee to settle her around midfield and I think she will just be too good for them. Our Redente is the main danger but this Mare has the map advantage which is key at Mornington.
RACE 6 #7 TAPA CAPALL – $15
She has to improve slightly here but there is nothing saying she cannot. First-up he flashed home at Sandown over 1300m behind Ebony King and his last start run behind Diesel was good considering he did plenty wrong down the straight. Being out of Fiorente she should love the mile and I think this has been a target race for her whilst for a few in the market such as Elkington Road and Waltz on By I think this an afterthought. She gets back to her home track, she draws well (3) and I think at $15 she is worth an each-way bet with Damien Oliver jumping on.
RACE 8 #3 NONCONFORMIST – $6
Was surprised he wasn’t the favourite. He was just okay in the G1 Australian Cup but that is generally the way second-up considering he has only placed once from six tries at that stage of his preparation. Third-up is a different story though. He has won three of five third-up which include two wins at G3 level. He is a horse that has run second in this race before so he can handle the track, and his dominant win first-up this preparation in the Blamey shows he isn’t a spent force. He will settle handy from the lovely draw (1) and if he is anywhere near his best, I think he will be too good for them.
Morphettville
RACE 3 #2 DESIGNS – $10
This Freedman mare hasn’t had much go right in her career to date but I think she has come back in good order and she is a horse I have always had an opinion of. I think she was run off her feet in a strong BM78 race fresh and I think rising to the 1950m second-up is what she is crying out for. She will settle on the speed from the ideal draw (3) and be hard to run down. She is worth an each-way bet.
RACE 7 #3 NONAME LANE – $10
We head to South Australia and I think this bloke is well overs. He was just even fresh at this track before going to Bendigo in what I would argue is a stronger race than this when running on to finish 0.5L away from Crosshaven who is a Group Two winner. He has been targeted at this carnival, he fires third-up and ultimately his best figures just win this race. He gets in well at the weights, draws well (7) and I think he is a better horse than the likes of Saskatoon and Ayrton.
Hawkesbury
RACE 5 #2 FIRE – $3.50
He is clearly the best horse in the race and I think with the anticipated genuine tempo he wins with any luck. That was his undoing first-up behind Tycoon Humma last preparation and then he was just outclassed in the G1 Lightning Stakes behind Coolangatta. He has been given a freshen-up, has trialled well behind a smart one in Princess Grace leading into this, and he draws perfectly (6) to get the run of the race. Should be winning.
RACE 7 #2 KOTE – $7
I just don’t think he likes leading anymore (not sure he ever did) and that was the reason for his failure last start. His two runs prior behind Dashing Legend and Opal Ridge read well for this and from the draw, I think he will settle just around midfield and be hard to beat. Those two runs I mentioned were over 1200m and it looked like he was screaming out for the 1400m in those races. Happy to back him each way here and find out whether this is his suitable trip.
RACE 9 #4 JUST FOLK – $10
Surprised he was double figures here. He was very good fresh when running on from back in the field to finish 2L off Scallopini at Flemington and I thought he was good in the Golden Mile at Bendigo when giving a couple of smart ones four and 5kgs in the run. He generally does his best racing third-up and this is a horse that was only 1.7L off Cascadian last preparation. He loves the mile, will get a nice run, and any rain (supposed to be some on race day) is a big positive for him. His best goes very close.
GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. THINK ABOUT WHAT ELSE YOU COULD BE BUYING. SET A DEPOSIT LIMIT.