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Well last weekend at Eagle Farm was something of an improvement at least, but Rocky King disappointed us when he was turned over in the sprint.
The most impressive performance of the day came from Palmera Lad in the three-year-old mile race.
He sat at the rear, peeled very wide around the bend and let down with a huge run to finish more than three lengths clear for the Roslyn Pratt yard.
The most touching part of that performance was the smile it put on the face of Pratt’s five-year-old son Charlie who is currently waging a battle with leukemia.
I’d love to see Palmera Lad run in the Queensland Derby later this year, particularly on a wet track.
Anyhow, it looks another intriguing card tomorrow with the racing back at Doomben.
We’ll kick things off nice and early with Pasquinel in the one-metro win handicap over 1600m.
He’s an impressive four-year-old this son of Red Dazzler from the Steven O’Dea stable, and he’s chasing a hat-trick of wins here after proving too good over the 1350m 10 days ago.
It looks a two-horse battle with Bush Aviator, but I’m favouring Pasquinel at the $3.80 purely because he looks to have more upside.
That’s not to say Bush Aviator is no good, he’s also chasing a third-straight win, but he’s been up for six months now whereas Pasquinel is third-up and still on the improve.
He’ll likely go back from the wide gate which will suit his normal pattern anyway, and he can follow Bush Aviator every step of the way here.
Take the $3.80 and get yourself off to a good start.
We’ll keep it in sequential order and move onto the next race where I’m happy to take on the favourite Little Bit Ditsy.
The Kelly Schweida filly has been backed and is currently a $3.70 quote to win the Class 6 handicap over 1200m, fresh from a third placing in Class 3 grade at Eagle Farm 17 days ago.
She showed ability as a two-year-old this horse winning very well in the wet on debut and placing at her next two behind some handy gallopers.
Granted she ran well resuming in that race at Eagle Farm, running on late from the back and really catching the eye but she looks far too short today stepping up to this grade.
The track won’t have as much give in it as she’d like either.
Standing in her way is Tony Gollan’s Tear It Up, who won a $75,000 race at Toowoomba two back then just missed in the Listed Nudgee Quality.
Darlin’ Jules also ran very well in that race while Interject is in blistering form and could also win this one without surprising.
I’ll certainly be leaving Little Bit Ditsy alone in this one.
My play of the day comes in race six, and before I continue let me preface this by saying the following horse has always been one of my favourites.
I think Mishani Warrior is ready to win a race, and the 1350m open handicap looks just the ticket.
A quick glance at his form this time in suggests he’s been well off his best, although I don’t think that’s entirely true.
I thought his last start in the Sunshine Coast Cup when 2.4L off the winner Fillydelphia, his main rival today, was particularly good on a slow track.
He settled off midfield which isn’t his usual pattern and worked home well to the line despite being tightened for room.
He meets Fillydelphia a kilogram better off on raw weights today (without factoring in Allen’s claim on the Heathcote mare) and finally finds a race where he should be able to settled in the first two or three.
Mishani Warrior has won six times over this trip and three times from six starts at this track.
Jockey Brad Stewart goes back on looking for a third win from four rides aboard this five-year-old.
At $4.80, Mishani Warrior looks a very tempting bet.
BANKER: Race 3 No 4 Pasquinel @ $3.80
PLAY OF THE DAY: Race 6 No 2 Mishani Warrior @ $4.80
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 4 No 15 Little Bit Ditsy @ $3.70
