The Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes headlines a quality eight-race card this Friday night at The Valley.
The 2040m feature has been a strong lead-up race for three-year-olds eying some of the top staying races later on in the Autumn Carnival, and there is no shortage of value to be found in this year’s field.
Our bets for the entire program can be found below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – 6:15pm – Ladbroke It! Handicap (1000m)
Tricky race to feel confident in with a few facing the starter for the first time.
Zamborghini won by an impressive six lengths on debut at Ballarat a few weeks ago and is the only one of these two-year-olds with a win on the board.
Based on that he’s certain to see out 1200m and will likely roll forward and make his own luck on speed. Losing Ben Melham is the only knock, but he looks a promising type for trainer Matt Laurie with speed to burn.
Race 2 – 6:45pm – Steamatic Handicap (1200m)
This is a slight step back in class for the Freedman-trained Devout Hero.
The lightly-raced filly won on debut at Geelong last August before running in both the Group 2 Tranquil Star and the Edward Manifold Stakes at Caulfield and Flemington during the spring.
She found both of those assignments tough, but if her debut win was anything to go by, she looks like she’ll be a decent horse when fresh. Drawn to get the gun run under Mark Zahra and gets the blinkers off for the first time.
Race 3 – 7:15pm – Charter Keck Cramer Handicap (1600m)
Taking a roll of the dice on Annabel Neasham’s mare Fleetwood Maca.
She’s a proven miler with a win and a few placings on the board from seven starts, while she’s also rock-hard fit having been up since early December.
Has form around Arctic Thunder at Randwick which reads well and was also in the same race as the undefeated Yonce at Flemington a couple of weeks ago. Looks a good value play at the current $18.00 quote.
Race 4 – 7:45pm – PFK Handicap (2040m)
Big watch on Out And Dreaming, who steps out in search of his hat-trick following back to back wins at Kyneton and Terang.
The son of Street Boss won both of those starts by a combined three lengths and should have plenty left to give in his fourth run back from a spell.
This is a step up in grade, but back slightly in trip with Neil Farley retaining the ride, it looks the next logical step for him.
Race 5 – 8:15pm – Ladbrokes 55 Second Heat Challenge (955m)
This is tough.
Island Edition has been super consistent in seven starts so far, finding the money on five occasions.
He’s raced well without winning this prep and should be set to peak now racing over this track and distance for a third time. Where he winds up from barrier 10 is the question, but his best is certainly good enough to win this.
Race 6 – 8:45pm – Listed Abell Stakes (1200m)
Doesn’t look a bad race for The Bopper.
The four-year-old son of Nicconi won first-up at Randwick in December by over a length, and has been seen flashing home late in his last three starts in Sydney.
He finished half-a-length of Rule Of Law two back at Rosehill and fourth behind Gravina in his latest, two strong form lines with both going on to run second and third in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes last Saturday.
The Kris Lees-trained four-year-old is on debut at The Valley, but he should be able to stalk the speed and save his best for late from out wide.
Race 7 – 9:15pm – Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m)
There’s a case to be made for a few in the feature, including Peter Moody’s lightly raced gelding Lucky Decision.
Comes into this off back-to-back Group 2 placings in the Autumn Stakes and Autumn Classic at Caulfield and also gets Luke Nolen back in the saddle for the first time since they won together at Sandown quite comfortably last December.
He’s been racing like he wants to get out to 2000m recently and maps to get a lovely run in behind the speed. Rock hard fit now at this stage of his prep and has plenty of improvement to come.
Race 8 – 9:45pm – Powerflo Solutions Handicap (1200m)
Willing to give Mars Mission another chance after running dead last as the short-priced favourite in the Zeditave Stakes last month.
The son of Deep Field had genuine excuses after getting away slowly and laying in a little down the straight, but this does look a nice race for him to atone dropping back in grade.
Jye McNeil was responsible for that impressive four-length win at The Valley two back over the same trip, and this does look another winnable race.
