Local galloper Constant Force can bring up a winning hat trick in today's tough City Of Warrnambool Handicap (race 8).
Photo by Racing and Sports
Today's Warrnambool card presents punters with the usual tough day of racing on the first of the three day carnival but the locally trained Constant Force looks hard to beat in the 1700m open handicap.
Prepared by Bill and Simon Wilde who always set their team to feature at the carnival, Constant Force continues a good campaign and will appreciate the drying track today.
Four starts ago he led throughout to score a five length win in the Colac Cup over 2000m, before running over the same journey at Caulfield and after sitting third went for home very early before being swamped late and finishing fifth.
Jockey Deam Yendall was able to find the front next start, though, over 2040m at Moonee Valley where he turned in the lead and kicked away with a 3.2 length win in a very good form race with four subsequent winners
Last start, over 2000m again in the Stawell Cup, he rolled to the front again and kept going, scoring by almost two lengths.
Constant Force will jump from barrier 11 today but will slide across the field early and can either cross and lead or sit close.
By the end of today they may well be wanting to get away from the inside so it's perhaps not a bad draw.
The gelding has a strong record at the track and trip, and while in such top form should give a huge sight back at home.
The Tony Vasil trained The Wingman is fitter for two runs from a let up and will appreciate the longer journey here.
The gelding was runner up at his first four runs this campaign before winning the Moe Cup over a mile.
He was then runner up over 2000m at Caulfield before a luckless run over 1700m at Flemington when sixth, lacking a bit of dash but racing without room.
He had a let up following that run and returned with a sound half length third at Moonee Valley before returning there again last time and finishing a close up fourth.
Today he will strip fitter again and draws the inside gate where he should be poised with a nice run.
Damien Oliver goes aboard and at this longer journey he will prove hard to hold out.
Magnifique Soliel has been in sparkling form this campaign winning four of five runs.
The gelding won here over 1200m fresh then over 1350m at Donald, both starts running on strongly to score.
He then struggled a little on the soft ground to finish sixth in town, before having a month off and getting back to firmer footing here over 1400m where he race don the speed and lifted strongly to score.
Last start, over 1400m at Flemington, he sat third early before drawing to the lead and lifting again to score.
He is unbeaten from two starts at the track and is a winner to a mile but should be able to get the extra 100m here.
He has drawn for a good run and jockey Dean Yendall has stuck with him over Constant Force.
Clanga's Glory is another in form horse who has had a remarkable first campaign, winning five times and finishing second at the other two.
He faces by far his toughest test today, going from a maiden win on debut to tackling these tough open class handicappers in his first campaign.
But he drops 6kg on his last start win and with a strong record at home must be included in the chances.
Stoneblack should be ready to win and is also worth including in the chances while Zoomin, although resuming, is another for the multiples as he has can get into the finish at odds.
