Saturday Previews
Dog days of summer takes on a literal meaning this Saturday as the woofers return to Hastings for some fun and games between each of the day's seven 'proper' races
WEEKENDINDELMAR takes a noticeable drop in class here in a bid to get off the mark after several promising runs. She’s missed the board just once all season and ran well enough when fourth behind Dreaming d’Oro last time to suggest she should be a major player here. SHE’S KIND OF HOT also steps down in class after a bold third, after duelling early with the eventual winner Eddie’s Girl last time and looks to be the main threat to the likely favourite. CAMPTOWN LADY is one of two debutantes from Barbara Heads’ barn. She’s been working well in the mornings and is a sister to the multiple Stakes winner, Synergy.
FOREIGN PROTOCOL drops in class after fading behind Ave’s in Command in a marginally more difficult assignment last month and should be a tough opponent at this level. EYE BE SEEING YOU makes a rapid return to action after a solid second behind Quagmire seven days ago. A repeat of that performance would give him a favourite’s chance. RING OF KERRY drops back to sprinting after an unsuccessful foray over the long course. Prior to that he’s been running fairly consistently without alerting the authorities and, while the possible lack pace here won’t particularly help, he should be in the mix.
There would be few more deserving maiden winners than the remarkably consistent BORROWED EQUITY, who has hit the board in all bar the first of his ten lifetime races. He’ll need everything to go in his favour but, if past history counts for anything, looks a lock for at least a place. NOZOMI makes just his third career start but was rallying behind Forever Summer and co last time and worked noticeably well recently. He was an expensive yearling purchase and wouldn’t need to come on too much for that second effort to make his presence felt. ON MY GOOD SIDE drops in class after bumping into some useful sorts of late and he should relish the easier company.
QUEEN OF ATTITUDE has been an awesome flag bearer for the unstoppable Steve Henson barn and she will take some beating again today as she goes for her fourth consecutive win of the season. Stablemate NINE OCLOCK CEASER is also having quite the campaign, winning two of her three starts so far this term. She was only a neck behind Queen of Attitude two starts ago and a repeat of her gate-to-wire win last time would see her go extremely close again. WANDALITA has finished second in each of her three efforts this season. She takes some class relief here and will be a live candidate if repeating any of her runs this year.
FOOTHILLS BLVD took a little time to get there, but eventually won a shade comfortably when beating American Tsunami and today’s rival BAKBURNER, last time. That was arguably the best effort of her career so far and a repeat performance would give her a leading chance again today. EDDIE’S GIRL takes on winners for the first time this season after breaking her maiden in some style last month. This will be tougher, obviously, but she could not have been more impressive in putting more than six lengths on Duke Girls. LICORICE had LOLA M behind when second to Wirly Girly last time in what was arguably her best effort for some time and anything close to that again would make her a leading player.
With 11 runners entered, even the lucky dart may not be enough to solve this puzzle. TIZ VICIOUS takes some class relief following two solid fourth-place finishes of late. He won in tougher company than he faces here back in May and won’t be far away if he can repeat the dose. Unbeaten so far this season, LUCKY COWBOY finally takes a step up in class and goes for his fifth straight win after making merry all year at a lower level. This represents a bigger challenge, but he’s been one of the stories of the season and shouldn’t be too far way again. KNOPFLER is phenomenally consistent. His usual off-the-pace style leaves him vulnerable to traffic issues, but he’s won twice already this term and hasn’t finished lower than third since July last year. He has to go on the shortlist. AVE’S IN COMMAND went gate-to-wire to beat Knopfler and RACING RIVER last time and remains a big danger, although, in such a large field, may not have it all his own way on the front end this time.
SMART LAD has been mixing it with the best sprinters around this year. He had Pursue behind him when winning on his season debut back in May, but then ran into the likes of Lucky Force and Bold Arch in his two most recent efforts, finishing a solid third in both. This is a long, long way from a ‘gimme’ but he has a touch of class and he should be thereabouts. PURSUE arrived fairly late on the scene to overhaul the leaders and hold off today’s rival, and fellow closer, PAY MY WAY last time. That was over a mile-and-sixteenth, however, and both may find this a little on the short side. COUNTERACT was fourth behind Pursue and Pay May Way in the same race but, he beat NINE ONE ONE a neck over today’s distance in June, with the second franking the form next time when a solid third in a valuable Emerald Downs Allowance event. Both have solid claims again here.
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