Come one and come all to the opening day of the brand new racing season for 2020/2021. It looks set to be a very exciting day of racing to kick off the new season, with a number of quality meetings taking place all across the country. A number of talented 2yo’s in work now race as 3yo’s, and can prove their worth moving in to the spring carnival. Eagle Farm is set to kick off the season, followed by metro racing from Randwick, Moonee Valley, Morphettville, and Belmont in the west. PlayUp form analyst Lewis Willoughby is ready to rip and tear in the new season, and has identified five bets for today… check them out below.
Moonee Valley R2 #3 Jabali Ridge $6.50 at PlayUp – Want to be have something each way on this talented Price/Kent Jnr runner. Stepped out to 1200m last start and was a touch disappointing, but it was a hot form race as he finished behind Sense Of Honour, Standoff and Savannah Cloud, all of which are very talented. Two runs back at this track he was a touch unlucky not to win behind Crosshaven after running out of room on the line. Quick freshen and back to 1000m looks very suitable, and has really strong form lines all around him. Can stalk a hot speed and be flashing home late. Selections: 3-4-8-1
Moonee Valley R7 #7 Polly Grey $4.20 at PlayUp – Fourth up into her new career in Aus under trainer C Waller, thought she has been progressing very well so far this preparation. Was very unlucky not to finish closer, or even win, last start at Flemington over 2000m. Was shuffled back to last on the turn with no room at all, got out late and hit the line very hard. Should be ready to peak here holding weight in equal grade, and gets the services of D Lane over this Cox Plate distance. Should go very close, the soft-ish ground no issue either. Selections: 7-4-8-5
Randwick R4 #1 Fanciful Dream $9.50 at PlayUp – Couldn’t believe the double figures going around about this horse, who I expected to start single figures without a doubt (and it still might come race time). Third up here from a freshen, and has been very good in her previous two starts. Two back she won nicely at Port Macquarie in heavy going, then stepped back to 1000m last start at Randwick and ran well behind Spaceboy, who is in a rich vein of form. Third up peak fit, with a cracking record at this distance, and an obvious ability to handle the wet tracks. She drops in grade, and does have to cop a weight rise for her troubles, but I don’t think she should be double figures. Selections: 1-10-3-5
Randwick R8 #4 Fulmina $3.00 at PlayUp – Willing to forgive the last start failure of this talented mare, after she was beaten 3L by Korcho as favourite at Rosehill over the 2000m. She was forced to work wide near the speed approaching the bend, which resulted in her being forced to sustain a long effort from a fair way out. Go to her run two starts back and she was very dominant over the 1800m, which is a distance she returns to today. That is a big positive, as is the claim for T Sherry which will see her only carry 54kg, and also the fact she returns to a race against her own sex. The wet tracks are no issue, and she can definitely bounce back here. Selections: 4-10-14-1
Eagle Farm R6 #12 Starla $4.00 at PlayUp – Racing in outstanding form of late is Starla, and I see no reason as to why that cannot continue here. Was a dominant Doomben 3yo-HCP winner last start in her first attempt in Brisbane, knocking off some good horses in the process. Out to 1400m here is suitable, and she should be rock hard fit thanks to the run back from the freshen. Will need a touch of luck from barrier 12, but if she gets any in running then I fully expect here to be around the money. Selections: 12-14-4-2
