Saturday selections from the PlayUp form analyst
Flemington R3 #3 Shuffle Dancer $2.90 at PlayUp – Deep into the prep and ready to strike for another group win, I can’t see anyone turning the tables on this Moody runner. She had to do it the tough way last start to win the G2 Armanasco, sitting wide no cover and fighting hard through the line to beat a very handy field. That was off a 5 week break between runs, so there is every chance she has come on even further, and looks the right time to win at the mile. Drawn well for a run with cover out wide, B Melham sticks and is in great form.
Flemington R5 #4 Excelida $5.00 at PlayUp – Third up and ready to strike, coming off a very gallant placing behind Annavisto last start here in the G3 Tressady. She completely bombed the start and sat last in running, while the winner bowled along in front meaning the shape of the race was truly against her. She was the only horse to run on from back in the field, recording the sixth fastest last 200m sectional of the day. Now out to a mile, where she was placed last prep at G1 level, and the booking of Mark Zahra is a strong push they will have her closer in running this time around.
Flemington R7 #9 Lofty Strike $8.50 at PlayUp – Third up and ready to break through at the top level, I think this horse looks a great bet at odds in the G1 Newmarket for 2023. He comes off a huge run in the Oakleigh Plate behind Uncommon James, where he stormed home from near last in running to be beaten under a length. Chasing a hot tempo there, he still ran the fastest last 200m sectional of the entire meeting, and the race, and recorded his last 600m split in a time that is 10 lengths quicker than G1 average. The horse is flying, he draws the right side of the track, and gets the ultra low weight.
Rosehill R2 #2 Maharba $3.20 at PlayUp – A horse who looks on his way to a Golden Slipper should he win here today, and I think he can. Looks perfectly drawn in barrier one, and is coming off a strong win in the LR Talindert down the Flemington straight last start. He sat midfield in a stalking position, and was far too strong late for a handy field and ran quick time in the process. Back to Sydney, where he debut’d here and ran a very close fourth to Barber in the Golden Gift, proving he has no issues with the clockwise way of racing. Michael Dee and Grahame Begg are both in outstanding form, and are a formidable combo together.
Rosehill R7 #12 Sunshine Rising $5.50 at PlayUp – Happy to be with the Newnham runner here, who was solid last start when resuming in the G3 Carlyon Cup at Sandown over the mile. He started fav and finished close up to Pounding, who now is a runner in the All Star Mile. This horse has shown good potential since returning from HKG, running an extremely unlucky 12th in the G2 Ingham behind Kirwan’s Lane, only beaten 3L. Second up now and fitter, and steps out to 2000m which should really suit at this stage of the prep.
