Gear Changes: Renew – Visor Off First Time, Wexford Town – Blinkers First Time, Prizum – Blinkers Again.
1. Almoonqith: Very strong run first up at course over 1500m and the step up to 2040m today is exactly what the doctor ordered. Group 3 winner over 2810 over in AE last prep… he looks primed for this from good barrier.
3. Ihtsahymn: Ex-WA runner, his first two runs in the state were fine without exactly threatening to win. Up to 2040m today looks ideal based on alst prep WFA-G2 0.8L off a win. Been a long time between drinks an issue but have to respect from barrier and could be ridden further forward.
4. Renew: Poor record first up and need further than this to find his best.
5. Diametric: Every chance well backed favourite last start when beaten by Our Voodoo Prince… who was then sold if that tells you what the owners though of the horse! Poor barrier the concern.
6. Our Voodoo Prince: With the new stable after the last start win at Caulfield. Poor record at this track and didn’t show much two back. Have to respect on last start win at this distance and in this class.
7. Lord Durante: Had a charmed run last start at Caulfield and failed to finish off his race, was very disappointing really. 1 week backup though so stable aren’t concerned. Quaddie inclusion.
9. Digitalism: A long time between runs for this bloke who has had a freshen up. While this race certainly doesn’t look out of his class, his best runs have been on softer tracks this prep and always have been and this looks a step up also.
10. Shenzhou Steeds: Old Shenzy is flying with two wins in a row. By The Grace won a cup over in Adelaide during the week also backing up the form lines. D Oliver takes the ride… barrier 14 the only negative.
11. Turner Bayou: Two runs were both terrible this prep. Impossible to have.
12. Correggio: Decent type and his last start run was respectable, but hard to see the improvement to pass Shenzhou Steeds.
13. Doumaran: Another Williams import. Clearly best runs were over much further than this over in France. Take on today needs the run.
14. Wexford Town: Led and disappointing only run in Australia. Doesn’t look as good a type as the other Williams runner for mine on form lines.
15. Albonetti: Certainly flew home last start when never a chance and wasn’t suited by the way the track was playing. Won’t get any favours today either even though barrier 5 suits. Inexperienced jockey a massive issue for me having not even ridden at this track the past 12 months. Jockey hasn’t won a race the past 12 months worth more than 20k prize money to his horse!
16. Prizum: Old mate loves to flash home and last start was no different when he never exactly looked the winner but threatened. Will do the same again today but barrier hurts chances alot more today also.
17. Diaghan: Three runs and had every chance and just not good enough. taking on even though Dunn goes onboard.
18. Stellarized: First up run too poor to be correct? Have to rate on three previous runs last prep but hard to have the faith on first up.
Comments: A rough way to end the day with such an open race. Several key chances but it doesn’t end there! Lord Durante goes into the mix as always but i can’t touch at the price. Shenzhou Steeds looks a big chance and form backs his claims up, but the barrier does mean he could get caught wide. What did Diametric and Our Voodoo Prince actually battle last start? I’m convinced they beat the second-raters and I have to take both of them on in the win markets. I think Almoonqith up to this distance today will be a different horse to last start and will be well suited.
Confidence 75%
Quaddie Leg Four: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10
Strategy: Almoonqith E/W
