International Racing: Sunday 6 September 2020 – Australia

Two 5yr old and a 6yr old mare look like they could dominate the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but the firm top choice goes to CARRIE who finished second in her last outing over 1100M despite her jockey dropping his crop at the 100M mark. She returns from a 23-week break without having the benefit of a barrier trial, but she did win her maiden race over a mile when returning from an even longer 34-week rest, so this may not be an issue. She jumps from a wideish ten draw but nonetheless is taken to be the best bet on today’s program. VITANI made good late progress when finishing seventh in her last outing over 1300M, 3.3L back from the winner, and on that effort, she is likely to enjoy the extra ground on offer here. She gets a far kinder draw three. WISH I MIGHT finished well when beaten just over half a length last time out over 1500M. She is drawn one outside the latter and is not without some sort of chance here.   

BUREAUCRAT goes for his hat-trick here after winning his last start over 2020M by seven lengths. The form of that race has been franked and although drawn in gate ten, the gelding looks set to notch up his trio of victories today. VINACEOUS is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she did not get the clearest of passages when finishing second last time out over 2250M and should have finished closer to the winner than she did. She was just 1.4L back and from her handy draw two, she looks to be the immediate danger to the top choice. JINDA is a 6yr old mare who stayed on well when finishing fourth in her last outing over 2020M. She has a wide draw of twelve to negotiate, but she should be involved in the finish here. 

DEEP DIVE goes for his hat-trick after drawing clear of the opposition to win his last start over 1100M by over three and a half lengths. From his gate three, this looks very much on the cards. PROPER ROGUE hit the front close to home and then kept going well to win his last outing by a head. He faces the widest draw of them all at gate sixteen, but he is likely to be dropped out of the race in the early stages and then start picking off the frontrunner over the latter stages of the contest. CONDO’S EXPRESS finished sixth last time out over six furlongs when returning from an 18-week rest. He has drawn out at gate eleven, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. 

BAROCHA finished strongly to win on debut over 1105M in heavy going. He would have benefited from having the run under his belt and with the natural improvement that can he expected, he should be afforded the utmost respect here. He has to overcome a wide sixteen draw, but he is likely to be doing his best work late. IRISH BUTTERFLY returns from a 26-week rest and no barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust. He jumped awkwardly last time out when finishing third, just under a length back from the victor when attracting plenty of betting support. He jumps from gate eleven and will be hoping to make amends today. ROLLS has his first run after an even longer 40-week break and has also not had a barrier trial. He did however win his last race over seven furlongs by some three and a half lengths despite hanging in the latter stages of the contest. The form of that race has been franked and he should be included in all bets.