3 minute read
There are a number of meetings set to take place on Friday including at Echuca where a 10-race program is scheduled.
Race 6 Echuca
Timbolton @ 5.00
Race 8 Geelong
Leonardo @ 4.40
Race 7 Mackay
Honkytonk Diva @ 3.60
Timbolton for Echuca glory
The sixth race at Echuca is a 1400m Benchmark 52 handicap event with Carly Cook's Haather expected to have his supporters.
The top weight has been racing on the synthetic tracks at Ballarat and Pakenham in recent starts, showing improved form at the second named venue earlier this month.
The four-year-old jumped at triple figure odds when beaten just over half-a-length in finishing third in a Benchmark 58 handicap over this distance that day.
The son of Pariah has a wide barrier to overcome here, however, and it can pay to look elsewhere for the winner.
Promising apprentice Sarah Field takes three kilograms off the track of TIMBOLTON here and, while also set to jump from a wide alley, he is preferred in this contest.
The gelding is a winner in 2024 having followed up a third on the synthetic track at Ballarat in May with a success over 1400m at Bendigo the following month.
Timbolton contested a Restricted 58 handicap held on a soft 6 track that day and similar underfoot conditions are expected in this contest.
The Turffontein gelding arrives here on the back of a second of eight in a 1200m Restricted 58 handicap at Warracknabeal just under two weeks ago.
This selection should appreciate the step back up to 1400m here and he looks capable of registering his third success of the season.
Leonardo to complete double
The eighth race on Geelong's 10-race card is a 1247m Benchmark 64 handicap contest.
Duel Venture is expected to jump as favourite for the Greg Eurell team and he is a course winner having broken his maiden over 1112m here in March.
The four-year-old registered his most recent success when triumphing by nearly four lengths in a 1200m Benchmark 58 handicap on Pakenham's synthetic track on 17th June.
The gelding has been freshened since that effort and, while of note jumping from barrier 10 under Ben Melham, he looks opposable in this event.
The Anthony & Sam Freedman stable are represented by LEONARDO here and he is taken to deliver a victory on his first start on a wet surface.
Leonardo showed ability in finishing fourth in two of his three starts in his first prep racing including over 1221m when beaten three lengths here on debut.
The son of Toronado gelding returned from a spell with a length victory when racing over 1100m in a maiden contest held on the synthetic surface at Ballarat on 18th June.
The switch to a soft 6 turf surface shouldn't pose any issues here and he looks capable of saluting with Ben Allen, on board last time out, again set to ride.
Diva to take Newmarket
The feature race on the Mackay card is the 1300m Mackay Newmarket, a $75,000 contest set to take place on a soft 5 surface.
HONKYTONK DIVA has been in great form of late with three wins in her last four starts taking her 2024 tally to five victories.
The four-year-old registered a track and trip success in a handicap contest held on similar going to that which is expected here in May.
Clinton Taylor's filly has recorded two wins in the interim, including when getting home by a narrow margin over this distance at Rockhampton in July.
The daughter of Under The Louvre had previously finished third in a competitive 1200m handicap at Rockhampton, with the fifth home in that event winning subsequently.
Barrier seven shouldn't post any issues for the filly who looks capable of continuing her good run of form with a victory.