The end of winter seems a long way away but Victoria is starting to play host to some of it's popular race series, including the Slickpix Silver Bowl series which kicks off at Kyneton today.
Like the Winter Championship, the Silver Bowl series runs throughout the winter across Victorian city and provincial tracks and culminates in a rich finale on finals day at Flemington at the end of the season.
At Kyneton today, the Silver Bowl Series for three year olds kicks off with the heat one (race 8 day) which is an RB68 over 1218m.
Promising three-year-old Reindeer Lake looks wlel placed to continue his good form and should go close.
The Robbie Griffiths trained gelding, a son of Lago Delight and a half brother to stake winner Beltrois, trialled well before making his debut over 1000m at Mornington.
There he sat third early before looming up to share the lead around the bend.
He kicked strongly in the straight but couldn't match the winner Good Directions, finishing runner up.
Up to 1200m at Ballarat, he took up the running in the small field, sharing the lead early before edging ahead and travelling well in front on his own.
Turning there he was challenged early in the straight but kicked strongly and drew away for a three length win.
He meets a tougher line up this time but is expected to be further improved and he drops in weight on the easy win.
The gelding has drawn the inside gate which is a bonus and with one of his main dangers and other likely leader, Exceedingly Regal, among the scratching, he should take running down again.
The David Hayes trained Minute By Minute is fitter for one run from a spell and will appreciate the much easier grade here.
The gelding, a son of the former Hayes trained Barely A Moment from another Lindsay Park galloper Movida, has raced 10 times for a win and two minors.
Much of his career has been spent in town though and he will appreciate heading out to the country today.
Last campaign he was a fresh up winner at Morphettville before placing there next start and finishing sixth and fifth there at his next two.
Last run before a spell was over 1200m at Moonee Valley where he drifted back to last form the inside and made some ground late to finish sixth.
Fresh up was also in town, over 1000m at Caulfield, where he started big odds and didn't help his chances with a poor start, ending up last on the inside.
He turned there and came around heels before passing a few runners in the straight, finishing seventh.
Today he will find this far easier and will strip fitter.
He has drawn wide and will get back but should be running on hard out in the clear in the straight.
Red Five has a decent strike rate and despite a disappointing record here has to be included in the chances on his last run.
Two starts back he was disappointing here over 1200m in heavy ground when leading but fading right out of it.
Last start, though, on firmer footing at Kilmore, he had a big weight and was ridden off the speed before running on hard to score.
He drops sharply in weight here after the claim and perhaps with a sit again can finish off like he did last time.
Planet King is honest and although coming back in journey will be close to the speed and should be in the finish.
