Kilmore Cup – 2022

Track: Soft Weather: Fine

Good race with many chances. The market is headed by Alcyone who maps for a lovely run and handles soft footing. The Godolphin team are on fire currently and it is their sole chance in the race. Belle Plaisir was scratched last week and saved for this. It is racing in excellent fashion and will appreciate a drop in grade. Keats continues to win and has been a star since changing stables. French Emperor is hard to knock shooting for 4 wins in a row and gets the perfect draw. Crosshaven & So Si Bon are hard horses to catch but both capable on their day. Belle Plaisir goes on top here with the strong form lines.

1. Crosshaven (1)

Crosshaven doesn’t win out of turn but soft ground and the 1600 is its go. Damien Oliver has options from the draw and this race is within reach. The winning striker rate recently of Crosshaven is the concern.

2. So Si Bon (9)

So Si Bon is tricky to catch but it gets its chance here as a lot of these in this field don’t win out of turn. Its form has tapered off a little its past 2 runs but it was going along well prior. Wouldn’t shock at the $23 mark but needs to lift off recent efforts.

3. Not An Option (10)

Going along okay but with plenty of speed it will need a stack of luck from the draw. Prefer others.

4. Belle Plaisir (7)

Belle Plaisir clearly on top here. It wasn’t far off Icebath last run and prior to that was up close to Promise Of Success and Electric Girl in NSW. That looks the absolute form for this. Scratched from last week and saved for this race. Primed to take this out.

5. Hi Stranger (8)

Hi Stranger is 1/1 on the track and handles soft fine. Hasn’t won for a while but I suspect he is set for this race and can run well back to Kilmore over the 1600. Chance at odds.

6. Biometric (11)

Very tricky galloper to catch but has won 2nd up. Respect any market moves but prefer others at this stage.

7. Alcyone (5)

Alcyone is racing well and there Godolphin camp are unstoppable at the moment. Mcdougall has options from the draw and it looks very well weighted dropping 5kgs. Alcyone was close behind the smart Quality Time 3 runs back and a repeat of that effort has it right in this.

8. Imperial Lad (2)

Imperial Lad needs to notch up another win and hasn’t found the winners stall for a while now but it boasts a placing at the track and comes up with a lovely draw. Nugent knows the horse well but it usually wins when left alone rolling up in front, there is too much speed here predicted. Prefer others with the map and set up of this race.

9. Ascension (3)

Ascension was a surprise winner 2 back before a commendable effort last start. It flies on soft tracks and has won third up in the past. This race is within reach, especially as a lot of these runners don’t win out of turn.

10. Keats (12)

Keats has found a new lease of life with the stable change and its form around stacks up. Newitt will imply catch me if you can tactics and if the track is playing 0n speed it will be very hard to mow down. No problems on the soft, it is nicely placed in this field as long as it can find a good position early.

11. French Emperor (4)

Very hard to knock the way the Emperor is going. Shoots for 4 straight wins here and gets the perfect draw to do so. This is a notch up in grade but it continues to race well and can give this a shake. If the leaders go hard up front French Emperor can stalk the speed from the gate and pounce late.

12. It’s Tornado Storm (6)

Can’t have.

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

Bryce’s Tips	Jo’s Tips
4 Belle Plaisir	7 Alcyone
7 Alcyone	10 Keats
10 Keats	4 Belle Plaisir
11 French Emperor	11 French Emperor

Result	Horse	Margin
1st
2nd
3rd
4th

The track was rated as

Scratchings: