Warwick Farm and Caulfield Heath are the feature meetings this Wednesday. With competitive Benchmark racing at both venues, and with plenty of prizemoney up for grabs, find out who our experts are expecting to take home an early Christmas present!
Warwick Farm Race 4
#6 Flying Step
Flying Step is racing better than her form reads in the bible. The Sidestep mare will appreciate dropping back to the mile, and the luxurious 54kg puts her into all winning calculations. The 3kg apprentice claim is advantageous, and I expect her to get a soft run in-transit from barrier two. Over the odds!
Zakiyya is coming off a forgive run at Newcastle. The Siyouni mare was luckless at a key stage of the race, and it may pay dividends to forget that she went around. The step out in distance is ideal at this stage of her preparation, and she looks dangerous from an inside draw. Her racing pattern and style always requires an element of good fortune.
Pioneer Lass will start favourite after catching the eyes of punters first-up at Hawkesbury. The Stratum Star mare savaged the line, and she strips fitter after her fresh performance. The good gate is a bonus, and she has been well supported since markets opened. If she doesn’t get too far out of her ground early, she can loom to win late.
Suggested Bet: Flying Step @ $10.00
Warwick Farm RACE 5
#4 Aix En Provence
Aix En Provence was good without winning fresh at Canterbury. The Shalaa gelding looks well placed in this company, and he is undefeated at the trip. The talented four-year-old traditionally performs well at this stage of his campaign, and I suspect he has more upside and progression than the majority of his rivals. The awkward gate is the primary concern.
Fulfilled is over the odds. The Ulysses gelding is coming off a string of ominous barrier trials, and I suspect he will be cherry ripe for a first-up tilt on Wednesday. His international form reads well for this event, and he has been specked at a price in early betting. Take on trust.
Invincible Spy resumes with an air of expectation. The I Am Invincible gelding has won four from seven career starts, and he meets easier opposition. His recent barrier trials were good without winning, and I suspect he will try to find the bunny during the early stages of the race. The grandstand weight and awkward barrier are among the primary concerns.
Suggested Bet: Aix En Provence @ $5.00
Caulfield Heath Race 7
#5 Platinum Destroyer
Platinum Destroyer is racing in great spirit. The Smart Missile gelding meets similar opposition, and I suspect he has the fitness edge on the majority of his rivals. His win at Cranbourne three starts back was ultra-impressive, and his best here could be fences and panels better than his rivals. The stable is on fire at present, and I expect him to be savaging the line late. Great eachway value.
Lukan can run a drum at cricket-score odds. The Sweet Orange gelding has been turning heads recently at the trials, and I suspect he will be fully wound up for his first-up assignment. From barrier nine he can sit midfield with cover, and if Jordan Childs presses the go button at the right time, he can make his presence felt late. The class rise is the primary concern.
Cyclone Harmony is flying at present. The Pierro gelding put his rivals to the sword a long way from home at his latest outing, and he looks well placed here meeting easier opposition. He has been screaming out for the 1800m since Hamlet was written, and the 3kg apprentice claim could prove a training masterstroke. He needs to stay in touch with the peloton during the middle stages of the race.
Suggested Bet: Platinum Destroyer @ $6.00
Caulfield Heath Race 8
#6 Wolfy
Wolfy represents great eachway value. The Tivaci gelding has had less luck this preparation than P Diddy’s neighbours, and I am sure the camp are praying for a collective change in fortune. His sizzling late sectionals all campaign have been negated by track patterns and dead ends, and I suspect he could have been better placed this spell. His best here could bring a full moon to Caulfield, and I expect his quote to shorten before the barriers open. Take on trust.
Navy King will be thereabouts. The U S Navy Flag gelding put the writing on the wall for a fruitful campaign fresh at Ararat, and I suspect he will have supporters jumping from the perfect inside draw. The big boy is undefeated second-up, and the 1500m looks ideal at this stage of his preparation. It may pay dividends to watch for any significant market support.
Saint Lazare can run a big race at a juicy quote. The Under The Louvre gelding was an impressive last-start winner at Kyneton, and I suspect he will occupy the box seat throughout. The 3kg apprentice claim puts him into all winning conversations, and the 1500m won’t pose any problems. The step up in grade is his biggest obstacle.
Suggested Bet: Wolfy @ $15.00
