Bet365

Race Overview

MORPHETTVILLE 27 April 2024

NUM	TIME	COMMENT
1	12:02	Grand Syndicates Handicap 1100m A strong gallop is likely with The Great Baby and Katim's Club taking up the running, closely attended by Big Option and Meetmein Melbourne. AVIATRESS (12) ended her initial campaign with a big run for fourth at Flemington at Stakes level last spring and looked close to that sort of form when winning a recent trial very easily. She was an impressive winner of her first 2 career starts and is very well placed to take this out fresh up. THE GREAT BABY (4) is a very promising gelding who is progressing nicely towards another win. He was beaten by a nose here a fortnight ago and will be hitting his stride third up. With the right run, he can go one better. WALLY WEST (11) had 3 runs last prep earlier in the year and was not too far away in any of them. He had the trial watchers sit up and take notice when winning at a Balaklava trial meeting recently and with the blinkers on for the first time, he is set to give this a shake. MEETMEIN MELBOURNE (5) is a Victorian raider who will be spot-on with her fitness after 3 runs back from a spell. A wide draw is no help but Damian Lane is and the pair merit healthy respect. SUGGESTED PLAY: Aviatress to win.
2	12:37	Breeders' Stakes 1200m Khadime and Growing Empire to take up the running at a strong tempo. GROWING EMPIRE (1) finished runner-up on debut at Randwick-Kensington in February and then won a further 2 trials in Sydney before heading South and proving to be too slick for his rivals at Moonee Valley 5 weeks ago. Taking them all the way that day and holding on comfortably by 2 lengths. This is no harder and he can repeat the dose. KARAVAS (7) unfortunately had a Stakes win at Flemington taken off her last prep and resumed on the Parks course here 3 weeks ago with a bold effort for second. She will come on with the run and is poised to go one better in this. PURE AQUA (8) built strongly to a Stakes win on this track a fortnight ago and should have no issue with a further 150 metres on offer here. Jamie Kah picks up the ride and she is sure to be right there in the finish again. KHADIME (11) was an effortless winner on debut at Sandown-Lakeside just over 2 weeks ago. She made all the running that day and still had plenty left in the tank at the finish. Stick with her. SUGGESTED PLAY: Growing Empire to win.
3	01:12	PFD Food Services Chairman's Stakes 2000m A solid tempo anticipated with Air Assault ahead of Seeking Stardom and Harvest Moon. AIR ASSAULT (1) returned from a spell in February and ran fourth at Stakes level and since then has won 3 races on the bounce, including a brave win by a nose here a fortnight ago. He has come into his own since being allowed to run along in front and similar tactics here will make him the one to peg back again. WARMONGER (3) closed off his run powerfully here last time out to finish only a nose behind the top pick. He will be peaking third up and the extra furlong is ideal. Damian Lane is back in the saddle and he can go one better this time. SHINJUKU (4) is a promising gelding who has been a late scratching since his last start run in Group 2 company at Moonee Valley where he ran above expectations and finished a close eighth. If he does not need the run, he is capable of figuring in the finish. BOLD SOUL (2) returned from a short spell and finished third in the same race behind the top 2 picks. His best work was down the stretch that day and he will be hard to beat in this. SUGGESTED PLAY: Bold Soul each way.
4	01:47	John Hawkes Stakes (Formerly D C McKay Stakes) 1100m Master Eight is expected to lead at a slick tempo. SANS DOUTE (4) has won her last 4 starts at Flemington and has shown a lot of courage in the 3 most recent of those when scoring by narrow margins. The wide track here should also suit her and she is perfectly placed at the weights with only 54.5 kilos on her back. She can make it 5 on the bounce here. WHAT YOU NEED (6) resumed from a long spell with a brave effort for third at Flemington behind the top pick 4 weeks ago. He will be much fitter for that run and is undefeated in 3 starts over this slightly longer trip. Craig Williams retains the ride and he is the main threat to the top pick. PRESS DOWN (14) got home hard here a fortnight ago when resuming from a spell, finishing third at Group 3 level. He improves with racing and is capable of taking this out. SGHIRRIPA (1) has been contesting some hot fields in Group 1 company most recently and gets some class relief here. He has never missed a cheque on this track, including 5 wins and can bounce back into the money here. SUGGESTED PLAY: Sans Doute to win.
