Seven races will be run and won at Bathurst on Monday in the washup of yet another ripping weekend of racing. The track is currently rated a Good 4 and the rail is out +2m from the 1200m to the 350m and then the cutaway applies which should see every runner a chance. The first race is set to face the starter at 1:50pm.
Best Bet: Into The Fire
Three-year-old Exceed And Excel gelding Into The Fire is chasing his third straight win over the 1108m journey at Class 2 level. Trained by Bjorn Baker and to be ridden by Mitchell Bell, the gelding should find the front from barrier three and lead them a merry dance. His two career wins have both come at this track and distance so he will feel comfortable in the surroundings. You Rang is the clear danger and gets in a touch better at the weights but has the wide alley to contend with.
Gary Portelli and Kathy O’Hara are an inform duo of late, and they combine on Monday with Liberty Fields who will be looking to notch up her second career win. The four-year-old Deep Field mare only just missed at this track and distance last start at Benchmark 58 grade, but gets her chance to go one better back to a class 1. Drawn well in barrier three, she will either lead or box seat and should be able to get the better of them.
Polyxena should be well climatised to life in New South Wales now as she lines up in her third start in this region since leaving Victoria. She made no impact at all first-up, finishing a well beaten tenth of ten at Orange, before putting in a much improved sight when third at Wagga last time out over the 1000m. The Master of Design mare reeled off some good late sectionals there, so she should appreciate stepping out to 1308m, a distance where she has won before. With the speed on, Alysha Collett will be able to let the mare relax from the inside alley and can be getting home strongly late again. She looks a nice each-way play.
