Sydney meeting will be staged at the Kensington track on Saturday. Fine in Sydney, Kensington was rated a Dead 4 on Thursday and with hot weather forecast for the next few days, the meeting will be held on a Good track on raceday.
Ballarat will be holding it’s standalone Saturday’s meeting this weekend. Currently, there’s overcast weather in Ballarat and the meeting could be held on a Good/Dead surface on raceday.
Anthony Cummings has been having a quiet Spring due to virus hitting his Melbourne stable but he can make it up with a win in the ‘First Sepoys At Next Year’s Sale Handicap’ with Vergara (Sydney Race 3, 1550m). The 4YO mare won well stepping up to the distance for the first time last start. She ran a good 2nd in her only start at the Kensington track. James McDonald will sit the mare just outside the leader and Vergara will be able to kick away from the field in the straight.
Valcot can make it a hat-trick of wins in the Coolmore Handicap (Sydney Race 5, 1300m). The 5YO won his past two starts at Canterbury & Randwick. He has drawn a good gate on Saturday (barrier 2) and Brenton Avdulla will be able to settle the gelding mid-field on the fence and get a cushy run and he’ll run the 1300m out strongly.
The consistent gelding Meticulously can win the ‘Choose Segenhoe Handicap’ (Sydney Race 7, 1550m) for Canberra trainer Matthew Dale. The 4YO won well 2 starts ago at Canberra before flashing home from a long way back for a close 3rd at Randwick two weeks ago. Meticulously has a good record for this distance as he has won & placed 5 times from 6 starts over the trip. He is very versatile as he can settle anywhere in the field so barrier 10 shouldn’t worry him too much. Currently at $12.00 fixed odds, Meticulously represents a great value bet.
The Ballarat Cup is the feature race for the Ballarat standalone meeting (Melbourne Race 8, 2200m), and Rosehill trainer Chris Waller can win another Melbourne Spring feature race with Vilanova. This gelding has been racing against strong oppositions this Spring including Caulfield Cup runner-up Rising Romance & Godolphin import Contributer. A slight drop in class will help the 4YO as will the barrier 2. James Winks will be able to give Vilanova a cushy run by settling him mid-field on the fence. Vilanova has won his only start over 2200m and he is set to make it 2 wins from as many starts over the trip in the Ballarat Cup.
By Owens Wong, Editor