5	02:22	Sportsbet Tobin Bronze Stakes 1200m Solid tempo likely from the outset with a number of speedy beginners engaged, most notably The Novelist and Life Coach. ARKANSAW KID (1) was a touch worked up before the start of his last run at Randwick and did well to fight on strongly for fifth after being blocked for room early in the home stretch. He has been competitive in the best of class in his career and should be at his peak fitness third up from a spell. A wide gate is no help but a win would be no surprise. GUMDROPS (9) won at Moonee Valley second up this prep and then was fifth here a fortnight ago and looked to have plenty of improvement in him that day. She is nicely weighted and will welcome Damian Lane back into the saddle. This is a nice target for her and she can get the job done. SKYBIRD (8) stuck on bravely at Bendigo when resuming there 2 weeks ago. She was doing her best work last and the extra 100 metres will suit her second up. She strips fitter and is not out of this. THE NOVELIST (2) folded up badly in the home stretch at Randwick last start after a promising run fresh up at Rosehill. He is worth another chance in this. SUGGESTED PLAY: Gumdrops each way.
6	02:57	Queen Of The South Stakes 1600m Pace on from the outset with En Francais and Soul Choice pushing forward, closely attended by Seonee. SEONEE (5) is progressing nicely this prep and her form is heading the right way. She made up some ground at Caulfield last start and though no match for the winner that day she did savage the line late. She steps up to a mile which seems like the ideal next step and she is the one to beat here. LEGACIES (18) was a brave BM78 winner at Caulfield 3 weeks ago when clinging on to victory by a head after making all of the running that day. He is a hard horse to get past when his mind is on the job and with 6 kilos less to carry this time, he could take some pegging back again. CAMPIONESSA (1) is a high-class Kiwi mare who tried hard from a wide gate at Randwick last start when finishing ninth in Group 1 class but less than 3 lengths from the winner. She has a great record at the mile and has attracted James McDonald to the saddle. Don't drop her just yet. Can win. LADY JONES (10) let down very nicely when scoring second up over 1400 metres at Bendigo 2 weeks ago. She is not out of this. SUGGESTED PLAY: Seonee to win.
7	03:37	Sportsbet Australasian Oaks 2000m Positivity should lead and control the tempo. VIBRANT SUN (6) came with a well-timed run to get up and score comfortably at Moonee Valley 5 weeks ago over a mile and is expected to relish the step up to 2000 metres for the first time. She will have time to secure a handy spot early on and can have the last say again. COCO SUN (8) has taken a different route into this than most of her rivals and her 2 wins this prep have come at benchmark level, with her last win at Bendigo being the most impressive of the 2, scoring by 3 lengths. She was fifth in the Oaks earlier in the season and the step up to 2000 metres third is ideal. Stick with her. WINGS OF SONG (2) is aiming for 7 wins on the bounce and franked her Tasmanian wins with an easy victory in the traditional lead-up to this race here a fortnight ago and she has to be hard to beat again. PULCHRITUDINOUS (1) was a last-start winner of the NZ Oaks 6 weeks ago and has since joined the Waterhouse/Bott stable. That form stacks up nicely here and she can win this as well. SUGGESTED PLAY: Pulchritudinous each way.
8	04:12	Sportsbet Robert Sangster Stakes 1200m Looks a decent tempo with I Am Me, Estriella and Passive Aggressive leading the charge. ESTRIELLA (12) showed some promise earlier in the season and since returning from a spell she has won 3 races on the bounce, including an all-the-way win at Flemington last time out at Stakes Level. She also won at Caulfield fresh up in Group 3 company and deserves a crack at Group 1 glory here. She drops a couple of kilos in weight and can win again. I AM ME (2) finished third fresh up at Moonee Valley in Group 1 class 5 weeks ago and is just as sharp second up. She is among the very best sprinters in the land and with the benefit of a good draw, she is capable of taking this out. ZAPATEO (1) built strongly to win the Group 1 Galaxy at Rosehill last time out when paying 25/1. She is still on the up and has been placed on this track twice in the past. If she happens to strike a wet track, she becomes the one to beat. BENEDETTA (4) won the Group 3 lead-up to this a fortnight ago and can make the most of a superior draw this time. She certainly deserves a Group 1 win. Stick with her. SUGGESTED PLAY: Estriella to win.
9	04:50	Thomas Farms Handicap 1600m From the wide draw Second To Nun can cross and set up a solid tempo. CHICAGO STORM (1) needed his first 2 starts back from a spell and then put it all together when leading all the way here a fortnight ago, scoring comfortably by well over a length. He is up 4 kilos in weight but he did not look like stopping last start and can take them all the way again. MR MAESTRO (3) did not fire in a couple of starts last spring and looked much more like it when resuming at Caulfield 3 weeks ago, finishing on strongly for fifth. He normally improves with racing and is nicely poised to put his best hoof forward in this. SECOND TO NUN (7) did not have much luck when finishing seventh in the same race as the top pick and before that she was a game-winner at Oakbank. Jamie Kah steps into the irons for the first time and the pair merit healthy respect. Don't underestimate her winning chances. PRINCE JOFRA (5) was a narrow winner at Penola last start and his recent form says he deserves a shot at some decent prize money. He is not the worst first four chance here. SUGGESTED PLAY: Mr Maestro each way.