Heatherlie Handicap – 2020

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There is a field of 16 runners + 2 emergencies for this years race.  Like so many of the races on Saturday there are plenty of horses resuming in this race.  One horse that is not resuming is Sircconi and he is the early favourite at $3.5.  Next we have Game Keeper who impressed many with his eye catching finished in the Aurie Star Handicap at Flemington a few weeks ago.  The up and coming Shandy is the other horse in single figures.

Damien Oliver sticks with Plein Ciel – it was beaten as an odds on favourite last start by Think We’re Due who it meets again here.   Mirage Dancer resumes for the powerful Busuttin & Young yard and Aristia will be looking to make an improvement on her first up run.

1.  Cape of Good Hope

He won a group 1 first up in Australia last spring but has been well beaten in his 5 runs since.  Started big odds first up in the Lawrence and was eased down.  Blinkers on here but hard to recommend.

2. Mirage Dancer

Suspect this will be a “pipe opener” in preparation for races over longer trips. Mapped him to get back from an inside gate.

3. Constantinople

Started favourite in last years Caulfield Cup and arguably should of won.  Similar story to Mirage Dancer in terms of using this race as a pipe opener for a Cups Campaign.  Likely to get too far back from the wide gate to be a serious winning chance but look for him finishing hard late.

4. Dr Drill

Resuming on his home track off a short break.  The dreaded glue on shoes go on which is never a good sign.  Stable flying at the moment but hard to recommend.

5. Haky

He is an out and out stayer who is yet to win first up.  Impossible to recommend.

6. Steel Prince

We last saw him in the 2019 Melbourne Cup.  He has performed well in the past first up and gets Mark Zahra for this.

7. Gallic Chieftain

Its been a while since this 8 year old has won so hard to have him as a winning chance in this fresh.  Look for him working home.

8. Sircconi

Rock hard fit and a great run in the Lawrence where he was heavily supported late.  He will go forward, make his own luck and be in this for a long way.

9. Aristia

There was some money around for her first up in the Lawrence.  She found a nice spot and then got shuffled right back to last.  Look for an improved showing second up.

10. Mantastic

Very lightly raced for a seven year old mare.  She was in the betting first up off a long spell but was beaten 6 lengths.  Blinkers go on and back onto a firmer track which I think she will appreciate.  A knock out chance at big odds.

11. Plein Ciel

Beaten but not disgraced as an odds on favourite in an easier race last start.  Is fit and racing well and loves this track.

12. Think We’re Due

A clever ride by Melham saw this horse upset Plein Ciel at his last start.   William Pike goes on for this race.  I think we will see a bit more pressure here which will make it harder for him.

13. Exasperate

He comes out of the Plein Ciel race where he was first up.  He was soft in the betting late which suggests he may of needed that run.  Yet to miss a place from 5 goes at Caulfield and should get a soft run in behind the speed for Brian Park.  Not out if it.

14. Game Keeper

Plenty had this lightly raced gelding in the black book after his first up effort at Flemington.  I expect him to be positioned midfield on the rail which is not ideal but if the gaps open he will be right in the finish.

15. Red Alto

Has been starting big odds in recent times and not figuring.  No.

16. Shandy

2 from 2 this campaign.  Makes the big step up from mid week grade for this but powered through the line at Sandown.  Drawn perfectly in barrier 8 for an inform Jamie Kah.

17. In Good Health – 1st Emergency

Wide gate and a big step up in grade.  This looks too hard.

18. Minola – 2nd Emergency

Interesting that trainer Paul Preusker has decided to accept here.  He is an astute trainer and I doubt he would be bringing her to town unless he thought she had the ability to compete with a field like this.  She was a great run from back and wide at Geelong in a good form race. It was advantageous to be on pace that day.  If she does not get a run here then keep an eye out for her in the coming weeks – she is nominated for a race at Bendigo on Wednesday.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
14. Game Keeper	8. Sircconi
8. Sircconi	14. Game Keeper
12. Think We’re Due	13. Exasperate
11. Plein Ciel	3. Constantinople

Click here for:

Group 1 Memsie Stakes 2020 (Caulfield 1400m)

Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes 2020 (Caulfield 1200m)

Group 3 The Heath 1100 2020 (Caulfield 1100m)

Group 3 W W Cockram Stakes 2020 (Caulfield 1200m)

Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality Handicap 2020 (Rosehill 1400m)

Group 3 Premier’s Cup 2020 (Rosehill 1900m)

Group 3 San Domenico Stakes 2020 (Rosehill 1100m)

Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes 2020 (Morphettville Parks 1400m)

Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes 2020 (Belmont 1300m)

The track was rated as Good 4

Scratchings were 13. Exasperate, 16. Shandy.

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	17 In Good Health
2nd	8 Sircconi	0.1 lengths
3rd	14 Game Keeper	0.5 lengths
4th	12 Think We’re Due	1.5 lengths