Massive Saturday of racing is upon us, and it feels like Spring is in the air with some quality gallopers set to face the starter today. See the PlayUp form analyst’s thoughts below.
Flemington R1 #4 Berkeley Square $2.05 at PlayUp – This runner is coming off a very unlucky fourth placing first up at Caulfield, where he arguably would’ve won if the rider took an outside run instead of staying inside other horses. It meant he got held up at a crucial stage, and once clear inside the final furlong he rocketed home through the line. Second up here and will take natural improvement, Craig Williams takes the ride which is a massive positive, and he can settle handier from the low draw as well.
Flemington R3 #13 Veranskova $3.60 at PlayUp – Coming off a very good second place behind the extremely talented Squid Game first up, where she ran to within 0.1L of that winner. She probably wins in one more stride, and her performance was backed up on the clock with the 6th fastest last 200m’s of the day and an overall race time that was 6L quicker than benchmark average. Second up here and should only be improved, she gets out to 1100m which is crucial and definitely finds easier opposition here.
Flemington R8 #4 Nicolini Vito $2.15 at PlayUp – Very good first up win for this gelding who is criminally underrated, having won six of his fourteen starts to date, along with four minor placings. He beat a hot field first up down the straight here over 1200m, coming from near last with a withering burst to score. That race included proven city performers like Bill The Boxer, Sacred Palace and The Gauch, proving it to be a strong form line. Second up with improvement again, out to 1400m is ideal, and drawn lovely in barrier four to sit closer to the speed today.
Randwick R6 #6 Smirnova $4.40 at PlayUp – Keen to see the return of this horse, who comes into this race first up off a dominant Rosehill trial win over the 900m. Last prep he was placed at Listed level, and started in the market in a G3 PJ Bell here over 1200m. Most importantly though, he was a moral beaten first up last prep, and i’m convinced he is a very strong fresh horse who can be winning today. Drawn barrier five for W Pike, he looks to get a lovely run in transit and can prove a class edge over his rivals.
Randwick R10 #11 Sunrise Ruby $5.50 at PlayUp – This horse has continually been scratched, and i’m hoping that M Beer has pulled the right reign by running here. She was super first up here over 1100m, savaging the line with very strong closing sectionals behind Lady Brook. Second up now, where she is undefeated at this stage of her career. No concerns about wet ground, and she likely finds the best going from that wider draw as well.
