International Racing: Australia – 24 September 2020

LORD OLYMPUS has only had the two runs to date, both over five furlongs, winning both, the latest by a neck. He finished strongly that day suggesting that the extra distance of today’s contest will be to his liking. He has cracked pole position and will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice. As such, he is taken to be the best bet on today’s card. CONSCRIPT returns from a 14 week rest, but did finish second in his only barrier trial to prove his fitness. He has also won his first two runs, both over this distance, the latest by three lengths. He has a handy draw three and could be the biggest danger to the top choice. RICCARDO is drawn one outside the latter and followed up his penultimate run victory over six furlongs with a fourth place finish next time out over the same distance. He was only run out of it late that day and should appreciate the drop in distance.

DISENGAGE is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys. She has finished second in her last two outings over this c&d, the latest when 1.3L behind the victor. She will have to negotiate a wide draw thirteen, but she should use her early gate speed to ease across with expending too much energy. IF YOU SAY SO has his first run since a 21 week break, but has posted an encouraging barrier trial. He drops back in distance after a somewhat disappointing last effort over seven furlongs to what appears to be a more suitable trip. He finished just over a length and a half off the winner in his penultimate outing over this distance. From gate two and with having 1.5kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice, he could emerge as the biggest threat to the top pick. WAR CABINET returns from a 40 week break, but has recorded a promising barrier trial. He on the other hand takes a step up in distance after finishing seventh in his latest outing over 1100M and could do better as a result.

MILITARY ACADEMY is seldom far off the action and finished second in his last outing over seven furlongs, 2.3L off the winner. It must however be noted that he jumped awkwardly and took a heavy bump at the start and was then chased up to hit the front at the 350M mark before being run out of it late. Under the circumstances, he did well to finish as close to the winner as he did. From a handy gate four, he looks to be the one to be with here. BUDDEROO KNIGHT returns from a n 18 week break and has not had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his well-being will have to be taken on trust. He won his penultimate start over seven furlongs by over three lengths and then finished nineth next time out over six furlongs after jumping awkwardly and having to be steadied shortly after the start. He will have to overcome a wide draw ten, but he should be involved in the finish. ASUDEM is drawn one outside the latter and finished sixth last time out over 1100M when returning from a 26 week rest, but he did win his penultimate start over 1300M and should be included in all bets. 

Three 4yr old fillies could dominate the finish of this race and complete the trifecta, but the value bet on the program, LA TIGRESA is the firm top selection. She has her hat-trick run after winning her last two starts over seven furlongs, despite being hampered down at the start in the latest. She made good late progress that day and should enjoy going over the extra ground here. She gets the services of ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham and has gate two. TIMELY SHADOW has finished second in her last two outings, the latest being a neck defeat over ten furlongs when coming wide into the straight. She as drawn gate five and should be right up there when they hit the line. SATIN RAIN has posted two solid recent efforts since returning from a 20 week break, finishing fourth in his latest outing over 1500M. She has her peak run here and will start in gate three.

PHIONAIX went from jump to wire when making good improvement to win his last start over 1100M by one length. He jumps from gate seven and is likely to attempt similar tactics today. BROOKLYN STAR is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has ultra-consistent formlines to her name and has finished second in her last two outings, the latest when a head back over five furlongs. She was returning from a 27 week break that day and from draw two, she could threaten the top choice. PURRONI is also a 4yr old filly and returns from a 15 week break, but has put in an encouraging barrier trial to prove her fitness. She showed solid improvement to finish sixth last time out over six furlongs, three lengths back from the victor. From gate four, she should be involved in the finish. 

A 5yr old mare and two 4yr old fillies could dominate the finish to this race and secure the trifecta, but today’s value bet, BOOM GIRL could be the pick. She ended up third in her last outing over five furlongs, just a head behind the winner, despite coming three wide into the straight. She has her peak run today and from gate six, she should be right up there in the mix. OUR FRAULEIN has her first run since a 25 rest and has not had the benefit of a barrier trial so her fitness will have to be taken on trust, but she has her first run for her new trainer and if fully settled into her new surroundings, she should be considered for all bets, despite being drawn the widest of them all at gate twelve. OOZES CLASS was a bit disappointing when finishing eighth last time out over six furlongs and was immediately rested for 47 weeks. She returns here after two barrier trial, having finished second in the latest. She has drawn seven and should be right up there in the dash down to the wire.

