After a huge weekend of Group 1 action and races all over the country, the Punters Prince is fresh and ready to fire at Ballarat.
It is an early start to the day with the best coming up in the first on the program.
ballarat race 1
#4 golden mile
Golden Mile begins his career as a two-year-old for Godolphin and finds a very winnable race on debut.
He has the making of a horse who is going to get up over the mile from what we have seen in the jump-outs, but definitely has the sharpness to win over 1200 metres.
His jump out on March 4th was a third place behind the speedy Amenophis and Foujita Sam.
Really like the way he responded to light riding and was then held back just before the finish post.
His second jump out is what caught the eye.
The blinkers were applied and he speared to the front to win with ease.
The blinkers remain on here and he looks screwed downed enough to be running a big race.
Suggested Bet: Golden Mile win at $4.6
ballarat race 3
#2 port philip
Having a decent crack at Port Philip.
The four-year-old gelding is ready to win his maiden after acquitting himself well at Ballarat over 2000 metres only nine days ago.
The connections seem to just be hitting their straps at the moment with Robert Hickmott saddling up Point Neapean who bolted in on the weekend.
Big jockey booking with star hoop Damian Lane being given the ride from barrier 10.
He will not have to put too much thought into this ride; get rolling and try to find the the front or an on-pace position is what the instructions will likely be.
The horse now has a strong fitness base to out the 2000 metres, which is something his main danger in Fantastic Galaxy does not have over this distance range just yet.
Suggested Bet: Port Philip win at $2.60
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 2, 10, 12
ballarat race 5
#4 richmond poet
Happy to give Richmond Poet another go.
He is a lightly-raced four-year-old gelding who will appreciate getting back onto drier ground.
He did pull up with an irregular heart rhythm and clearly did not handle the heavy track.
Gets a little weight swing on Festivus who beat him home last start, but there is every chance the roles are reversed here despite the final margin.
Should get a perfect trailing run from the barrier.
The jump outs leading into his first-up run were actually not too bad, so at big odds, we can back him on an each-way basis.
Suggested Bet: Richmond Poet each-way at $18 the win and $4.8 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 2, 3 ,4, 9
ballarat race 6
#4 california sunset
California Sunset might just have the right set to break through for his first win in just over a year.
The favourite does look slightly vulnerable getting onto a good track after winning on a heavy eight in the same grade last start.
Our selection gets the blinkers applied again and that could very well spark him back into winning form.
Think he can control the race from out in front and potentially map himself three to five lengths ahead of the favourite.
Suggested Bet: California Sunset each-way at $9 the win and $3.6 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 1 & 4
