Saturday's feature at the Valley, the McKenzie Stakes, looks an interesting duel between a pair of way above average maiden winners.
The first of those, and the one they all have to beat, is the Darren Weir-trained Ken's Dream who could hardly have been more impressive getting off the mark at Echuca at the first time of asking.
A heavy track maiden at Echuca over 1000m hardly sounds like the sort of form we should be following into a listed contest next time out but there was no doubting that Ken's Dream was destined for better when he romped away to by an ever-widening 9 lengths - what tailed him home was barely relevant.
As a side note - 346 horses have won a maiden by nine lengths or more this century. If we place them in order of the Timeform rating they returned Ken's Dream scrapes into the top 30. Four have broken the 100 barrier; Amelia's Dream, Private Steer, Moment Of Change and Lumosty.
Ken's Dream's race was really one against the clock, and there he impressed. So did Pakenham maiden winner Verstappen and he posted his high-rating debut over 1200m which bodes well. His query is that he comes off the synthetic - statistically a worry.
The race between the pair, and Throssell who has done nothing wrong to this point, is the highlight of Saturday's Moonee Valley card but we are keen on the prospects of Ken's Dream and are happy to take anything better than even money.
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For an each way play we are looking to the last where again a shift from 1000m to 1200m looks relevant.
Shaf won what was the fastest overall race on the Flemington card two weeks back but that was at 1000m and his 1200m record hints at him being a better horse at the minimum trip.
From that race the horse that looks best suited going to 1200m is Fast Cash who was very strong at the end of 1000m and has already produced smart form over today's trip.
Early quotes around $9.00 undersell his chances.
THE MELBOURNE MAIL
Bet Of The Day: Race 5 #8 Ken's Dream @ $2.00
Each Way Play: Race 9 #10 Fast Cash @ $9.00
