It could’ve been a great day for us up north last weekend were it not for a few inches at the finish.
Excellantes missed by a long neck in the Falvelon Handicap at a handsome $11 after Valerie D’amour was dudded by a similar margin earlier in the day.
In any event, it’s time to put all that aside and get stuck into this weekend.
We’ll start early on in the Carlton Mid Plate (1600m), a Class 6 handicap where Renewed Vitality looks set to grab a second win from three starts.
He led all the way to win at Doomben two back then was only a length away in open company at this track and trip three weeks back when hassled throughout in front.
He’ll appreciate not only a drop in class here, but carrying 1.5kg less today in a very winnable looking race.
There’s not a great deal of pace in this so he should be able to dictate unchallenged out in front from gate four with Munce aboard.
At $2.80 he looks a good bet nice and early to kick things off.
There’s a bit of value around today, particularly in the Tattersall’s Members’ Cup (1600m) where the likes of Mishani Warrior and Fillydelphia bump heads again.
David Kelly’s Garozzo has come up a $19 shot and on first glance that looks well over the odds.
He’s third-up today out to his favourite trip after a solid third placing to Mishani Warrior two weeks back, only beaten two lengths. His third-up record looks to hold the key to his chances today.
Two campaigns back he won a race over this trip at Doomben as part of three-straight wins which also included a pair of salutes at Eagle Farm.
Third-up last campaign he contested the South Grafton Cup over this trip and was beaten half a length by Gazza Guru. He looks ready to improve again today and a lot of these shorter hopes look ripe for the picking.
Mishani Warrior returned to form with a solid win two weeks back at Doomben over 1350m but there has to be a query on his ability to run out a strong mile.
Fillydelphia flopped last start after winning the Sunshine Coast Cup and actually meets Garozzo a kilogram worse off here despite finishing about a length further back than him in that latest race. Have an each-way crack at Garozzo - he looks excellent value today.
Rewind to the Ipg Print Class 6 Handicap (1200m) and I’m prepared to take on resuming Robert Heathcote mare Magic In Motion.
She’s a talented four-year-old who comes into this off a trial win, but only has the one win fresh from four starts and will likely find the 1200m a bit sharp.
In a big field with plenty of chances and different formlines coming together, I’m more than happy to let her just go around in this.
BRISBANE BEST
BANKER: Race 3 #5 Renewed Vitality @ $2.80
PLAY OF THE DAY: Race 7 #8 Garozzo @ $19
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 6 #4 Magic In Motion @ $5
