With three provincial meetings at Northam, Sunshine Coast Poly and Hawkesbury plus country fixtures at Bendigo and Murwillumbah there’s plenty of action for punters to look at.
Coppleson to maintain unbeaten record
In the third at Hawkesbury, a 1600m Class 1 contest set to be held on a soft 7 track the Edward O’Rourke-trained Artie’s Aura is expected to have his supporters having shown good form at this level when runner-up over 1200m at Scone in July last year.
Had just the one subsequent start in 2021 but returned this year with a highly promising third place finish off a low weight in a Benchmark 78 event over 1400m at Rosehill last month. Kept on nicely that day and looks ready for this step up in distance.
Preference here however is for the once-raced Coppleson, trained by Chris Waller.
The son of Rip Van Winkle battled to a narrow margin victory when taking out a1500m maiden on a heavy 8 track at Newcastle when making his debut last month.
Raced in last for much of that contest and with the step up to 1600m here looking likely to suit the three-year-old is taken to follow up that success with jockey Brenton Avdulla, on board at Newcastle again booked to ride.
Jeuny to make all at Northam
Debut winner Legacy of Tara and Paigey’s Turn are vying for favouritism ahead of the sixth race on the Northam card, a 1400m Class 1 handicap contest.
Sue Olive’s Legacy of Tara was ridden with restraint early on prior to delivering a half-length victory in a 1300m maiden on a soft 7 track at Pinjarra on her first start last month.
The experienced Paigey’s Turn delivered some solid efforts in Class 1 contests last spell and resumed with a solid third over this course and distance on a good 4 track last month.
While catching the eye that day Paigey’s Turn is unproven on wet tracks and having shown a liking for wet surfaces in the track Rommel’s Jeuney is the pick in this competitive affair.
The four-year-old put has raced exclusively at Belmont Park since resuming this spell including when placing on three of his last four starts.
The two most recent of those outings came at this level including when a good third in a ten runner 1650m contest just over two weeks ago.
Regular pilot Brad Parnham is again in the saddle and with the drop in trip no issue having placed over this trip here prior the son of Rommel is selected to make all the running in this competitive event.
Cannon to break maiden
Custodian looks likely to jump as favourite for the fourth race on the Bendigo card, an 1100m maiden plate.
Mark Zahra’s mount has had just the one start to date with that effort coming when finishing a respectable three length sixth having attracted support in the marked for the 1200m Group 3 Black Opal at Canterbury in March.
Faded late on that day and the drop in distance looks likely to suit the Shalaa colt who represents the Anthony and Sam Freedman training team.
Cannon is taken to get the better of Custodian here however having shown ability when seventh in a 1000m contest at Flemington on debut in March.
Dropped to maiden company when runner-up over this trip on a good 4 track at Ballarat later that month and having been freshened up since Jye McNeil’s mount is taken to overcome a wide draw to get off the mark at the third time of asking.
