Best bet – Race 6 #5 Indispensable
Thought he put the writing on the wall last start when solid in the market on Wave Day at the Gold Coast. He arguably should’ve won as he hung in for much of the straight. There’s no gear changes here but Ben Thompson is a top jockey and will have learnt a lot from that run. He’s now fourth-up into the prep and primed to run well. He drew wide last start and had to go back to the rear, but on this occasion he has barrier one and should sit midfield on the fence. He goes well at this track and handles soft going. It has been a little bit of a peculiar prep – going 1200m to 1000m to 1400m – but he has been beaten by handy gallopers on each occasion this prep, including The Bopper and Palladas.
Next best – Race 4 #5 Head of State
Classy galloper who has performed well in the top grade. He is back from WFA last start, where he carried 58.5kg in The Wave feature at the Gold Coast. He drops down to 57kg here and back to a BM78 grade. The way the track played that day made it impossible for him to win, but he ran fourth and was doing his best work late in the worst part of the track. Giving the run further merit was the fact he began awkward and then was three wide the entirety. Stepping out to 2000m from 1800m also suits, and whilst he’s drawn wide, it’s a big field and there’s some pace in the race. Also meets the favourite Ashgrove 1.5kg better off here.
Best each way – Race 2 #4 Menari Magic
She’s put in two very good runs this prep and is way over the odds. Last start she set the pace and was run down by the smart Busting, who has since ran second on Wave Day to Juniquera. There was a good gap to third in that race where Menari Magic was no match for Busting. First up she ran third behind Beast Mode, and second was Warrioress who has won since. She’s drawn low and should either lead or sit in behind Centre Bounce who may hold the fence. We’re getting a good price because of the low profile trainer and jockey combo.