Day Two of the ‘Bool carnival is upon us, and presents another great day of racing, this time a full card of flat racing. There are two feature races on the program today, with the Listed Wangoom Handicap over 1200m for the sprinters, with a full field of 20 acceptances this year, and the Listed Warrnambool Cup over 2350m for the stayers, with horses coming here out of some very nice form races. It is very important to keep an eye on how the track is playing by this stage of the carnival, the soft conditions mean that some lanes in the track can become very chopped out, and riders will need to find the best going, wherever that may be. PlayUp form analyst Lewis Willoughby has identified another five key plays to be having on day 2, check them out below.
R1 #4 The Billionaire – $5.00 at PlayUp Putting this Freedman horse on top here in what is a very tricky opening race. He has the experience of one race start, where he jumped as favourite and finished 5th behind Chrome Angel. He beat Our Playboy, who has since come out and won twice very nicely. He has the benefit of race experience, and going off his debut run the soft track should be no issue. I think they have an option to take a sit here and let them go crazy in front, and get over the top late. Hard race, but I like this guy to win. Selections: 4-6-8-7
R3 #7 Pocket Goddess – $4.40 at PlayUp This regally-bred filly lines up here on debut, out of a speedy family. The dam Karuta Queen was G1 placed in the Moir over 1000m, and did her best racing over the short trip. This filly has had a couple of jump outs leading in, and won them both very impressively to the eye. She was hardly pushed out in either, and still won them comfortably. Barrier four is a great draw, they can use her early speed and go forward, or take a sit behind the lead if that suits better. The lack of race experience is an obvious negative, but she could be quite smart this one. Selections: 7-2-6-9
R7 (Wangoom Handicap) #5 Great Again – $10.00 at PlayUp Going for value here with this Lindsey Smith gelding. An ex-WA horse, who was twice a Listed winner, including one dominant win over the 1200m, the same distance as today. He had one VIC start back in November, and i’m tipping he just had an off day. Immediately spelled, he returns here off the back of a very impressive jump out win, where he was strong all the way through the line. His two listed wins back in WA were on soft going, and the recent jump out win was in the driving range, so the track conditions will be no issue! 6:4-0-0 at 1200m, 8:6-2-0 on the soft, and L Smith always has his horses ready to race on the home track. Great value! Selections: 5-1-2-9
R8 (Warrnambool Cup) #6 Sin To Win – $7.50 at PlayUp This horse has his hoof on the till and is building very nicely towards a win, which i’m hoping can come today. Strong to the line last start to finish under a length off the winner over 2600 at Flemington, he comes back in distance today which I think should suit. Rock hard fit here, the booking of D Oliver has to be a massive push. Three time winner on soft going, and only has to rise 2kg off the last start effort. Thought he deserved to be a touch shorter in the market, so I think his current price is a good bet! Selections: 6-8-4-12
R9 #12 Nashville Sound – $3.50 at PlayUp Comes here fourth up in the prep, stepping out a touch of extra distance now to the 2350m should really suit. All runs this prep have been sound efforts, including last start when he didn’t have the clearest of runs in the straight, working home well to finish fourth. Sticking to bm78 grade, he gets a 3kg weight drop (tick!) and the key factor is the wide draw of barrier 13. By this stage of the carnival, the wide draw will be perfect and he can be charging home down the outside. Early money has come, that increases my confidence here. Selections: 12-5-8-10
