The scratching of the exciting Ossenhagen has opened the fifth at Moonee Valley right up with Ava’s Delight looking best placed to take advantage in the 1500m handicap.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Ava’s Delight has developed a bad habit of missing the kick this campaign, which has seen her closing her races off strongly but ultimately being left with too much to do.
She put the writing on the wall last time, though.
Again she wasn’t the best away, but she did jump better then her previous couple and was able to settle closer than her previous couple of starts.
Unfortunately she didn’t get the clearest of runs home, having to weave between runners in the straight to take second in a race run in solid figures.
Today she goes beyond 1400m for just the second time, the first resulting in her latest win, a strong success over subsequent Australian Cup winner, Super Cool.
She has the form/ability to be winning; she just needs to jump with them. Tempo here looks light on so getting away can prove key. From the outside gate she should be able to roll forward and track the likely leader, and main danger, Hunger.
That was her racing pattern last campaign and a return to that today can see her back in the winners circle.
Happy to gamble on her doing that, with anything better than $3.50 worth a play.
We can build an Ava’s Delight bank by backing Moreau the fourth on the card, a market that will be potentially shaken up by the two Moody runners who are both uncertain starters just three days on from their clash at Sandown.
Moreau showed talent last campaign and is now cashing in on that, winning two on end leading into today, and she has the promise of much more to come.
If the Moody pair skip this she likely spins around at a pretty short quote but appeals as a solid banker for the day in a race light on for chances.
Johannapine was stiff not to win here at the Valley last time, when runner up to Queen Delight who re-opposes, but there is a bit against her today.
Granted, she is a handy mare on her day but her day hasn’t come around in nearly 500 now and with some query on her at 1200m, and a question mark over where she lands from 14, she looks opposable at her current quote around the $4.2 mark.
THE MELBOURNE WAY:
PLAY OF THE DAY: Race 5 No 4 AVA’S DELIGHT @ $3.8
BANKER: Race 4 No 4 MOREAU @ $3.80 - $2.0 (scratching dependant)
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 8 No 11 JOHANNAPINE @ $4.20
