All roads lead to Warrnambool this Wednesday for day two of the May carnival. The Galleywood Hurdle and the listed Wangoom Handicap are the feature events, while many punters will be dusting themselves off after a massive opening day of the carnival on and off the track!
Warrnambool Race 6
#1 Saunter Boy
Saunter Boy is an owner’s dream! The rising eleven-year-old is still racing in great spirit and looks poised to strike in the feature event on Wednesday. He records over the hurdles in near perfect, and the Myboycharlie gelding loves the sting out of the ground. His last-start second at Pakenham reads well for this event, and his record at this trip must be respected. He will rightly start a short-priced favourite.
Blandford Lad will have supporters after defeating Saunter Boy in the shadows last start. He has gone to another level since entering the jumping circuit, and with the good run in transit, he can figure again. The 3.5kg weight rise is the primary concern.
Instigator was good without threatening last-start. His record at the distance speaks volumes, and he meets some of his key rivals significantly better at the weights on Wednesday. If the favourites pair off and go to war too far from home, he may be Johnny on the spot late.
Suggested Bet: Saunter Boy @ $2.00
Warrnambool RACE 7
#2 Zion
Zion returned to form last start with an impressive win at Stawell. The Rubick gelding has been freshened since, and he looks incredibly well placed at Benchmark 70 level. The Nick Ryan trained five-year-old races well at the distance, and if the rain continues, his price will continue to shorten. The awkward barrier is the primary concern.
Rock Artist can run well despite being drawn off the track. The Wandjina gelding was brave on top of the speed fresh, and his record second-up puts him into all winning conversations. The 1000m is advantageous; he will lead them straight into the home. The allocated weight is his biggest obstacle.
Field Of Flutes looks ready to win. The Deep Field gelding savaged the line fresh, and he strips fitter here. From barrier three, he should get the run of the race, and if the gaps appear at the right time, I expect him to figure. The class rise might be too much to handle for the lightly-race three-year-old.
Suggested Bet: Zion @ $6.50
Warrnambool Race 8
#2 It'sourtime
It’sourtime loomed to win fresh at Flemington before peaking on his run late. He was game in defeat, second-up at Geelong, where the barrier cruelled him. Despite racing three-wide in transit, he produced the fastest closing sectionals of the meeting, and he is ready to explode third up. I suspect this has been a targeted race for some time, and he looks well-placed against easier opposition at the Listed level. The Group 1 competitive Time For War gelding gets his chance on Wednesday after countless narrow misses. His winning record is the primary concern.
Outlaws Revenge will start favourite after a consistent campaign. The Reward For Effort gelding has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in his last three starts, and he looks well placed here to make amends for favourite punters. His record at the distance is first-class, and he will grow another leg if the track conditions continue to deteriorate. His racing pattern will always require an element of luck in transit.
Frankie Pinot is ready to win. Both runs this campaign have been full of merit, and he should get the run of the race from barrier four. The Your Song gelding meets easier opposition here, and if we strike a genuine heavy track, he is the one to beat. Needing to carry the grandstand is the biggest concern.
Suggested Bet: It’sourtime @ $7.00
Warrnambool Race 9
#5 Outback Jack
Outback Jack resumes here after an impressive spring campaign. He looks well placed at Benchmark 64 level and usually races well fresh. He is undefeated at the trip, and I suspect Lindsay Smith will have him fully wound up for a first-up tilt. His winning record is the primary concern.
James The Great will have supporters after racing consistently this preparation. The Zebedee gelding looks dangerous jumping from an inside draw, and the 3kg apprentice claim brings him into all winning calculations. I am still determining if the length of his campaign is positive leading into this event.
Farhh Flung will be thereabouts after several eye-catching performances for the campaign. He has a powerful turn-off foot and doesn’t know how to run a bad race. From barrier five, John Allen has options, and with the good run in transit, I expect him to figure in the finish. He needs to start converting narrow losses into victories!
Suggested Bet: Outback Jack @ $8.50