VINASTA is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she missed out on her hat-trick when finishing second last time out over 1500M, 1.3L off the winner. She shifted out in the latter stages and should have finished closer to the victor as a result. She jumps from gate seven and will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today. TONY’S DECREE has finished second in his last four starts over a variety of different distance. He ran on late last time out over 1710M and whilst drawn wide out at eleven, he could emerge as the biggest threat to the top choice. MADAM MAHAL is an 8yr old mare who although fifth in her last outing, was only just over a length behind the winner. She jumped awkwardly that day and was also hanging over the latter stages of the contest. Ex-SA jockey Sean Cormack has been engaged and she should be included in all bets. 

Two 4yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and secure the exacta, but the clear top selection goes to LYRICAL GIRL who is taken to be the best bet on the day. There are seven late scratchings in the race, two of which were her main rivals, so this could allow her to complete a quick double. She jumps from gate two and although only winning her maiden race last time out over five furlongs and taking on stronger here, she could be up to the task on hand. FAITH AND LOVE has consistent formlines to her credit and finished second last time out over this c&d, a half length back from the winner. She attracted plenty of betting support that day and with ex-SA jockey Robbie Fradd in the irons, she could be the biggest danger to the former. PRIMO AGOSTO is seldom far off the action and finished third in his last outing over five furlongs when returning from a lengthy 42 week break. She now comes into draw six and should be respected here.  

IMPERIAL DAWN is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys. She finished strongly to show good improvement to end up second in her last start over seven furlongs, just under a length behind the winner. She will have to negotiate a wide draw of ten, but given her style or running she should be doing her best work late. TELL ME AGAIN had his consistency rewarded with his maiden victory last time out over seven furlongs. He has a handy draw at gate four and whilst taking on stronger today, he may well be up to the task on hand. TANAAWOL has only had the two runs to date and showed the expected improvement to win over seven furlongs at the second time of asking. He did not have the clearest of passages that day, so the victory was full of merit. He jumps from gate seven and should be involved in the finish here.  

OCEAN MISS drops in distance after finishing second in her last outing over ten furlongs, but she did win over a mile three runs back, so this should not be an issue. She has gate nine out of ten, but may prove too strong for this line-up and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s program. HELJAMI followed up her penultimate run victory over 1500M with a sixth place finish last time out over 1500M, 3.8L back from the winner. She made good late progress that day suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to her liking. She has a far kinder draw of three and could be the biggest danger to the top choice. JUST LIKE MUM jumped awkwardly and then overraced in the middle stages to understandably have nothing to come over the closing stages and ended up seventh last time out over seven furlongs. She is sure to put her pole position to good use.

ALBUKHTURI had been making steady improvement before winning his maiden race by a short-head in his last start over six furlongs when returning from a 23 week break. He has a wideish draw eight and takes on stronger here, but he should nevertheless still be right up there when they hit the line. RED ON RED has only had the two runs to date, but showed the expected improvement to win by two lengths last time out over six furlongs. He clearly has some ability and from his draw six, he could well be good enough to record a quick double today. NEW CHOICE showed marked improvement to finish second in his last outing over six furlongs when returning from a 23 week rest. He looked a winner when hitting the front at the 100M that day, only to be collared in the shadow of the post. He should be included in all bets.

ARGYLE BELLE is a 7yr old mare taking on males, but she has been improving each time she steps up in distance and if keeping to that trend here, she should be the one to side with today. She has pulled pole position and if taking to the extra ground on offer here, she looks to be the value bet on the day’s card. ZOFFALA has consistent formlines to his name and was making steady late progress to finish second last time out over 1900M. He has to deal with draw ten, but he should turn in another honest performance today. SCHWITZER showed good improvement to finish second when stepping up from a mile to the ten furlongs last time out. He finished well that day and whilst drawn wide at gate twelve, he is likely to be dropped out of the race early and then should be picking off the frontrunners over the closing stages of the race.