The Listed Ballarat Cup is the main event this Saturday in Victoria. With the $250,000 Emerging Stars Final also featuring on the stunning card of racing, a bumper local crowd is expected in the central highlands! In Sydney town, Rosehill Gardens host a typically tough and competitive summer program of racing.
Ballarat Race 7
#3 She Dances
She Dances resumes with an air of expectation. The Street Boss mare turned heads during the early stages of her career, and she was aimed at some lofty races. Her recent jumpouts have been ultra-impressive, and I suspect she will be fully wound up for her first assignment. The Peter Moody and Linda Meech combination must be respected, and she looks poised to strike from the perfect inside draw. The long layoff is the primary concern.
Mrs Chrissie will start favourite resuming after an impressive winter preparation. The versatile Per Incanto mare handles all conditions; her fresh record is outrageous. The 1100m will suit first-up, and she has been well-specked in early betting. She will drift back from the awkward gate, and if she can stay in touch with the peloton during the race’s early stages, she can make her presence felt late.
Suggested Bet: She Dances @ $5.00
Ballarat Race 8
#1 Bold Soul
Bold Soul is over the odds. The dual stakes winner was good late, fresh in the Donald Cup, and the 2000m looks ideal second-up from a spell. The Embellish gelding will be suited on his home track, and the 3kg apprentice claim brings him into all winning conversations. Barrier five will allow the big boy to settle closer in transit, and if the gaps appear as they run for the doctor, he can cause the biggest boil-over since Polly left the kettle on.
Ruakaka Raider is flying at present. The Redwood gelding hasn’t missed a top-three finish since the moon landing, and the progressive four-year-old looks well-placed in this company. The 54kg is luxurious, and the longer trips looks ideal at this stage of his campaign. Jumping from another suburb is the biggest obstacle.
Suggested Bet: Bold Soul @ $35.00
#3 Berkeley Square
Berkeley Square is knocking on the door. The consistent Territories gelding has raced extremely well all campaign in hot-form races, and he simply deserves to take home some silverware. From barrier two, he will get all the favours in the run, and if he is presented at the right time, he will loom to win late. The drop back in distance could prove a training masterstroke, and I suspect he has the fitness edge on the majority on his rivals. His recent winning record is the biggest deterrent.
Poison Chalice will start favourite after an impressive preparation to date. The Savabeel gelding doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and the form around him has repeatedly stood up during the spring. He is ready for the longer trip, and I suspect this has been a long-range target from the Preusker camp. Barrier fifteen throws the Raygun amongst the pigeons.
Suggested Bet: Berkeley Square @ $13.00
Rosehill Gardens Race 7
#7 Drift Net
Drift Net snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at her latest outing. The Exceed And Excel mare was home and hosed singing ragtime before hitting a brick wall inside the final 50m. She strips fitter, and I suspect she can explode on the quick backup. The 1300m looks cherry-ripe, and she is perfectly drawn in barrier four. If she can control the tempo throughout, the fat lady will be signing before she swings the final bend. Push the chips in!
Desiah is over the odds. The Pariah mare traditionally motors fresh, and her recent barrier trials turned heads. Her career record is enviable, and I suspect she can occupy the box seat from the perfect inside draw. If the favourite leaves the kettle on early, she can peel off heels and capitalise late.
Suggested Bet: Drift Net @ $3.20
Rosehill Gardens Race 8
#7 I'mintowin
I’mintowin was ultra-impressive first-up at Kembla Grange. The Contributer gelding carried the grandstand, and he recorded a classy victory in sizzling time. He deserves his shot at this level, and his record second-up must be respected. From barrier twelve, he will jump and find the bunny, and if his rivals allow him to cheat the clock throughout, it could be an easy watch for his supporters. His fate may be decided during the early stages of the race.
So Risque is too consistent to dismiss. The So You Think gelding is a first-up specialist, and I suspect he will sit on the leaders’ heels with a clean break from the barriers. He finds his pet distance fresh and meets familiar opponents on his preferred surface. He tends to find one or two better on race day.
Suggested Bet: I’mintowin @ $3.40
Rosehill Gardens Race 9
#5 Cigar Flick
Cigar Flick is ready to peak. Both runs this campaign have been good without winning, and I suspect she has found her right race on Saturday. The Churchill mare produced the fastest 200m of the meeting at her latest outing, and she looks well suited dropping back to 1100m. The form around Niance and Isthmus reads incredibly well for this event, and she has been absolutely smashed since acceptances. Hard to toss!
Tristate is a model of consistency. The Headwater gelding looked good at his latest outing in a serious race, and I suspect he will appreciate the significant drop-in class here. He meets easier opposition, and his record at the track at distance is second to none. There has been an avalanche for money for the six-year-old since markets opened, and barrier one brings him into all winning conversations. The 60kg from the handicapper is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Cigar Flick @ $4.00
