Horse Racing » Mooney Valley Saturday Selections by Peter Ellis (Updated)

Mooney Valley Saturday Selections by Peter Ellis (Updated)

Makybe Diva. Photo: Quentin Lang.

Race 1:

  1. Biscara (6)
  2. Espaaniya (7)
  3. Wedgetail (5)
  4. True Serendipity (4)

 

Race 2:

  1. Desert Lashes (5)
  2. Invincible Al (7)
  3. Ashlor (3)

Desert Lashes, stakes winning mare fitter for two starts from a spell. Nailed late 2nd Balaklava 1050m then led inside final 100m after working from barrier 14 fourth Morphettville listed 1100m.

Invincible Al, backmarker who needs the breaks to fall his way but is good fresh and is a winner over this course and distance.

Ashlor was anchored under 62kg when 4th Merriest on “leaders track” here in August. Conceded in-form Call Me Handsome 7kg when successful at Caulfield on back of two solid efforts this course.

Guard Of Honour [4] simply found the 64kg too much at Newcastle last time but does excel over the short course beating Spending To Win at Canberra and Snoopy in 900m Bat Out Of Hell.

Thermal Current (1) just failed to catch speedster Sunday Escape when seen over this course and distance in March and is fitter for solid 3rd Cranbourne Apache Cat.

 

Race 3:

  1. Savatiano (2)
  2. Princess Posh (1)
  3.  Bring Me Roses (4)

Savatiano, progressive 4yo beat classy Shumookh when resuming at Wyong then grabbed late after racing wide in Gr. 3 at Newcastle. Again no luck 2nd Invincibella Flemington 1400m.

Princess Posh has never gone better battling on strongly 3rd Shumookh in Gr. 2 Golden Pendant before getting too far back on heavy track when 5th Randwick. Take quinella.

Bring Me Roses lost form when stepped up in trip last autumn but and is clearly more effective this trip winning Manifold and placing in Aust. Guineas – both second-up.

Mamzelle Tess (6) query at 1600m but is genuine placing behind Tulip at Caulfield and Invincibella in Gr. 2 Blazer at Flemington.

Shoko (7) did too much early at Flemington last time and is best assessed on 2nd emerging Our Libretto Sandown 1600m and fighting 2nd Caulfield 1400m.

 

Race 4:

  1. Assertive Play (2)
  2. Into The Abyss (4)
  3. Spanish Whisper (1)

Assertive Play had excuses when tried over 1400m at Caulfield and has been luckless in stakes events at Moonee Valley and Caulfield.

Into The Abyss was competitive in group company when last in training and will derive great benefit from first-up 5th classy Sunlight when worked home stylishly.

Spanish Whisper was 3rd at the elite level when trained in New Zealand and has acquitted herself well in two of three local runs including desperately unlucky 5th Thrillster Valley 1200m.
I’m So Sweet (5) progressing through her grades in Sydney lumping 59.5kg to victory Rosehill 1200m.

Beauty [9] looked good leading throughout on debut at Gawler in May then again quick to hit her straps at Bendigo beating the well-regarded Fine Dane.

 

Race 5:

  1. Spin (3)
  2. More Than Exceed (8)
  3. Ragged Rascal (2)

Spin was placed three times at group level before a determined 5th in Randwick Sires last autumn and is going equally as well. Covered ground when 3rd Sesar in Roman Consul this journey.

More Than Exceed can mix his form but latest 4th Wild Planet and Ranier Flemington 1400m was more in keeping with his true ability. Suited by drop back to 1200m.

Ragged Rascal failed to get the 1600m in Guineas but was impressive beating subsequent Valley winner Meryl at Randwick on resumption before being thwarted by racing pattern in Prelude. Top value.

Bleu Roche [13] well bred filly defeated older opponents on debut at Sale then desperately unlucky when drew wrong side of the track at Flemington.

Sunset Watch [4] won three of five but was afforded a soft lead when returning here last month while Charge [5] has been kept for this.

