Robert Heathcote looks to have unearthed another potential star in Magic In Motion, who backs up in the Mount Franklin Sparkling Handicap at Doombeon on Saturday.
Queensland’s premier trainer is coming off an exhausting weekend, which included a pair of Group 1 minor placings. Buffering was second in the Moir Stakes on Friday night while Solzhenitsyn ran third to Rebel Dane in the Sir Rupert Clarke at Caulfield on Sunday.
Sandwiched between those runs on the Saturday, the four-year-old Magic In Motion produced an impressive win in Class 6 grade over 1400m at Eagle Farm confirming she’d return every bit as good as last campaign where she ran fifth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
I’d expect she’ll improve as she gets over further, and granted she’s over the 1350m again today but she’s in a small field and has a class edge on this field.
She’s backed up after a week off a win once before, and handled it with aplomb going back-to-back at Ipswich back in the autumn.
Last weekend she loomed up in the straight and put the race away 100m from home, and I’d expect him to produce something similar here meeting this lot at level weights.
Take the $3.60 and get yourself off to a good start.
It’s a smallish card today but here’s still a bit of value around, and there’s one I’m keen on in race 7, the 1600m open handicap.
Hour Of Peril missed by a head two weeks ago behind Dolly Dolly, off a seven-week freshen up.
The run rated very well, and now he reunites with Michael Cahill give he’s dropped to 55.5kg for this one, negating the need for an apprentice.
He’s won here a couple of times before and stepping up to the mile now looks ideal.
Winding back the clock a few months further strengthens his case.
Back in May he finished 2.7L off Lights Of Heaven in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m). A run later he was stuck four deep in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup but still managed to get within five lengths of Solzhenitsyn.
Hour Of Peril currently sits third elect as a $5 shot behind the progressive Elmantosh ($3.30) and Dolly Dolly ($4.50).
Elmantosh is the biggest danger having won his last two and four of nine career starts to this point.
This is another step up today though and he has plenty to find to match Hour Of Peril’s best form.
Muhaajir is the other one worth thought coming through a second placing in the Ballina Cup over this trip last month.
The performance rated pretty well but the race is yet to produce a subsequent winner, only three minor placegetters from eight starts since.
The lay of the day comes in the three-year-old race, race six on the program.
The resuming Hallside Rose has come up $3.40 favourite and that looks a bit skinny up against some handy gallopers here.
She deserves to be well in the market. She ran a narrow second to Missy Longstocking in the Listed Lancaster Stakes (1200m) back in May and was one of the better Queensland juveniles last season.
There’s a couple of problems here though.
She’s up against Londehero, who won resuming two weeks ago, and Queen Of The Lochs who was narrowly beaten by Londehero in that race.
North Queensland raider Mythologist might just prove the biggest thorn in her side though.
Hallside Rose likes to be ridden forward, and I’d expect Mythologist will hassle her the entire trip.
Londehero and Queen Of The Lochs meanwhile will be sitting back off the pace ready to pounce off a hot speed.
Hallside Rose also likes a bit of give in the ground, and everything’s pointing to a firm surface at Doomben this weekend.
Just let her go around here.
BANKER: Race 3 No 1 Magic In Motion @ $3.60
BET OF THE DAY: Race 7 No 3 Hour Of Peril @ $5
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 6 No 4 Hallside Rose @$3.40
