3 minute read
The all weather track at Geelong hosts another big 10 race card today as Victoria is deep into the winter but there are some good races on the program including the Centrebet Winter Challenge Series Handicap (race 8).
Although one of the smaller fields of the day the race, heat two of the series over 1200m, looks a good contest headed by last start winner Bon Genre.
The lightly raced four-year-old, who boasts a good strike rate of five wins from just 13 runs, is prepared by Stephen Theodore and on his last start win on the synthetic track will go close again.
Bon Genre resumed this campaign in an RB68 on slow ground at Cranbourne and after settling third in the run ran away with a comfortable 2.2 length win in a good form race.
He then made it two straight with a fast finishing win in this same RB72 grade at Bairnsdale.
Up to 1200m in heavy ground at Cranbourne he carried 59.5kg and was caught wide, sitting three deep on the speed, before the effort told and he faded late to fourth, his rider Adam McCabe reminded by stewards to ride his mount to the line as he did fade out of the placings.
Next start was in tougher grade over six furlongs up the Flemington straight.
With a lighter weight, he sat outside the leader up the crown of the track and was there throughout, lifting strongly to finish third, beaten only a length behind Goldstone in another good form race.
Last start, here in a BM78 with 56.5kg, he shared the lead early before kicking strongly for home and cruising away to win by 2.2 lengths over Riverina's Girl.
He meets that mare a half kilo worse today and has drawn a wide gate but will be on the speed throughout here and no doubt kicking away around the corner again.
He carries 59.5kg after the claim and should take catching again.
The Danny O'Brien trained Fabulist gets the chance to show her best form as she tackles the easiest grade she has contested for some time.
The mare has raced in town at all 10 runs this campaign, which has included a Morphettville win over 1200m on good ground, and two Caulfield placings on good and dead tracks.
She does seems to be at her best with former footing but has been struggling in the tougher grade lately to break through.
Two back she was beaten 4.5 lengths at Caulfield then ran 11th at Morphettville last start but was beaten the same margin.
She drops well back in grade for today's race and does have an excellent record at the course, with two wins and a placings from three tries.
Although she has a big weight today she has drawn far better here than last time and should be winding up strongly over the shorter journey.
The lightly raced Henshaw is resuming today and can measure up in this grade.
The colt, prepared by Peter Snowden, was a Gosford winner fresh up last campaign and the preparation before was a winner here fresh at his only try at the course.
He returns from the autumn in Sydney but may have come on further and with the nice draw should be finishing on strongly.
Zachary Quack, who loves the track, is worth another chance after pulling up lame here last start.
The gelding has five wins from 11 runs at the course, two over today's journey, and could well bounce back here.
Captura is worth another chance after covering ground with a big weight last time, and Songbird Lane will find this easier than Flemington last time.
Riverina's Girl was runner up behind Bon Genre last time and has to have claims again on that run.