Blinkers first time, and J Mac from gate 3.
Steps up to the 2400m he's been crying out for, drops 1.5kg.
In form trainer and horse is knocking at the door for a win.
Six horse racing meetings will be held across the country on Wednesday, with the metro focus falling on Randwick-Kensington, Sandown-Hillside and Belmont. The two that hold our attention are the Sydney and Melbourne cards.
Randwick-Kensington is rated a Soft 6, and the rail is true. Down south Sandown-Hillside is a Soft 6 as well but the rail is out 9m the entire circuit. Neither is a swamp, so we're not throwing out the form book, but wet-track credentials and a bit of tempo matter more than usual today.
The best bet — Kenso Race 1
Blinkers-first-time on a horse that keeps knocking is exactly the angle we chase mid-week. Artgirl has had her share of chances with eight placings from 11 starts, but the blinkers going on now appeal — she's run well twice at Newcastle in handy maidens and keeps finishing her races off, so it's a good chance to break through. The clincher for us: James McDonald rides from gate three, which points to a sharp run from the filly. On a Soft 6 against a maiden field, a proven placegetter with the premier hoop and a gear tweak is our most confident play of the day.
The stayer — Kenso Race 2
The two-mile trip brings a well-placed grey into the picture, and the trainer isn't hiding his hand. Elle Hudson broke a run of outs with a strong win against similar opposition at Newcastle a fortnight back, is down in weight, ran well in BM78 grade before that win, and there's no reason to think 2400m will hold any fears. The grey notched his first win in 18 months over 2200m at Newcastle, carrying 60kg for that success, and now drops 1.5kg against a few familiar rivals. Joe Pride was pointed about it — he reckons the horse will run 2400m no worries as he's been looking for this sort of trip, and that he's run well at Kensington in the past. A step up to the staying distance he wants, a weight drop and course form: that's a solid, straightforward win case.
Knocking at the door — Sandown Race 6
Over at Sandown, the meeting's shape suits a swooper. The Hillside layout consistently rewards runners finishing hard — a pattern worth respecting when the tempo's genuine. We're going with the Maher trained runner, Missapprehend, from a nice inside barrier and has been knocking at the door for a win with its two most recent placings showing good signs.
Editorial at The Daily Punt, covering Australian racing and sport with an eye for where the value sits.
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