Mornington Listed Ladbrokes Mornington Cup, $350,000, 2400m
Trap For Fools (Poet’s Voice {GB}) has his share of weight with 61kg, but this does represent a significant drop in class following his run for third in the G1 Australian Cup at Flemington. That is the strongest form line on offer.
Trap For Fools
The versatile Self Sense (Street Sense {USA}) is a last-start winner and he will stay the trip better than most. Sin To Win (NZ) (Sir Percy {GB}) performed well second-up to finish runner-up in the Wangarratta Cup so improvement might still be to come from him.
His stablemate Ventura Storm (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) found the Australian Cup too rich, but will be more comfortable in this company and Hangman (Ire) (Windsor Knot {Ire}) is a promising type and a winner at the distance.
Khartoum (Helenus) is not always the easiest to follow, but he can stay with all three of his wins posted at 2300 metres and beyond.
Bons Away to serve it up
Mornington Listed Ladbrokes Hareeba S., $200,000, 1200m
Bons Away (Bon Hoffa) was unplaced in the G1 Newmarket and will be much more in his comfort zone here. He’s got a wide barrier, but still looks sure to be ultra-competitive
Ashlor (Hard Spun {USA}) boasts a strong form line, having beaten subsequent winner Widgee Turf (Turffontein) last time to the races.
Fastnet Tempest (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) is returning to action for Lindsay Park and he has finished in the money when produced fresh in the past. Manolo Blahniq (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) raced well through the summer and has trialled well following a break.
Local youngster a strong hope
Ascot G3 Furphy Gimcrack S., $150,000, 1100m
Miss West Coast (Safeguard) has looked good in a short career with two wins from four appearances for local trainer Trevor Andrews. Unbeaten on the course, she was a last-start third in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and has since been kept up to the mark with a trial outing.
Niccovi (Nicconi) was runner-up in that race and is a subsequent winner, but has the handicap of a wide gate while Specialism (Safeguard) can run well fresh off a good trial. Prim And Proper (Alfred Nobel {Ire}) won the Listed Supremacy S. last time out and has obvious prospects again.
Amelia’s On Fire (Sizzling) was a commanding favourite on debut delivered in style on this course while Rio Del Mar (Magnus) finished runner-up to race rival Prim And Proper in stakes company first time out. With the benefit of that experience should give another bold account of herself.
Undefeated youngster one to beat again
Ascot Listed Wormall Civil Assist Perth S., $150,000, 1100m
Jericho Missile (Smart Missile) has made an outstanding start to his career and won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic off the back of a debut victory on this course.
Divide The Sea (Moshe) and Dig Deep (Deep Field) were both decisive winners first time out and should have plenty more to offer while Beethoven (Helmet) was third last time out. That was his first outing for outing for the year and improvement can be expected from him.
Follow the dream mare
Ascot Listed Grandstand Cup, $100,000, 1500m
Celebrity Dream (NZ) (Thorn Park) continues to race well for Adam Durrant and came home well for fourth over 1400 metres last time out so over a bit further she looks better placed.
Achernar Star (Gingerbread Man) won that race, but he isn’t so well off under these handicap conditions. Mizlecki (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Abdicator (Universal Ruler) have been going well in the lower grades and capable of placing in this company.
A marvellous chance
Gold Coast Listed TAB Goldmarket H, $125,000, 1200m
Mr Marbellouz (Love Conquers All) comes here at the top of his game following success at Doomben and from an inside gate it’s not hard to see him getting the job done again.
Tyzone (Written Tycoon) hasn’t been seen out since January, but he has three first-up victories to his credit. Cannyescent (Canny Lad) gets in much better at the weights here and looks a strong place chance while Divine Dice (Casino Prince) is racing well and wouldn’t need to improve much to go close.
Quality mare tough to beat
Tauranga G2 Windsor Park Japan/NZ Trophy, NZ$100,000, 1600m
Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge) is a gifted mare and this looks set to return to winning ways on a decent surface.
She was unplaced last time out on a rain-affected track and her prior form was sound enough to side with her. Stablemate Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) is a solid back-up for the team and he’s nothing if not genuine.
Hiflyer (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) will be all the better for his trip to Trentham where he finished runner-up. That was his first run for a month so he’s likely to present in a sharper state.
Endless Drama (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), now with Tony Pike, was a flop at Otaki but his previous run for fifth after a slow start in the Listed Carrington S. at Randwick was excellent. True Enough (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu {NZ}) faces a rise in class, but with four wins from his last five starts he’s in the right form for the challenge.
Contessa to make trip worthwhile
Riccarton G3 Valachi Downs SI Breeders’ S., NZ$80,000, 1600m
Visitor Contessa Vanessa (NZ) (Bullbars) was Group placed last preparation and she appears to be on the verge of her best form again. The 4-year-old has finished in the money in her last two starts and this field should hold no fears for her.
Residential (NZ) (Pins) is a multiple stakes winner and she produced a typically tenacious performance to win an open handicap at her latest outing. Flying Sardine (Flying Spur) hit the line strongly for seventh in the same race and a return to the roomier Riccarton track will help her cause.
The Sparkle (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) is a smart mare and a definite place hope while Zentessa (NZ (Zed {NZ}), running for the race sponsor, didn’t have much luck in the running last time out and is a chance at longer odds.
