Midweek selections from the PlayUp form analyst
Sandown R4 #3 St Lawrence $2.05 at PlayUp – Currently undefeated Maher and Eustace galloper resumes here, having won both career starts to date. He won impressively in NZ on debut, and then made the move to Australia were he won with something in hand at Geelong back in September. Given time off the scene again, and has looked very sharp in jump outs leading into this first up run. Drawn for a lovely run in barrier four, and I like the booking of a strong senior rider here in John Allen, who is in great form of late.
Sandown R5 #1 Hard To Cross $2.60 at PlayUp – Really good last start winner at The Valley, who I think at start number four here can go on with things and win again. He won in maiden grade by a solid margin on the line, and it was made more impressive that he came from last in running off a slow tempo to loop the field and win. A racing style like that makes it very hard to salute at that course, but he did it in style and ran the 6th fastest last 200m split of the entire meeting in the process. Sticks to a mile here, and finds a very winnable BM64 with no stars among them.
Sandown R6 #11 Rick’s Cafe $3.70 at PlayUp – This horse is airborne this prep, with a dominant Pakenham win two starts ago nestled between strong minor placed efforts either side. Her last start 2nd at Sandown was very good, and the winner of that race Secret Glamour has since been to Sydney on a Saturday and won again, so the form is clearly of a very high standard. She gets down to 56kg here with the super important claim, and with the great turn of foot she has been displaying this prep I can see her rejoining the winners stall this afternoon.
Warwick Farm R2 #10 The Lion’s Gate $5.50 at PlayUp – Think this horse looks a good bet in a very open market, coming into this race first up off some very sharp trials. He won the latest over the 1030m at Rosehill by a length on the line, and looked to extend very nicely under little riding. I always like when they have trialled over the longer distance as well leading into a first up run, and this horse should be nicely fit and forward to be winning here. Three runs in his debut prep very solid, including unfortunately striking some bottomless wet tracks where we were unable to see the best of his ability. Should get all favours here, and Sam Clipperton is riding extremely well at the moment.
Warwick Farm R7 #3 High Blue Sea $5.50 at PlayUp – This horse is coming off a dominant last start Rosehill win by a good margin on the line, and now into BM64 grade but striking a very weak race I think he can win again. He put over 2L on them in that 1400m maiden, leading throughout at a good tempo and still managing to extend away in the straight. Drops back to 1300m here, but with his front-running race style i dont see that as a negative. He can land on the bunny after pushing across from the wide draw, and can be winning again here with Tim Clark booked to ride who is a very smart leaders jockey.
