Honest mare Mikeys Magic can return to winning form in tonight's Superior Building Group Handicap (race 6) at Cranbourne.
The Tony Vasil trained mare hasn't won for some time now but has run some very good races, and had some bad luck, in tougher grade than this.
Last campaign she resumed with a second placing then went on with it with a gutsy on pace win over 1400m at Pakenham in this grade.
From there she placed, beaten only a neck, in tougher grade at Geelong, then was injured when last at Moonee Valley.
She returned and ran well below her best before a better effort when runner up over a mile at Cranbourne in this class.
Last run before a spell, over a mile at Ballarat, she was caught wide throughout but did nothing in the run home and was eased out of it and spelled, suggesting she went amiss.
After a short spell Mikeys Magic resumed over 1200m at Cranbourne and had little luck.
Settling midfield she was strung up in traffic on the rails around the bend and was shuffled back but when finally clear at the final furlong she did hit the line hard, running on into second.
The mare will strip fitter for that run and does go very well second up.
She carries the same weight, has a good draw, senior rider Peter Mertens goes on and she should give a bold sight on the speed.
The Russell Cameron trained Next looks the biggest danger in easier grade here.
The former Kiwi mare has a win and three minors form just seven runs and it's worth noting in her win, which was her only second up, she beat Scarlett Lady who then won eight races since including two Group 1's in a stellar three-year-old campaign.
Following her win Next placed at her next run before heading to Australia and finishing runner up at both Sandown Lakeside and Moonee Valley.
She then race din the Port Adelaide Guineas and didn't have a lot of luck when 13th but beaten only 4.5 lengths behind subsequent SA Derby runner up Echoes Of Heaven.
Next went for a good spell before resuming over 1200m at Moonee Valley, where she drew wide and was caught wide throughout facing the breeze.
Turning there and stuck deep she faded in the run home to finish eighth.
She will strip much fitter for the run, has drawn perfectly in barrier one this time and also drops in grade.
She looks hard to hold out.
Ladramahs is also fitter for one run back from a spell and looks an each way hope.
The Shane Nichols trained gelding, who was also a second up winner last campaign, resumed this time in over 1200m at Moonee Valley and after drifting back ran on nicely into fifth.
He will strip fitter, is suited by the longer journey and has drawn ideally in barrier three.
Aussie Public finished just a head into front of Ladramahs last time and is expected to run another forward race.
That was his first run since last year, the extra trip suits here and he should roll forward and give a sight again.
