There’s four meetings to get stuck into today as we build towards the weekend’s action including action from Gosford in New South Wales.
Elle to double up
In the second race at Gosford the Annabel Neasham-trained Dirty Merchant is sure to have his supporters following a maiden victory on soft going over 1400m at Newcastle earlier this month. Looks likely to appreciate the step up in trip here but may have to settle for minor honours with preference in this event for stablemate CAPITAL ELLE who delivered a narrow victory in a good ground 1500m maiden event Hawkesbury on 12th June.
Rachel King took the ride that day and she is again in the saddle on the daughter of Capitalist who showed a liking for soft surfaces when runner-up in a maiden at Goulburn on her penultimate outing.
Brook for first up glory
The concluding race on the Gosford card rates an interesting affair with last time out course and distance winner Illustrating Law and Bjorn Baker’s Diamond Hands, runner-up at Hawkesbury in September last year when last in action among those engaged.
However the eye is drawn to the five-year-old mare LADY BROOK who has an impressive three-from-three first up record including when triumphing over today’s 1000m trip at Wagga in August last year. Trained by Joseph Pride the pick has an impressive record of three wins and a place from four starts over the trip and while she disappointed at Randwick Kensington on her final start of the campaign she had excuses that day given she was reporter to have returned lame.
The booking of Sam Clipperton is a positive here and back at 1000m she looks capable of maintaining her unbeaten first up record.
Maranzano for first victory
There are plenty of runners at Moe, Victoria for their nine race card with the fourth race on the card attracting a field of 15.
In what looks a highly competitive affair the experienced Smug Sister who has Sheridan Clarke up and newcomer Spinoza, a gelding by Dissident are both sure to have their supporters but the pair may well find MARANZANO too strong on this occasion. Trained by Lloyd Kennewell the gelding had two starts last spell following up a fifth in a 1000m maiden at Bendigo with a six length sixth over the same trip at Flemington in January.
The drop to a provincial event here is a positive and he is selected to provide jockey Jye McNeill with a victory.
Moment to deliver success for Durrant
The going is described as a soft 7 at Pinjarra ahead of their ten race card. We have to wait until the eighth race for our sole pick on the card.
While The Hawkeye looks a solid performer having finished runner-up at Belmont Park in a Class 3 contest over 2100m earlier this month he has shown is best form on good surfaces and as such the prevailing underfoot conditions may see him find MYSTERY MOMENT too good.
Trainer Adam Durrant boasts a good record at this venue with a 34% strike-rate here in the last year and his representative was a winner over 1200m here when making her debut last August.
Apprentice Taj Dyson takes over in the saddle and while the daughter of Animal Kingdom could finish only fifth in a 1600m contest here earlier this month she shaped as if this step up in distance will suit and is selected to deliver a third win in seven career starts.
