After landing another big winner in a two-year-old race, the Punters Prince has his eyes set on the eight-race card at Pakenham.
There is a maiden at good each-way odds ready to make the step up to the mile, while Damien Oliver pilots the best of the night in the last.
pakenham race 1
#10 sillman
Sillman will be ready to peak now.
The three-year-old filly by champion galloper American Pharaoh has been building towards a big run and finds a suitable race over the mile.
She had to the take step up from 1100 metres to 1400 metres and she also went from a country race to metropolitan grade.
Gave the impression she is looking for further and strikes a much slower race against more dour opposition.
That should allow her to settle far closer in the run than she has in at her first two efforts.
She will be hitting full fitness and gets a handful of gear chances to get running somewhere near best.
Still not the furnished product, but worth an each-way gamble at the price.
Suggested Bet: Sillman each-way at $8.5 the win and $2.70 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 5 & 10
Pakenham race 3
#8 native girl
Native Girl seems to have come back a far better race horse than what we saw in her first preparation.
The three-year-old filly by Group 1-winning sire Tivaci progressed all the way to the Wakeful Stakes at her final run last campaign.
She did not disgrace herself at all and was only beaten 4.5 lengths by eventual VRC Oaks winner Willowy.
Her two jump outs leading into this first-up run have both been strong given the type of staying horse she is.
She held on for third spot against sharper horses in her second jump out when being ridden out late in the piece.
From what we have seen at the jump outs, she will be screwed down enough to run a strong first-up race.
Expect her to be winning against this opposition.
Suggested Bet: Native Girl win at $2
Suggested Exotic: Exacta 8 & 7
pakenham race 6
#4 comte
It is ‘thrown the kitchen sink’ time with Comte.
Damien Oliver has been booked to pilot the horse around Pakenham from barrier one and you could not ask for a better jockey to lift this horse back into winning form.
This six-year-old gelding has to rise from BM-64 grade to BM-70, but he does get some weight relief for the step up.
There will be no issues with barrier one, given the field is likely to peel off the rail as the meeting progresses and should gift Oliver a run up the inside.
Horse has the fitness to edge out the likes of Blood Oath, Ice Ice Baby, Final Man and Tydeus who are still building towards peak fitness.
Suggested Bet: Comte each-way at $6 the win and $2.6 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 2, 4/ 2, 3, 4/ 1, 2, 3, 4
pakenham race 8
#6 carlisle
What a great return from Carlisle when he ran second to the race-fit Tobaysure upon resuming last start.
He was sent out a $17 elect at Class One level and loomed as the winner, but his fitness just gave way late in the race.
He still sustained a very good sprint over the last 400 metres and he is going to take great benefit from having a solidly run first-up effort.
He stays at the mile and races in BM-64, which actually looks far easier than what he raced in when resuming.
Big tick with Damien Oliver deciding to stick with the John Moloney-trained galloper.
That in itself is a sign the horse is ready to win.
Suggested Bet: Carlisle win at $2.70
