Magic Millions favourite Oakleigh Girl steps out for a tune up at Doomben this afternoon and should prove far too classy in the Calaway Gal Stakes.
The Snitzel filly, trained by Danny Bougoure, showed plenty of ability on debut at Flemington last month winning the Listed 7News Stakes (1000m).
The strength of that race looks pretty solid after fourth placegetter Golconda, trained by Robbie Laing, came out and won the Listed Desiree Gill Tribute Stakes (1000m) at her next start by three lengths.
Bougoure had initially planned to straight into next month’s Magic Millions without another lead-up, but he’s decided to give her tomorrow’s run just to keep her ticking over.
She currently rates in the top bracket of the two-year-olds we’ve seen this year, on an even keel with the likes of Law, Memorial and Moonlight Hussler and just six pounds off the leading juvenile so far in Earthquake.
Her biggest danger tomorrow looks to be Kelly Schweida’s Totally Sure, a filly with plenty of ability herself, but not in the same class at Oakleigh Girl.
She was beaten narrowly on debut by Grapevine back in October then proved too good at Doomben at her last start to finish a length clear.
She’s been given eight weeks to come on since then and should run a solid race but it’s hard to imagine her catching Oakleigh Girl.
She should bounce to the front from barrier three and get the job done.
The lay of the day comes in the first where I’m pretty keen, once again, to take on Poste Restante.
Two weeks ago when we laid her she threw her rider Michael Cahill at the start and took no part.
Hopefully she gets away a bit better today, although I still wouldn’t be backing her at $3.20.
Once again she’s been made to carry 59kg which has to be a concern for a mare against a field of seasoned stayers.
Mukaddamah Son was beaten a nose by Raeburn in the wet here two weeks back in that same race where Poste Restante threw the rider.
He looked the winner but somehow lost out on the line in a head bobber.
This is no harder and he carries the same weight today.
Trajet also looks hard to beat having won two of his last three. He only needs to run to recent form and he can also beat home Poste Restante.
I’d be betting around Poste Restante once again.
We’re going to get a little bit fancy with the bet of the day, and take a quinella in the Legal Gold Edition Plate over 1200m.
I’m expecting Rudy and Into The Red to prove too good in this one, emulating the top–two finish the pair produced two weeks back in similar at this track.
Rudy has won three of five career starts now and looks a very progressive type, while Into The Red is a classy sprinter who loomed up to win in that race before just peaking on his run.
They’ll both be fitter for this and with the scratching of Peter Moody’s Weinholt, who loomed as a bit of a wildcard, I’m expecting Rudy and Into The Red to clear out again.
BANKER: Race 4 No 1 Oakleigh Girl @ $1.80
BET OF THE DAY: Race 7 Quinella No 4 Rudy and No 6 Into The Red
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 1 No Poste Restante @ $3.20