 

Race 6:

  1. Krone (4)
  2. Mystic Journey (3)
  3. El Dorado Dreaming (1)

Krone didn’t back-up as well as stable mate Amphitrite when 8th in Thousand Guineas but was on song at all other starts including 2nd in Edward Manifold this trip.

Mystic Journey, classy Tasmanian stiff not to beat Sweet Rockette over 1200m here then demolished a decent field in listed 1400m at Caulfield. First time at 1600m and five weeks between runs..

El Dorado Dreaming had excuses when down the course in 1000 Guineas. Hit the line powerfully when resuming in Prelude and should have won the Gr. 1 Champagne [1600m] last autumn.

Anjana [5] was talked up after winning three on the trot last season and while she has been thereabouts in four starts this campaign she is yet to place.

Fundamentalist [2] underrated filly looked home till swamped late in 1000 Guineas.

 

Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien combine to win the 2014 Cox Plate with Adelaide. Photo: Quentin Lang

Race 7:

  1. Siege Of Quebec (9)
  2. Cliff’s Edge (8)
  3. It’s Somewhat (1)

Siege Of Quebec has come back stronger this campaign outpointing in-form Pierata over 1400m at Randwick. Chased record pace in Epsom but a solid 3rd in Toorak.
Cliff’s Edge beat classy Levendi in Alister Clark here last season and is back on track with a win at Caufield and a 5th in Toorak when chased a suicidal pace. Take quinella.

It’s Somewhat was placed in this race last year enroute to a 3rd in Group 1 Emirates a fortnight later. Appears to be going equally as well.

Sir John Lavery [7] won a listed event over 1600m when trained in Ireland and was travelling easily when caught in a traffic jam at Flemington on local debut.

Prized Icon [2] hasn’t won for a while but is still racing with plenty of enthusiasm. Disregard latest 4th [9/10F] Caulfield 2000m when given a torrid run.

 

Race 8:

  1. Egg Tart (3)
  2. Libran (10)
  3. Nakeeta (16)

Egg Tart has been racing in unsuitable WFA events and is unbeaten in two starts beyond 2000m – QLD Oaks and PJ O’            Shea – suggesting she is looking for this trip. Good bet on both totes.

Libran closed from the rear when runner-up in this race last year and his four starts this campaign would indicate a similar forward showing.

Nakeeta has had nothing fall his way this season but did win last year’s the Ebor – England premier staying handicap – before a commendable 5th in the Melbourne Cup.

The Taj Mahal [6] only scraped home from Gallic Chieftain in JRA Cup 2040m this course but improved over the 2400m when 5th in Caulfield Cup. Again drawn poorly.

Ventura Storm [14] faced an impossible assignment after settling back in Caulfield Cup but previous 4th behind Winx in Turnbull was a good reference for this, especially under weight scale while Tosen Basil [13] has claims if he can replicate his Underwood Stakes second.

 

Race 9:

  1. Winx (6)
  2. Benbatl (1)
  3. Avilius (4)
  4. Humidor (2)

For full preview https://peterellisracing.com/horse-racing/cox-plate-preview-by-peter-ellis/

 

Race 10:

  1. Dealmaker (4)
  2. Aramayo (1)
  3. Outrageous (2)

Dealmaker, Derby aspirant worked home stylishly in group races over 1400m and 1500m before giving away too much start on heavy ground in Spring Champion [2000m]

Aramayo, lightly raced colt looked good beating a quality in field in Spring Stakes at Newcastle then only collared on line in Gr. 1 Randwick Spring Champion.

Outrageous had no luck in Spring Stakes and Bill Stutt this course then badly checked in Caulfield Guineas. Over the odds.

Mickey Blue Eyes [3] appreciated the step to 1600m when successful in Dulcify at Randwick then simply asked to do the impossible when 5th in Spring Champion.

Real Success [7] is showing more stamina this campaign, just failing to catch the speedy Call It A Day Mornington 1500m before a close 2nd over 1600m at Caulfield when arguably unlucky.

 

BEST BET: Savatiano

EACH WAY: Egg Tart

LONG SHOT: Ragged Rascal

So You Think. Photo Quentin Lang.