Australian Racing – Thursday 2 September 2021 – Muswellbrook

Race 4

CONEGLIANO has only had the two runs to date and showed the expected improvement when winning over seven furlongs at the second time of asking. He finished strongly to put 3.3L between himself and the opposition that day suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to his liking. From his handy draw four, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

WEATHER CHANNEL has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three outings, the latest when second over a mile, one and a half lengths behind the winner. He came three-wide into the home straight that day but nevertheless finished off his race well. He jumps from gate two and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.

SLATEY BAY overraced in the early stages before staying on well to end up in fourth place last time out over a mile, just under three and a half lengths back from the winner. He has a wideish draw eight, but on the plus side he will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

Race 5

TERRAMEADES is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she finished sixth on debut over five furlongs and then went on to win by three and a half lengths next time out when stepping up to six furlongs. She hit the front at the 250M mark that day and the race was effectually over as a contest from that point. She has pulled a cosy draw three and looks to be the one to side with here.

FREEDOM SQUARE won first time out over 1100M and then finished a head second next time out over 1300M and was immediately rested for 48 weeks. He returns here after having had two barrier trials, finishing fourth in both of them. He will have to negotiate a wide draw fourteen out of eighteen, but the fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them.

HAMMOON JIG is a 4yr old filly who followed up her penultimate run victory over six furlongs with a fourth-place finish next time out over seven furlongs, two and a half lengths behind the winner, this despite being bumped at the start. She jumps from gate four and should be included in all bets.

Race 6

DODECANESE is seldom far off the action and finished third last time out over 1500M, three lengths behind the winner. He has his first run since a lengthy 46-week break but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, finishing second and then third in the latest to showcase his well-being. He jumps from gate six and should turn in another honest performance today and as such, he is made the value bet on the day’s program.

PAPA JOHN showed solid improvement to finish third in his last two outings, the latest over 1300M, when just under a length and a half back from the victor. He was slow away that day but recovered well to finish strongly over the closing stages of that contest. He will have to overcome a wide gate twelve, but he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the frontrunners over the latter stages.

FREE RIDER gets gate six and had finished second in his two runs prior to being very disappointing last time out when ending up in tenth spot over 1100M, 13.7L adrift of the winner, but it should be noted that he chocked up and made an abnormal respiratory noise that day, so that effort is best ignored. He has had two barrier trials since that run, finishing second in the one and winning the latest to prove his fitness. From draw six, he will be hoping to bounce back to his better form today.

Race 7

With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the door may have opened for FRENCH MARINE to chalk up his second career victory. He returns from an 18-week rest but has had the two barrier trials, finishing third in the latest. He had consistent formlines to his name before taking that break and although recorded as finishing fifth last time out over six furlongs, he was just 1.3L back from the winner. The form of that race has stood up well with three runners out of that contest subsequently winning. From draw six, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

ZAKOR also returns from a similar 18-week rest but has had just the one barrier trial, where he finished third. The colt had won his penultimate start over five furlongs and had then finished fourth over the same c&d next time out, just under a length behind the winner before the rest. He came four-wide into the home stretch that day and then raced green over the closing stages. He gets a wideish gate nine, but the form of that last race has been franked.

HOLLYWOOD GOSSIP is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she also won her penultimate run over five furlongs and then ended up in seventh place next time out over six furlongs, just over two and a half lengths back from the winner. She tried to go from jump to wire that day but came wide into the home straight to spoil her chances of success. She has won a subsequent barrier trial and from a handy draw two, she should give the boys a good run for their money.