The second of three Group 2 races on the card at Moonee Valley this Saturday will be a scamper over 1000m. We’ll see the return of smart gallopers including G1 winners Moment of Change and Platelet who, not surprisingly, dominate the betting at $2.00 and $4.20 respectively.
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1. MOMENT OF CHANGE – L Nolen (1)
A very smart galloper who ran second in both the G1 Lightning and G1 Newmarket Handicap among four starts during his autumn prep. He’s first up here and will have no choice but to try and hold his position on the rail from the jump. Failing to do so could see him awkwardly placed and in the need of luck. Surprisingly, he’s first look at Moonee Valley but the class runner of the race.
2. GENERAL TRUCE – N Hall (8)
Has two wins and six placings from eight starts over this track and from his wide draw, he’ll get back in the field. He was doing his best work over the final stages last start when, over this track/trip he finished fourth (beaten a length) behind in-form mare Broken. Steps up in class but receives no weight relief and at this level, may find a few to quick to run down.
3. FREERETURN – N Rawiller (4)
Handy sprinter form Jason Warren’s stables who has won four from six on this track and in two starts over this track/trip, is unbeaten. We haven’t seen this 7yo since a short and poor autumn campaign bar a barrier trial at Cranbourne on the 27th August. Drawn to get the lovely run and if he can recapture his form from last year’s spring, would concede him a place chance.
4. SNITZEM – G Boss (2)
Yet another who in the past has really enjoyed his racing on this track, having won three from five starts. This son of Snitzel hasn’t raced since finishing down the track in the G2 Schillaci Stakes back in October last year – eleven months ago. His trainer Leon Corstens has prepped him for his return with a strong 2 ½ length win at Cranbourne earlier in the week. He’ll jump straight to the front and give them something to run down. He ran third in this race last year, beaten ¾ length by Bel Sprinter.
5. SHAFEEQ – C Williams (7)
Qld galloper who has won seven of his twenty starts but none outside of his home-state. He’s had three starts – all in Qld – since resuming from a seventeen week spell in July of this year where he’s led and been run down on each occasion. Given those performances and this significant step up in grade to this event, can’t see him winning here.
6. RUN DIEGO – (10)
Three of this horse’s five career wins have come on heavy tracks and all of his wins, have come in races of much lesser quality than this one. He had his favoured heavy track conditions when a ½ length fourth to Our Nkwazi in a RST 82 event two starts back before being well accounted for at Flemington last start in a RST 90 race over 1000m. Not here.
7. GLAMOUR PLANET – N Callow (5)
Four starts ago, this 5yo by Savabeel had won one from twenty six starts. He has won three of his past four – each of them on the Geelong Synthetic track and each in restricted grade and whilst he’s enjoying a purple patch of form, taking on a Group 2 race – albeit a weak one, is aiming too high.
8. PLATELET – B Melham (3)
Smart mare who enhanced her value considerably as a broodmare with successive Group 1 wins last prep. She claimed the Robert Sangster before winning the Goodwood Handicap by a half a length (Moment of Change fifth). That took her overall record to 7 wins from nineteen starts with a further ten placings. No trials for her return and although yet to win fresh in three attempts, is yet to miss out on a place and did run second to Bel Sprinter in this race last year. Not much of stretch to think she’ll go one better this year.
9. UMGETON – V Duric (6)
A 6yo mare by Stratum who returns from a fourteen week spell and who also generally races well fresh. She lined up in this race last year – second up from a spell – and as a 30/1 shot, struck interference on the turn and finished last. In her runs since that race though, it’s hard to make a case for her improving on last year’s effort.
10. KUROSHIO – C Newitt (9)
Speedy Darley 3yo who won the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude last year before failing on the wet tracks in both the G2 Silver Slipper and G1 Golden Slipper Stakes. The colt by Exceed and Excel then resumed as a 3yo in the San Domenico Stakes where he led the field but stopped quickly in the straight to finish last, beaten almost ten lengths. He’s trialled well enough since and does get in with a winnable weight
OVERVIEW
Moment of Chance is clearly the best horse in the race and under these weight conditions, looks the one to beat. Would have preferred for him to have drawn a wider gate than one but, he’s class should be able to overcome any adversity the gate may present. Going to put in Snitzem for second. He can sit one of the fence, possible of Moment of Change and for mine, demonstrated that in his barrier trail this week, he’s ready to re-produce an effort similar to last year’s race. Rounding out the trifecta are Platelet – never runs a bad race and Kuroshio, will shoot straight across to the front from his draw and with Newitt and 52kgs, will stick on.
- MOMENT OF CHANGE
- SNITZEM
- PLATELET
- KUROSHIO
