Racing returns to Moonee Valley this Friday night and with a strong eight race card it’s sure to be another exciting night of racing. Take a look at the race by race preview below!
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Race 1 – 6:15pm – Maiden Plate (1200m)
Django Express was narrowly beaten as the favourite when he made his racing debut back in July at Ballarat in the heavy track but he lost few admirers.
He then stepped up in grade at Sandown and was beaten by 1.5 lengths over 1200m.
The lightly raced four year old son of Sebring has the in form Jye McNeil steering from barrier four.
Race 2 – 6:45pm – Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m)
Danny’s St Darci is a progressive type of filly who is racing well right at the minute.
The daughter of All Too Hard won a Benchmark 64 at Donald by over a lengths two back and ran into a very smart one in Luna Cat over 1200m here at The Valley last start.
Fitness will not be an issue at this stage in her prep and Josh Richards will use his claim to give some weight relief from barrier two.
Race 3 – 7:15pm – Benchmark 70 Handicap (3000m)
Guns Ablazing can make a considerable leap forward in this event having built up some fitness throughout his prep.
Saving had them all off the bit rounding the turn at The Valley when scoring by six lengths in late November, including Guns Ablazing who finished eighth lengths off the winner that night.
This guy is a genuine stayer and he gets out to a more suitable distance in this race.
Damien Oliver can tuck him away and give him a nice run in transit from barrier four and we are getting nice each way odds.
Race 4 – 7:45pm – Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m)
Spanish Snitzel didn’t win last time out at The Valley but I was really impressed with his effort when beaten by under a length.
He sustained a long, wide run when rounding the sharp turn here at The Valley and he ran right through the line suggesting that the step up to 1600m will suit at this stage in his prep.
I’m a little concerned about where he will land from barrier seven but Madison Lloyd will use her claim to give the horse some weight relief.
Race 5 – 8:15pm – Benchmark 64 (955m)
Sweetzou returned to the races with a win over the short course here at The Valley recording her third win from eight career starts ina time of 55.4 on the good 3 track.
The daughter of Zoustar won impressively first up at Sandown last prep before finishing 1.5 lengths behind the winner Intrepidacious at Caulfield at her next run and will take plenty of benefit out of that run.
Matthew Cartwright will give the horse some weight relief with his claim and with some luck from the awkward draw he will be climing over them late.
Race 6 – 8:45pm – Benchmark 64 Handicap (2040m)
Sacred Lass is mare racing in very good form right at the minute having placed in all four of her starts so far this prep including her last three at this track and distance.
The five year old mare rarely puts in an ordinary effort with 12 placings from her 17 career race starts and she looks well placed again in this event.
She will appreciate the step back in grade for this assignment and she will be tough to beat.
Race 7 – 9:15pm – Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m)
Escadora is a lightly raced four year old mare that showed she has a fair amount of ability when breaking through for her maiden win at her second career starts at Geelong to close out her debut prep.
I loved the way she picked back up when she was challenged late in that particular race and she looked like a filly that will take plenty of improvement out of that campaign.
I’m keen to see the way she parades before this first up assignment and I’ll be keeping an eye on betting before the race.
Jamie Kah rode her in her debut win and she sticks here which is a good guide as well.
Race 8 – 9:45pm – Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m)
I think Black Opal can run a cheeky race at big odds in the last race of the evening here at The Valley.
He is a big, strong individual who has now won his last two in a row by a combined 4.75 lengths albeit at Geelong and Traralgon.
He’ll settle right on the speed from barrier five and although he may be tiring the last 100m, he may just hold on for us to finish on a winning note.