Best Bet – Race 7 #2 DREAMREACHER
I’m confident Dreamreacher is ready to fulfil his potential after two good runs back this campaign. He returned after a very long break (didn’t race in 2020) and and connections should rewarded for their patience with a city win here. His two runs this time in have been enormous for a horse returning off such a long break, beaten by Phantom Falcon and L’cosmo. He finds a much easier race here, but he’ll need a smart ride from Jimmy Orman from the sticky gate. Dreamreacher loves this track, having never missed a place from four starts here. The step up to 1400m also looks ideal given he is an older horse now.
Next best – Race 4 #5 PHANTOM FALCON
Phantom Falcon is drawn to get the lead and be awfully hard to run down here. He’s ran enormous in three runs this prep – beaten less than three lengths by Desert Lord before running into fourth in the Ramornie at Grafton. Trainer Kacy Fogden has removed the blinkers from this former Hong Kong sprinter as he tackles the Open Handicap over 1200 metres. Blinkers off is always a good sign that a horse has settled in and is more relaxed. I’m surprised he’s not a clear favourite here with plenty of question marks around some of the horses well in the market.
Best each way – Race 3 #11 Cinderella
The Richard and Michael Freedman-trained Cinderella finds a pretty average Class 3 and looks extremely well-placed. The draw on paper looks a touch tricky, but she should lob midfield with cover. She’s had two solid trials in NSW to prepare her for her raceday return and I expect her to run better than her odds suggests. She is a lightly-raced 3yo filly by I Am Invincible who is showing she’s on an upward spiral.