We're moving into winter racing in Melbourne with rain around, The Bool on our doorstep, and our first look at soft tracks for some time.
Fitness and preparation can be key when the tracks get soft and the going get tough and a potential fitness edge presents itself among the chances in the sixth race on the Caulfield card through the Darren Weir-trained Artie Dee Two.
Artie Dee Two is actually 36 days between runs, so it may seem a slightly long bow to claim race fitness is his edge, but relative to the other key players in the market he holds the aces.
Artie Dee Two comes off a peak run third up where he beat his talented stablemate Ken's Dream hands down around the Valley. The two priced alongside him, Wise Hero and Widgee Turf, are both first up from a break.
Bord De Gain is two from two but goes from 1000m to 1200m with a month between runs and Leotie, the other close to single figures, is up in trip off 42 days and a setback - advantage Artie.
If Artie can perform to the same level that he did around the Valley last time the others will do well to produce a run to knock him off given the soft set ups they have had for the potentially testing going.
Three-year-olds control the early betting for the second race on the card, a 2000m handicap, and both Anaheim and Odeon bring solid formlines to the race to earn those market positions.
Click here for early prices from TopBetta
Ciaron Maher's Overberg has been squeezed out of the betting by that pair - too far out in our opinion.
After two sound efforts to start this prep Overberg took a nice step forward last time in a truly run race behind a fairly promising winner.
He will probably need to step forward again to match the three-year-olds if they show up but there is every chance that he will still be on the improve and his last start run looks a nice springboard for this. $13.00 is a worthwhile gamble.
THE MELBOURNE MAIL
Bet Of The Day: Race 6 #1 Artie Dee Two @ $5.50
Each Way Play: Race 2 #6 Overberg @ $13.00
