BEST BET: FREE OF SIN (Race 2)
EACH-WAY: BUBBLERAP (Race 8)
VALUE: GOLDEN RIPPLES (Race 1)
RACE 1 - 12:40PM Festival Hire Maiden Plate (1000 METRES)
GOLDEN RIPPLES has been placed at three of seven and looks suited here on his home track. He made good ground from back in the field behind Mr Wolf at Murray Bridge back in August and trialled well for his return behind Lancaster Sound and Good Girl Bella, who is one of the most improved gallopers in the state. ROYAL MILE was well backed and hit the line strongly here behind Enlist last time. He’s been runner-up at his only two starts and is sure to take beating from a good gate. Stablemate AIR TIME ran well on debut at Penola behind Wild Willy but draws a wide gate here. ATTACK THE PIN is a speedy type who will more than likely be the leader. He was only run down late last time and will give them something to chase. The key to his chances would be a soft lead. SWEET DISTRACTION led and stuck on well behind Silver On Red at Murray Bridge first-up and should go well from a good barrier. NED AND POWER wasn’t beaten far in a Warrnambool maiden on a heavy track back in August and he looks an improver in a race like this.
SELECTIONS: GOLDEN RIPPLES, Royal Mile, Sweet Distraction
RACE 2 - 1:15PM Tasco Petroleum Maiden Handicap (1430 METRES)
FREE OF SIN was solid when beaten 2.7 lengths behind Investiture at Murray Bridge last time and that’s a good form line for a race like this. The wide gate is a concern but she looks a progressive type with strong appeal. PANKRATOVA is an interesting debutant who has been placed in two trials. He was previously with Peter Hardacre before joining Michael Hickmott’s in-form stable and draws a good gate. FOUR OUTLAWS had specking behind Stylish Enough at Warrnambool last time and can measure up here from a good barrier. BACK IN ACTION is a watch. He’s been gelded and wears the blinkers for the first time. Keep an eye on the market. RUNNING TIDE was disappointing first-up at Bordertown when last in a field of six but strips fitter and could improve. ELECTRIFYING LADY has been placed at just one of eight in Victoria but looks an improver in this sort of race. BEELFREE was placed at Clare on debut, while SALUTE THE CANNONS won a trial here back in December and must be respected.
SELECTIONS: FREE OF SIN, Pankratova, Back In Action
RACE 3 - 1:50PM Digiorgio Family Wines Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200 METRES)
GIGGLON has a great record with three wins from five starts here and he was too good for Rythmatic at Penola last time. His Morphettville runs prior were good for a race this and he’ll take beating with the help of the Ben Price claim. LONGMIRE has a great record here with three wins and five placings from 10 starts on his home track. He was too good for Wonaemirri last time at Bordertown and draws the inside gate. Looks a big danger. MASTERATI looks an improver here with the 4kg claim. He can make his own luck early. WILD COLONIAL BOY hasn’t raced since August but has won three (nine placings) from 16 starts and his Warrnambool run three starts back is good form for a race like this.
SELECTIONS: GIGGLON, Longmire, Masterati
RACE 4 - 2:25PM PPHS Class Two Handicap (1200 METRES)
MR ROURKE went to Port Augusta to win his maiden and was $4 into $2.60 before winning by 7.5 lengths. This is obviously a lot tougher but he draws well and looks hard to beat for the in-form Hickmott stable. ANRUSHKA was heavily backed and got the money at Bordertown beating Attack The Pin. This is a touch harder but she looks to have some promise and is a big danger. HEAVY ROTATION was well backed to win at Penola before running down the track behind Dr Dee Dee. She looks suited here back in trip. BLUE LAKE BOY was a good winner this track and trip two starts back, draws to be right in this and is helped with the claim.
SELECTIONS: MR ROURKE, Anrushka, Heavy Rotation
RACE 5 - 3:00PM South East Motor Company Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000 METRES)
EXALTED GOLD has a win and two seconds from three starts here and defeated Created Vision over this distance here two runs back. He led last time behind Damascus Moment at Gawler but will roll forward and gets in nicely in this class via a 4kg claim for Ellis Wong. WILD WILLY was well backed on debut to win his maiden at Penola. He’s been an impressive trial winner here before his debut and has solid appeal. WAR CHEVAL will roll forward and was good at Oakbank two starts back before another game effort behind Three Tears at Murray Bridge last time. That is good form for this. Stablemate EIGHT OVER EIGHT led throughout to win at Port Lincoln last time but draws off the track. ROHLON DRUNK has form around some handy horses. He draws a nice gate and is suited with the claim first-up from a spell. His best is normally second-up. FIRST REWARD has won two of three here and resumes off a long break.
SELECTIONS: EXALTED GOLD, Wild Willy, War Cheval
RACE 6 - 3:35PM Coopers Benchmark 58 Handicap (2000 METRES)
CHALLICUM has a great record here with four wins from seven start and was a strong Bordertown winner last time out. He draws to control the speed and looks the one to beat. Stablemate LADY DEE DEE was good at Nhill two runs back, led behind Challicum last time and is aided by the claim down on the minimum. BOSSY BRITCHES ran really well at Warrnambool last time, just missing behind Olympic Oath. She is unplaced in two starts here but looks well placed. THE RED SEA draws a good gate, has the claim and can improve here. PLUNGER CHARLIE went around at Warrnambool on Friday.
SELECTIONS: CHALLICUM, Bossy Britches, The Red Sea
RACE 7 - 4:10PM Mini Jumbuk Naracoorte Cup (2000 METRES)
VON COSTA GLASS races well here on his home track with two wins and two placings from five starts. He was impressive coming off the speed to beat some handy types at Murray Bridge in Saturday class. He found himself a long way back before getting home strongly from a long way back last time at Bordertown. Back on his home track and the one to beat. Stablemate BRONSKI won this race last year and looks the next pick. DYAGILEV is two from four here and raced on speed and was too sharp for Von Costa Glass last time. He’s impossible to knock from a favourable draw. He’s the danger to the favourite. EL DESPERADO has a good record here but need to improve on his latest at Kangaroo Island.
SELECTIONS: VON COSTA GLASS, Dyagilev, Bronski
RACE 8 - 4:45PM Midfield Meats Benchmark 58 Handicap (1430 METRES)
Hardest race of the day, big field. BUBBLERAP has a win and two placings from five starts here. He defeated Pewter at Bordertown two starts back and made ground behind Hasta La Bullet last time. The inside gate gives him solid claims. TOUGH LASSIE landed some good bets to beat Aberama Gold at Murray Bridge last time. She should appreciate getting out in trip, but is drawn the car park. OUTINTHESTREET has finished off hard her past two, the latest behind Wicked Whitt at Bordertown and he’ll get a nice run from good gate. PEWTER has been in super form recently and was placed behind Sebonna last time. He was a Penola winner defeating Dyagilev five starts back and is well in with a claim. STRYKER STAR has won two of three here and is back in trip which could see improvement.
SELECTIONS: BUBBLERAP, Tough Lassie, Pewter
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Lincoln Moore has picked Von Costa Glass to win today’s Naracoorte Cup.