There are four meetings set to take place on Tuesday, with Warwick, Coffs Harbour and Tamworth all hosting turf meetings, while they race on the synthetic track at Ballarat.
Race 8 Warwick
Too Much Makeup @ 6.00
Race 5 Ballarat
Pontmeirion @ 7.00
Race 6 Tamworth
Are You Joking @ 3.20
Makeup Too Much for Warwick rivals
The eighth race on Warwick's 10-race program is a 1200m Restricted 60 handicap event set to take place on a soft 6 track.
Peter Robl saddles Private Tender here, with the gelding having shown plenty of ability in two starts in December.
The first of those saw the three-year-old break his maiden by a length when racing on the polytrack at Gold Coast at the start of that month.
The gelding had won twice in barrier trials on turf prior to that debut effort and he followed that up with a fourth on a soft 6 track at Sunshine Coast.
The son of All Too Hard was beaten just over six lengths when contesting a 1200m Class 1 handicap that day and he returns from a spell.
The race-fit TOO MUCH MAKEUP is the selection to defy a wide alley here having demonstrated good form in recent starts.
The four-year-old has been kept busy this prep registering two wins from her 11 starts so far in 2024.
Those victories include a half-length success when contesting a Benchmark 58 handicap held over 1200m on a soft 6 track at Kilcoy at the start of this month.
The 6.00 filly went on to deliver a half-length second when stepped up to 1350m for a Class 2 handicap at Warwick subsequently and the drop in distance is in her favour.
Trainer Michael Hemmings has won with three of his last four runners, including the selection and his representative looks capable of returning to winning ways.
Pontmeirion right for Ballarat success
The fifth race on the synthetic track at Ballarat is a 1500m Benchmark 58 handicap event.
Coronation Drive trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy is expected to have his supporters on just his third career start.
The gelding debuted with a last of six when racing on a soft surface over 1200m on the Lakeside course at Sandown last month.
The three-year-old was beaten less than four lengths that day and justified favouritism when taking out a 1200m maiden at Mildura twelve days later.
Harry Coffey, on board for both of those efforts, is again in the saddle and his mount rates highly stepping up in distance on his synthetic track debut.
The experienced PONTMEIRION has demonstrated a liking for this venue in the past, having broken his maiden over 1200m at this circuit in June last year.
The 7.00 five-year-old has raced exclusively on turf since then, however, including when placing third in a Restricted 58 handicap at Avoca three starts back.
The gelding returned to winning ways two starts later when delivering an impressive four0length victory when contesting a Restricted 58 handicap at Donald on 11th May.
The selection raced over 1350m when making all that day and is taken to employ similar tactics successfully to complete a double with an insider barrier a further positive.
No Joking at Tamworth
The penultimate race on Tamworth's card is a 1600m Benchmark 58 handicap, with ARE YOU JOKING selected to register a win.
The three-year-old broke his maiden when successful by just over a length in a 1280m maiden at Muswellbrook in November.
The 3.20 pick raced on a good 4 track that day and again encountered a sound surface when a length second in a similar race to this over 1400m subsequently.
The gelding appeared to have no issues with the extra distance he tackled that day and it's interesting that he has raced over shorter in his two starts this prep.
Trained by Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich, the pick came home half-a-length second over 1000m in a Class 1 handicap at Muswellbrook on his return to action a month ago.
While the son of Shalaa failed to shine when sixth over 1300m at Newcastle subsequently, he can be forgiven that effort and he can to defy a wide barrier here.
