Moonee Valley G2 Crown Resorts Alister Clark S., $200,000, 2040m
Global Exchange (Dundeel {NZ}) was an outstanding last-start winner of the G2 Autumn Classic and on that Caulfield performance he looks terribly hard to beat again.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt produced a sustained finish to win going away and with plenty in hand and he should be even better suited to middle distance assignments.
Cossetot (Epaulette) finished second behind Global Exchange and looks a player for a share of the cheque again. Declares War (Declaration Of War {USA}) ran fifth and he’s now third-up and should be ready to produce the form that saw him win three on the bounce last preparation.
Declarationofheart (Declaration Of War {USA}) gave a decent account of himself when seventh in the G1 Australian Guineas and in an easier assignment here he could provide some value.
Play Me Now (NZ) (Bernardini {USA}) is unbeaten in two appearances and has won a trial since he was successful on the course and Alessandro (Fiorente {Ire}) is promising with two wins from four starts.
The colt was a meritorious last-start second against older opposition at Bendigo where he had to shoulder 61kg.
Import a sharp improver
Moonee Valley Listed Ranvet Abell S., $140,000, 1200m
Kemono (Jpn) (Kinshasa No Kiseki) came on late to finish fourth in the Listed Bob Hoysted H. at Caulfield over 1000 metres and the extra trip here could realise his first win on Australian soil.
He is a quality sprinter with a Group 3 success over this distance in Japan and that first-up outing is sure to have improved him.
Malibu Style (Magnus) is resuming and is a past first-up winner who has been successful in his lead-up trial. The veteran Thermal Current (Exceed And Excel) is racing consistently and a place chance again while Lipari (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu {NZ}) has trialled well and has been effective off a break before.
Pohutukawa set to blossom
Kembla Grange G3 Carlton Draught Classic, $200,000, 1600m
Pohutukawa (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) has turned in two sound performances since resuming from a break and her latest effort puts her right in the frame here.
The Godolphin filly ran third when resuming in the Light Fingers S. and then closed late to finish less than two lengths off the winner Nakeeta Jane (So You Think {NZ}) in the G1 Surround S. so this represents a significant drop in class.
Nakeeta Jane’s trainer Mark Newnham has a decent hand with both Scarlet Dream (Sebring) and Greysful Glamour (Stratum engaged). The former is promising with two wins from four appearances, although she will need her share of luck from the outside gate.
Greysful Glamour has yet to find the form that earned her a runner-up finish in the G1 VRC Oaks in the spring, but the step up to a mile will be in her favour. Lifeinthefastlane (Fastnet Rock) was a winner over this trip last time out and has done little wrong in a brief career while Lady Of Shalott (Camelot {GB}) was a smart last-start winner and looks capable of making an impact in a higher grade.
