Sydney racing will move to Warwick Farm this Saturday. On Thursday the Warwick Farm track was rated a Dead 5. With warm and sunny weather forecast, the track should be closed to Good 3 on race day.
In the opening race (Sydney Race 1, 1000m) punters could start off the meeting on a winning note with the Peter Snowden trained 1st starter ‘Aspen’. In her only trial, Aspen finished 3rd to Crazyonyou, who ran 2nd to the Waterhouse trained Certitube in her 1st race start last week. I think that form line should hold up. From barrier 2, McEvoy has plenty of options on where to settle the filly.
In the ATC Cup (Sydney Race 4, 2200m) Scouting Wide looks the leader in this race with a couple of runners tuck behind him. Moriarty should settle about 5th one off the fence. He has been in great form winning 3 of the last 5 starts and finishing 2nd in his last 2 runs. Moriarty had to give 4.5kg to the in-form Cantonese last start when he finished 2nd to that galloper and yet he was only beaten 1.3 length. In a race with a 54kg limit on Saturday, Moriarty (57kg) only has to concede 3 kg to most of his oppositions and that could be enough to make him a winner again.
In the Pro-Ride Handicap (Sydney Race 6, 1600m) the David Van Dyke trained Bledisloe looks well placed in this race. He’s a seven year old gelding but he has been a late bloomer and has only hit winning form this year having won 3 races in 2012. He was 1st up last start and he was still 8th at the 400m, but he finished the race off with a good strong sprint and won impressively. There is good pace in this race according to my speed map so Bledisloe should be able to slot in even from barrier 10. There has been reports that the Waterhouse trained The Great Snowman has met with strong support and has come in from $10 to $8 at the fixed odds market. Currently Bledisloe is at $3.80 and if supports continue for The Great Snowman, then Bledisloe would ease out to pretty attractive odds. Anything over $4.50 for Bledisloe is certainly worth a bet.
The TAB.com.au handicap (Sydney Race 7, 1000m) race favourite Nuptse is a handy horse on his day. However he has to carry 59kg after the claim of Blake Spriggs, and that may be too big a task for him. The form horse in the race is the second favourite Cradle Me. He has won 3 races so far this preparation and at his last start at Gosford, Ron Quinton’s stable apprentice Sam Clipperton has timed his run to perfection. Cradle me was still 8th rounding the home turn and yet the horse had got up in the very last bound. Clipperton will continue his assocaition with Cradle Me on Saturday and with an anticipated strong pace, Cradle Me should finish strongly.
By Owens Wong, Editor
