The Country Cups continue in Ballarat on Saturday and ten races will be run and won.
The rail will be left in the true position around the entire course on Ballarat Cup Day and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Soft (6) range.
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Race 1 – 12:10pm – The Haymarket BM84 Handicap (1400m)
Kurabui hasn’t been seen at the races since June, but she also doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and she can win the first on Ballarat Cup Day.
The Proisir mare has recorded four wins and a minor placing from her first career starts so far, and this is a decent drop in class from the last race that she contested.
She has had the benefit of a nice trial leading up to her return and I think she’ll take a power of beating.
Race 2 – VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade (1400m)
I’m going to stick with Daily Bugle in this year’s Eureka Stockade.
Daily Bugle returned some lovely efforts and stamped himself as one to watch during his two-year-old prep, winning the Mornington Sires’ and finishing a credible sixth behind Anamoe in the Inglis Sires’ most notably.
He has been up and racing for some time this prep, has placed in three of his last four starts, the only miss being the Caulfield Guineas.
This is a drop in class and with even luck, he’ll be hard to hold out.
Race 3 – 1:10pm – Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic (1000m)
Just four of the twelve confirmed starters in this two-year-olds race have raceday experience and at publish, several debutants are promising in the market.
I’m happy to let this one go through to the keeper.
Race 4 – 1:45pm – Richies IGA Mares BM78 Handicap (1200m)
I’m eager to stick with Duchess Of Dorset in Race 4 on Ballarat Cup Day.
Duchess Of Dorset has enjoyed a terrific start to her racing career, winning three of five and filling the minors on another occasion.
I thought that there was plenty of merit in her most-recent start for third, her first crack at city company at Flemington a fortnight ago, and she’ll take further improvement into what is probably a weaker contest.
Race 5 – 2:20pm – Hertz Ballarat Tonks Plate Handicap (1200m)
It’sourtime takes winning form into the fifth on Ballarat Cup Day and looks well placed to make it two in a row.
The Danny O’Brien-trained gelding has been a consistent performer since debuting, and he returned an eye-catching effort to score in BM80 company down the straight at Flemington when resuming.
He won his only other second-up start, he’s drawn ideally and has plenty of upside.
Race 6 – 3:00pm – A Grade Sheds BM70 Handicap (1100m)
Marabi hasn’t been seen at the races since March, but she is also yet to taste defeat, and it would take a braver man than me to tip against her first-up at Ballarat on Saturday.
Marabi stamped herself as a runner to follow with a bullish six-length victory at Pakenham on debut, and she continued to improve with racing and as the bar was raised.
There are some talented horses engaged in this contest, but I believe that Marabi has them covered.
Race 7 – 3:40pm – Global Turf BM84 Handicap (2000m)
Silent Sovereign was desperately unlucky not to win at Flemington on Stakes Day, and I am confident that she can and will go one better on Ballarat Cup Day.
The five-year-old daughter of Dalakhani’s consistency is well documented, and she beat home many fit horses when second behind Imperial Lad at The Valley first-up in October.
That was followed with an impressive run behind Our Playboy last time out, who franked the form when only just missing in the Cranbourne Cup last week.
Fitter third-up, she needs only even luck to be right in it again.
Race 8 – 4:20pm – Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m)
It’s typically one of the more open Count Cups each year, and that can certainly be said of the 2021 Ballarat Cup field.
Thought Of That has opened a warm favourite in Ballarat Cup betting having won three races in succession leading into this one, but I think that Skyman can finally break back into the winner’s stall, and at a nice price ($10 at publish).
He doesn’t win out of turn, but Skyman also rarely returns a poor effort, and he was unlucky not to strike on Melbourne Cup Day.
He’s drawn ideally, weighted well and we can have a genuine each-way play at the quote.
Race 9 – 5:00pm – Suez McKellar Mile BM78 Handicap (1600m)
This is one of the more open races on the program and with that in mind, I’m keen to try and find the value.
I think that it might lie with Kiwi import Osaka.
Osaka returned plenty of lovely efforts during his time across the ditch, winning some nice races and finding form around some above-average gallopers.
He clearly needed his first run for Cliff Brown to tune up, but I still thought that his run in the Ararat China Bowl had merit, and his best form has usually been found as he has gotten further out in trip.
Race 10 – 5:40pm – Magic Millions Ballarat 3YO & 4YO Classic (1100m)
I’m happy to stick with Marine One in this year’s Magic Millions 3&4YO race.
The well-bred colt has always hinted at ability, but he has really started to reason it this time, and won each of his first two back.
He finished down the order, beaten six lengths by Home Affairs in the Coolmore last time out, but this is obviously an enormous drop in class from that race, and he steps out this week in peak order.
