The Feehan Stakes from Moonee Valley headlines the card ahead of Saturday metropolitan racing this weekend.
The Wizard of Odds has the best bets and has got his umbrella out with wet forecast for Melbourne.
Moonee Valley Race 1
#3 Sandy Prince
We start the day with a potential group horse in the making as Sandy Prince makes Saturday debut for Ben & J D Hayes.
The three-year-old gelding progressed to city grade last start following a Moe maiden win on a heavy track and made it two wins in a row by leading all the at Sandown.
He has untapped potential and gets the right set up to make it a winning effort in town with a favourable map and conditions.
Barrier four should see him settle in the first four or lead and he has clearly shown his ability to handle wet weather which is important given the forecast showers.
Suggested Bet: Sandy Prince win at $2.9
Moonee Valley Race 2
#8 Mr Brightside
Mr Brightside has been a model of winning consistency this preparation.
The Ben & J D Hayes-trained galloper has progressed through his grade beautifully this campaign having gone from a maiden win at Geelong to BM-64 and BM-70 wins at Sandown.
His last two efforts have been at the mile and he has attacked the line like a very smart horse.
He’s another Hayes that seems to handle wet ground to great effect having bolted in his Geelong maiden by five lengths on a soft seven rated surface.
That, alongside his great fitness base, is going to hold him in good stead for what will likely be testing conditions.
An early double is on the cards for the Hayes stable.
Suggested Bet: Mr Brightside win at $3
Moonee Valley Race 5
#3 Portland Sky
Portland Sky returns as a four-year-old stallion after racing in some hot Group 1 races which included him dead heating the Oakleigh Plate.
He seems to have returned in great order after a quiet jumpout on a heavy nine track and looks poised to run a big race upon resumption.
The lead is his for the taking should Luke Currie decide to fire him out of the barriers.
If the pair do find the front with ease, then this race is simply all over.
His only defeat at Moonee Valley came against Masked Crusader and that form, even though over 1200 metres, clearly stacks up in this race.
He gets into the field very well weighted considering the class edge he has over each runner.
Suggested Bet: Portland Sky win at $2.9
Moonee Valley Race 8
#1 Best of Days
Best of Days comes up nice each-way odds in this Cox Plate qualification race.
The Godolphin owned and James Cummings-trained gelding was specked each-way in the Peter Lawrence last start and ran well considering he was resuming from a spell.
He now rises to 1600 metres with a fitness base to work on leading into this race and beyond.
The man of the moment Brett Prebble takes the ride here and he is going brilliantly at the moment.
Barrier six should pose no issues and, even though his form guide may suggest he does not handle heavy track, he can run well on it in this event.
Suggested Bet: Best of Days each-way at $12 the win and $3.8 the place.
