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A new-look Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup Day takes centre stage in Victoria on Saturday!
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
Not only has the time-honoured Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup attracted one of its strongest fields in recent memory, but we'll also be treated to the inaugural running of the $1 million The Ladbrokes Meteorite.
The country's latest slot race will feature a fittingly bright field of sprinters including Moby Dick, who will fly the flag for the Ladbrokes Racing Club!
Check out all of my Cranbourne tips below.
Race 1 - 12:20pm: Frankston Sand Soil & Mini Mix Handicap (1200m)
Ladbrokes Racing Club's own Romani Ite Domum is chasing a hat-trick on Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup Day and looks well placed to pull it off.
The quality gelding couldn't have done a lot more on debut without winning and is since undefeated, picking off races at Bendigo and Geelong.
He steps out in peak order, and this looks an ideal opportunity to successfully transition into Saturday metro company.
3 Units Romani Ite Domum
Race 2 - 12:50pm: Hertz Robin Daley Classic (2025m)
Mount Rinjani broke his maiden at The Valley last time out and can continue his rise through the grades on Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup Day.
The Grunt gelding raced greenly on debut at Ballarat last month but still finish just over a length behind the winner, while he was too good for them over the 1519m last time out.
He has plenty of upside and another rise in trip looks ideal.
2 Units Mount Rinjani
Race 3 - 1:25pm: Rhino The Wrecker Handicap (2540m)
Staunch is hard fit and I thought this looked another nice race for him.
The Flying Artie gelding has turned in some fine performances throughout a busy spring prep, and he was last seen finishing second behind an impressive Pittsburgh Pirate in the Ararat Gold Cup.
He does rise in the weights following that race, but the rise in trip looks beneficial and I think he has a number of these rivals covered for class.
1 Unit Staunch
Race 4 - 2pm: Reed Cranes & Haulage Handicap (1300m)
Alectrona is second up and primed to strike on Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup Day.
The four-year-old mare was a strong and consistent performer last time in, winning in BM70 company at Pakenham and finding form around some above average gallopers in Saturday metro company.
She worked home well to finish only a head behind the winner in BM70 on Bendigo Cup Day and any improvement on that performance would see her right in the finish again.
1 Unit Alectrona
Race 5 - 2:35pm: Unox Casa Handicap (1000m)
Trapeze Warrior is third-up and primed to strike.
The Trapeze Artist gelding returned to action to win in BM64 company at Moe, just his third career starts, while he hit the line impressively to finish a half-length second at Flemington last time out.
Fitter third-up, I like that he's getting back into a race with a turn, and he has drawn ideally under Luke Nolen.
4 Units Trapeze Warrior
Race 6 - 3:10pm: John Duff & Co The Lester (2025m)
Nation's Call doesn't know how to run a bad race and rates as a key winning chance again this week at Cranbourne.
Nation's Call has missed placing only twice in thirteen career starts since debuting and returned to action for an eye-catching win in a BM78 at Moe.
Having finished third, beaten only a length by Angland over a mile at Flemington last time out, he's ready for the rise in trip, while this race is certainly no harder.
2 Units Nation's Call
Race 7 - 3:45pm: Rosemont Stud Fillies & Mares Pendant (1400m)
I'm keen to give Brazen Lady another chance when she steps out third-up in the Pendant.
Brazen Lady returned to action to win in BM78 company on Bendigo Cup Day, while she was just over two and a half lengths behind Niance in the How Now Stakes last time out.
There is no doubt that this is a weaker race, she's open to further improvement, while she's another one that I think will relish the rise in trip this week.
3 Units Brazen Lady
Race 8 - 4:25pm: The Ladbrokes Meteorite (1200m)
The inaugural running of the $1 million Ladbrokes Meteorite is the real highlight of this program in my opinion and I am eager to have a couple of bets.
I thought that Baraqiel might be a little bit of a false favourite, so I am going to take him on with Arkansaw Kid and Moby Dick.
Arkansaw Kid has been excellent this season, winning both the Regal Roller Stakes and the Bobbie Lewis, while he was only just denied in the Gilgai Stakes as well.
He's been freshened since his latest appearance and has drawn awkwardly, but I think his class will still take him a long way towards winning.
Moby Dick has mixed his form a little, but he did beat home the likes of Baraqiel at Flemington when resuming, and he has drawn ideally into this field.
2 Units Arkansaw Kid
1 Unit E/W Moby Dick
Race 9 - 5:00pm: Listed Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup (1600m)
Globe is the one for me in this year's Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup.
The lightly raced son of Charm Spirit didn't come up in the spring of last year and his campaign was abandoned, but after returned to action this time to finish a credible fourth in the Moonga Stakes, he finished off well behind Light Infantry Man in the Chester Manifold Stakes last time out.
Given that horse is on track to start favourite in Saturday's Group 1 Railway Stakes in Perth, I'm expecting the form to hold up, and 2000m is perfect for this horse at this point of his prep.
3 Units Globe
Race 10 - 5:40pm: Freeway Ford Shooting Stars (1500m)
Igotcha has returned to peak order this time in, and this looks another lovely race for her.
The Puissance De Lune mare recorded consecutive victories at Mornington and Moe and September and October, while she only just missed behind Delicious Tycoon at The Valley last time out.
She's fit and with even luck in running, I can't find a reason why she won't be in the finish again.
2 Units Igotcha
