Murray Bridge, Saturday 28/5
Conditions - Soft
Race 1
1- KARACASU (BEST OF DAY)
2- MISTER ME
5- VALAROC
KARACASU is a talented horse and this is a big drop in grade in comparison to what he has competed in last start. He is a get back run on type and the wide Murray Bridge track should suit. MISTER ME is a last start winner when he resumed at Ballarat. Taking a step up in grade today but both career wins have come over this distance and a wet track will suit. VALAROC has won 2 of his last 3 and this distance really suits him represents nice EW price currently.
Race 2
9- LADIES LUNCH
11- TE PIRO
4- TEST THE LAW
Tough maiden race this but only tough because there looks a few good ones in the race. Putting LADIES LUNCH on top, she looks a good type and win a trial recently. Drawn well and should be on speed. TE PIRO has trialled well recently even after a couple slow ones a few months back. Showed good speed in a recent trial so expect her to be pushing forwards. TEST THE LAW is the only runner in this field who has had race experience. Was 2nd on debut behind smart runner Aitch Two Oh. Has been gelded since that run and resuming here.
Race 3
13- LEGLESS LADY (EW/VALUE OF DAY)
7- STARTS WITH HELLO
6- SIR ARMINIUS
Think we are yet to see the best of LEGLASS LADY and she resumes here today. The stable thought enough of her to enter her in Listed & Group level races in her first 2 career runs. She has taken time but may surprise at decent odds. STARTS WITH HELLO was big in his debut here at the track, missed the start and made huge ground late to finish 2nd, rising in trip suits. SIR ARMINIUS is another who was finishing off well in their last start and will likely appreciate rising here in distance.
Race 4
4- CHICAGO STORM
7- VAIN FOX
5- JEDIAH
Not super keen in this one, thinking that there isn’t really much that jumps off at the page. Can make a case for CHICAGO STORM who resumes today and has had 2 pretty good runs to date, drawn well and will likely push forwards from that barrier. VAIN FOX has had a few goes now and has looked to have a chance in each start but hasn’t quite been there. Worked hard last start in heavy conditions and could improve out of that being 2nd up and fitter now. JEDIAH is on debut, has trialled well prior to this debut and wouldn’t surprise.
Race 5
2- IRISH BUTTERFLY
3- TOYETIC
7- ARROWTOWN GIRL
Victorian visitor IRISH BUTTERFLY looks really good in this based on recent form. He has competed well at midweek metro grade and also has the fitness to cover this distance today. Don’t think he will be worried about the wide barrier as he will go back and be finishing off late, so this track suits. TOYETIC has found good recent for, he has won 3 of his past 4 starts. Last start he went over a similar trip to this and so should have the fitness to see it out and will be suited to the wet conditions. ARROWTOWN GIRL improved through this prep as she was given more distance to work with. Rising here in trip will suit her.
Race 6
2- HOWL
1- SILVER ON RED
11- THE GOV
Haven’t seen the best of HOWL in this prep and thinking coming to the big open spaces of Murray Bridge. He has had excuses in his last 2 starts but if he can find his best he is one to watch for late. SILVER ON RED kicked off this prep with a win here at the track and has a good record here. He has been in good form this prep and comes down in grade from his last start. Interesting watch on THE GOV who debuts for a new stable. He has a good record over this distance and potentially can figure at a nice price while fresh.
Race 7
4- KOLOKAR
1- SHORT STORIES
11- EN FRANCIS
Think KOLOKAR is better than what he showed in his first up performance. Thought he looked like he had some nice potential when winning on debut. So he has some extra ground to work with here today which will suit. Giving him one more chance here. SHORT STORIES steps up in grade after a last start 3rd when fresh. Thought that run was super considering he had to work from a wide barrier and really finished it off nicely. Expecting he can take improvement from that and should be fitter 2nd up. EN FRANCIS resumes of a long spell. She is only lightly raced and has shown good talent, just want to see her go around here but think she is one to follow out of this race and especially over a further trip.
Race 8
13- RESIDUE
10- WILD IMAGINATION
2- THRILL KILL
RESIDUE deserves a win after the past 2 runs he has had. He was 3L off the winner in a Group 3 2 starts back. That winner went of the win Group 1 The SA Derby and next start he placed behind a smart runner. Draws well here for a soft run, if he runs up to those last couple runs he should win this. WILD IMAGINATION met a sharp field in her last star at Group 2 level, expect she should appreciate the drop in grade for this today. She is 3rd up so should be nearing peak fitness and is undefeated both other times she has run when 3rd up (2:2-0-0). THRILL KILL has placed in his past 5 starts and only just missed in his last start when finishing 2nd in a photo over this trip. He should have no issues with this trip again, drawn well and fit, he should figure in the finish.
Race 9
15- MUNSTER
4- CALYPSO REIGN
9- EXTREME THRILL
MUNSTER was massive last start when he probably produced his career best performance to win a good race. Think the key to him that day was the fact he carried a lot less weight than he had been and again here, he has a lighter weight. He has a good draw so should settle in behind the speed, and on his home track he looks a big chance to win again. CALYPSO REIGN usually runs well here at Murray Bridge (4:2-1-1) and that is probably due to the space in the straight as he is a run on type who has an big finish. If he finds a clear run late he is a big danger, only small knock is his form can start to fade deeper into preps he gets (unplaced 3rd up). EXTREME THRILL resumes today and has a solid 1st up record (6:2-0-2). This race is easier than what he was competing in at the end of last prep, would be more in the market if he had drawn a barrier more inside.
Race 10
12- SACRED ARMOUR
10- CASTLE OF KIMGS
9- BOLT BY
SACRED ARMOUR is a super consistent type who is dropping in grade after and impressive 3rd in his last start. He beat home so,e handy types and the form from that race could be franked earlier on here today with the likes of HOWL and CALYPSO REIGN racing. Draws a sticky barrier, but handled one well last start. CASTLE OF KINGS looks a talented type by his recent Starting Price Profile. He was a winner when resuming and has a consistent record. The step up in grade here today is why I don’t have him on top, just want to see how he goes in a stronger field. If he drifted out more towards $4 I would be more inclined to back him. BOLT BY was good when resuming, winning here over the track/distance, from a smart stable and rarely runs a bad race.
Quaddie
1,4,5,10,11
2,10,13
4,5,9,15
9,10,12
