Kensington and Sandown Lakeside are the feature meetings this Wednesday. With the new racing season in full swing, and with the wet weather clearing, find out below who our experts are expecting to take home the mid-week cash!
Kensington Race 5
#6 Passeggiata
Passeggiata resumes with an air of expectation surrounding her. The Winning Rupert mare makes her debut for the Richard and Will Freedman camp, and she has been heavily supported in early betting. Her fresh record must be respected, and she finds her pet distance first-up from a spell. Her recent barrier trials were first-class, and she enjoys the sting out of the ground. Hard to toss!
Moonlight Gambler is over the odds. The Rubick gelding put several wins together last preparation, and this assignment looks right up his alley. The enigmatic five-year-old showed promise early doors, and the perfect inside draw brings him into all winning conversations. Jay Ford has already built a winning relationship with the big boy, and I expect his quote to shorten significantly before the barriers open. In the mix.
Jambalaya was good without winning at his latest outing. I suspect he will strip fitter as a result of his honest performance, and he stays at his preferred trip. The Shooting To Win gelding has drawn favourably in barrier two, and he meets the usual suspects. I’d prefer to support his case on top of the ground, and deeper into his campaign.
Suggested Bet: Passeggiata @ $3.10
Canterbury Park RACE 6
#2 Bat Out Of Hell
Bat Out Of Hell looks dangerous on the quick backup. The Hellbent gelding was game in defeat at his latest outing, and I suspect he is ready to peak on Wednesday. The consistent six-year-old should be rock-hard fit after a lengthy campaign, and he looks extremely well placed in this company. The wetter the better for the Bjorn Baker trained commodity, and he his double-figure quote disappeared faster than a cheating couple at a Coldplay concert. Each way all day!
Barbray will have plenty of supporters after producing an honest and consistent campaign to date. The Zoustar gelding doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and I suspect the James McDonald and Chris Waller combination will attract further market support. His record in the wet puts him into all winning calculations, and the 1550m is in his wheelhouse. His recent winning record his the primary concern.
Pink Shalala is knocking on the door. The Shalaa gelding rarely misses the drum, and this looks a winnable assignment for the precocious five-year-old. The give in the track is advantageous, and he should have the fitness edge on the majority of his rivals after a lengthy schedule. He tends to find one or two better at the pointy end of a contest.
Suggested Bet: Bat Out Of Hell @ $6.00
Sandown Lakeside Race 6
#3 Autumn Storm
Autumn Storm has come up at a ridiculous price. The Autumn Sun gelding raced extremely well during last year’s spring carnival, and I suspect his best performance would prove too strong for his rivals. He is a winner at the trip and traditionally performs well second-up from a spell. The inside drawer will ensure he receives all the favours during the run and that he looks well placed, dropping sharply in grade. His racing pattern and style will always require an element of good fortune.
Jareth is ready to peak. Both runs this campaign have caught the eyes of punters late, and I suspect the Make Believe gelding has been trained to the minute for his third-up assignment. The inside draw is advantageous, and the step out in trip is ideal at this stage of his preparation. If he is presented with his run at the right time, I expect him to figure in the finish. Dismiss at your own peril.
Taka Speed has made a successful start to his racing career. The Savabeel gelding looks progressive and deserves his shot at this level. The drop back in trip will suit, and I suspect he will appreciate the larger and longer Sandown circuit. Regardless of the result on Wednesday, it may pay dividends to follow him moving forward. The awkward gate and the significant class rise are among the primary concerns. Acid test.
Suggested Bet: Autumn Storm @ $21.00
Sandown Lakeside Race 7
#8 Stay Silent
Stay Silent will start race favourite after producing two impressive performances for the campaign. The Deep Field gelding is progressing through his grades successfully, and I suspect he has a fruitful spring in front of him. The talented four-year-old has upside for days, and a win here could springboard him into some serious races during September. The awkward alley is his biggest obstacle.
My Angel Shell is a model of consistency. The Merchant Navy gelding is always thereabouts, and I suspect he will occupy the box seat throughout after drawing the red rug. The reliable four-year-old looks the likely leader on paper, and if he can control the clock throughout, he may prove hard to run down during the final furlong. He needs to notch up another victory for his supporters.
Damehood is ready to win. All runs this campaign have been honest, and I suspect she is ready to peak on Wednesday. The Proisir mare is coming through some hot form races, and she meets easier opposition. The lightly raced four-year-old looks talented, and a win in this event wouldn’t surprise. Jumping from a different suburb makes her assignment a tricky one. Big watch.
Suggested Bet: Here Stay Silent @ $3.60
