Eight races greet us at Pakenham for a Thursday night meeting.
A first starter is ready to win in race one and some good value comes up in the last race on the card.
Pakenham race 1
#10 Zioties
Zioties looks a class above maiden grade from what we have seen at the jump outs.
The two-year-old filly has had two jump outs in preparation for her debut over 1200 metres, but it was the second of those two over 850 metres at Cranbourne that really caught the eye.
After settling behind the leaders, a gap opened up at the top of the straight which she took with ease.
Love the way she glided and kept up a strong stride to the finish post after being given a bit of a squeeze by her jockey.
In a small field at Pakenham, Jordan Childs should not settle too far off the leaders from the barrier and should be well within striking distance to run down this favourite for Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace.
Suggested Bet: Zioties win at $4.4
pakenham race 3
#6 Mangani
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior stable obviously had a very high opinion of Mangani given he debuted at Flemington over 1400 metres back on May 22 as a two-year-old.
He could only manage an eighth-place finish and he has since been gelded, which looks to have really brought him on as a three-year-old.
He has had three jump outs to get him screwed down and revved up for a big run first-up.
Big positive with Jamie Kah being booked to ride him and he draws the ideal barrier to keep him in clean air and out of trouble.
Expect him to be winning tonight.
Suggested Bet: Mangani win at $2.35
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 6 & 10
Pakenham race 5
#4 Yulong Code
He has been the runner-up at his past two starts, however, Yulong Code should be able to breakthrough for victory here.
He raced at Pakenham over 1200 metres last start in BM70 grade as a $3.2 favourite and managed to finish second behind city-performed galloper Beehunter.
That race was a very highly-rated event for the level and is the clear form reference to be with.
What also bodes well for the Peter Moody-trained galloper is the speed drawn outside of him giving him a lovely cart into the race.
Snapper is a fast beginner and it should given jockey Luke Nolen a tail to follow into the race giving him cover as he comes across from the barrier.
A repeat of last start will see this horse for very hard to beat.
Suggested Bet: Yulong Code win at $3
Suggested Exotic: Exacta 4 & 10
pakenham race 8
#10 Night 'n' vegas
Night ‘N’ Vegas looks ready to run a peak race on Australian soil after acquitting herself well behind the very smart Yonce.
The Phillip Stokes-trained four-year-old mare whacked away well enough to finish fifth of 14 runners, albeit beaten seven lengths, but she is clearly open to plenty of improvement.
With the blinkers going on for the first time and going up in distance, we expect her to settle handy to speed again and improve her first-up rating by anywhere between 2-4 lengths.
That would see her hard in the finish here and a great each-way proposition at the current price.
Suggested Bet: Night ‘N’ Vegas each-way at $6 the win and $2.2 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 1, 5, 6, 10
