3 minute read
The Bool is back kicking off with a bumper 10 race card today including the Brierly Steeplechase.
Aside from the $100,000 feature chase, the jumps racing fraternity must be thrilled to have had to split the maiden hurdle, such are the numbers of budding jumpers lining up in the opening two races.
On the flat the feature race is the City Of Warrnambool Handicap where Denis Daffy's Miles Above looks ready to return to his best.
Fitter for three runs from a spell, he will appreciate the soft ground today and can overcome the wide gate over the 1700m journey.
Miles Above hit a rich vein of form last campaign and returned some career bets figures, including a close-up fourth in the Bart Cummings Stakes before a crack at the Geelong Cup, finishing 10th behind subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Americain.
Worth noting he hit form at his fourth run back and held it.
The gelding resumed in Listed grade over 1400m at Flemington and was well held as you'd expect, but improved over a mile at Caulfield next time running on from the back to finish a four length eighth.
Last start, stepping up sharply in distance to the 200m of the Hamilton Cup, he sat fifth throughout and tried hard but peaked on his run, which was probably no surprise, finishing a 1.8 length third behind Risk It All.
It was a good run given the jump in ground and he will strip much fitter for the run.
He comes back in journey but this 1700m race with a big field in soft ground will no doubt he a tough test for any of them.
He drops in weight and relishes the conditions.
Although yet to win at Warrnambool from three runs, he has placed twice and wasn't far away at the other finishing fifth.
One of those was a close-up second over the same trip during the Warrnambool carnival where he hit the line hard in similar conditions but just missed.
He looks ready to show his best again now and should prove hard to hold out.
The Michael O'Leary stable is always well represented at Warrnambool and he looks to have a top chance in the lightly-raced Irish High King.
The gelding won the Naracoorte Cup four starts back then had no luck over 2000m at Donald, hitting the line hard after finding trouble to finish runner-up.
O'Leary then backed off for a month, no doubt with Warrnambool in mind, before dropping back to 1430m at Naracoorte. He was still too good there, running on hard to score, before heading up to Oakbank on the Easter Saturday.
That was over 1400m as well and he was in a handy position to the turn but seemed all at sea coming down the steeping and turning final downhill run.
He finished fifth behind Tobouggie Woogie but is worth forgiving the run. The winner then came out and won again on the Monday.
Irish High King is ideally suited by the longer journey now and he has a good record at the course.
He gets through the ground and drops in weight as well.
The Mick Kent-trained Oronero is backing up after a strong third at Caulfield over 1800m on Saturday.
He won't find this any tougher and can only be fitter again.
His bets form, though, is on top of the ground but he rates highly on his Caulfield run.
O'Reilly Clock has never won beyond a mile but is very well suited on the softer ground at Warrnambool.
He ran well last start at Flemington and gets the chance to return to his bets here.
