International Racing: Tuesday 15 September 2020 – Australia

ROSE OF SEBRING is a 3yr filly taking on the boys, but she has only had the three starts to date and followed up her penultimate run victory, where she won by five and a half lengths over this distance, with a second-place finish over the six furlongs, just a length and a half back from the winner. She returns from a 19-week break and has her first run for her new trainer, but if fully settled into her new surroundings, she looks to be the one that they all have to beat and is taken to be the best bet on today’s card. SLY SAMBA DEER was bumped at the 250M mark before recovering well to make good late progress to finish sixth last time out over 1100M, just over a length behind the victor. From gate five, he could be the immediate danger to the top choice. VALOUR ELITE had finished second in his two prior runs over six furlongs before being slightly disappointing last time out when dropping down to 1100M. He has cracked pole position and should be involved in the finish here.  

LAST HOPE has his first run since a 22-week rest and has not had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but he jumped awkwardly in his last outing before the break before powering home to win over seven furlongs by 1.8L. He drops in trip, but the form of that last race has been franked and he will jump from a handy draw three. As such, he is taken to be the value bet of the meeting. FLYING CYRIL missed out on completing his hat-trick when finishing eighth last time out over six furlongs. He did however mess up the start that day and will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice. He will have to negotiate a wide draw ten, but he should be right up there when they hit the line. SMOKIN’ SALMON is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she is a speedy sort who although finishing fifth in her latest outing over this distance, she was just over a length behind the winner.

Two 4yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and secure the exacta. STARDEN LASS has shown steady improvement in her last three outings, culminating with a head victory last time out over 1300M. She battled all the way down to the wire and if showing the same determination here, she could be good enough to complete her double. RED IMPULSE finished third in her last start over six furlongs, only a neck behind the winner. She was friendless in the betting markets that day, but if confirming that last effort, she should be respected in this line-up starting from gate seven. SINGLE CROWN is drawn one outside the latter and returns from a 20-week absence, with no barrier trial. He takes a drop in distance from his last outing over 1500M, but he jumped awkwardly in that run and should have finished closer to the winner as a result.  

A 4yr old filly and a 5yr old mare look to dominate the finish to this race, with the slight preference going to SCARLETT HEART. She won her maiden race last time out over 1500M by just under a length at the third time of asking. She is a pacey sort who although taking on stronger today, is sure to put her pole position to good use. JUDGE JEANINE hit the front at the 200M mark and then stayed on well to win her last start over seven furlongs by 2.8L. She on the other hand has a wide draw of gate eleven to overcome, but nevertheless, she should keep the top pick honest. SPANISH POET is drawn one inside the latter and is seldom too far off the action. He was making solid late progress before ending up just over three lengths behind the winner last time out over 1300M and should be included in all bets.  

SISTER ELLIE is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she is seldom far off the action and finished strongly to end up in third place last time out over this c&d, two lengths behind the winner. She has a wideish draw of eight, but on the plus side, she will get 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice. AYTOBE returns from a 16-week rest, but he finished second in his only barrier trial to prove his fitness. He likes to race up with the pace and will enjoy the drop in trip after finishing fourth in his latest start over 1300M. He is sure to put his pole position to good use. VOX POPULI is another 4yr old filly. She has her first run since a 26-week break but has not had the benefit of a barrier trial, so her well-being will have to be taken on trust. She is however a speedy sort who should be involved in the finish today.

TOGUCHI is a 4yr old filly taking on males and returns from a 30-week absence from the race track, but she has put in two encouraging barrier trials. She had finished second in her two outings before being a tad disappointing last time out over six furlongs. She has cracked pole position and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s program. FOUR EGOS has consistent formlines to his name and has finished second in his last two outings over six furlongs, the latest when one and a half lengths behind the victor. He was returning from a 14-week break that day and despite having to deal with gate eight, he may prove to be the biggest danger to the top choice. MINDREADER makes his debut here, but has all of four barrier trials, finishing second in his last two. He has a handy draw four and any betting support for him should be respected.  

FOREVER JUDE showed marked improvement when finishing a neck back last time out over six furlongs when resuming after a 12-week rest. He was carried wide that day and should have finished closer to the winner than he eventually did. His gate five will do him no harm. MBAPPE has put in two solid recent efforts, finishing fifth in his last start over 1500M, even though he was hampered at the 100M mark just as he was improving. He gets gate eight, but with better luck in running here, he should be right up there in the mix. LEGENDOFOZ is recorded as finishing eighth last time out, but he was just 2.7L back from the winner after making good late progress in the closing stages. He jumps from draw four and should be respected in this line-up.  

APACHE DUDE has posted two solid last runs, the latest when third over five furlongs, less than half a length behind the winner. He is drawn in gate eight, but he was staying on well in that last outing and should be doing his best work late. SPANISH MISSILE is going for his hat-trick after showing good pace and then keeping on going well to hold off all the late challengers to be victorious last time out over six furlongs. He starts from gate six and the trio of wins is very much on the cards. BLEVIO is a 5yr old mare taking on boys, but she won her last outing over six furlongs by nearly three lengths. She is sure to use her early gate speed to move across from her gate eleven without using up too much energy. HEREDERO followed up his penultimate run victory over 1100M with a disappointing effort last time out over 1300M, nearly five lengths adrift of the winner. He lacked a finish that day and will almost certainly appreciate the drop in trip here.