Friday night racing at Cranbourne with form and free tips
WINTER might be coming, but night racing is still flourishing and we have form and tips for the eight-race card at Cranbourne this Friday.
With showery weather expected throughout the week, the nominations haven’t been as strong as usual at Cranbourne, but they’re good betting fields and it gives punters a chance to identify and up-and-coming type.
The big stables are in play with the likes of Lindsay Park, Darren Weir and Chris Waller all bringing multiple horses to the night racing circuit.
Race 1 – O’Brien Real Estate Maiden
Solo Heart is from the Chris Waller stables and it improved nicely when running third last time out. The three-year-old by So You Think finished just over two lengths from the winner at Sandown and it will only improve with more racing under its belt. The rise to the mile looks ideal for the gelding and Craig Newitt riding is another positive for punters. It has drawn nicely in barrier four and it should feature prominently in the market.
Subutai also improved with racing last start and a win doesn’t look far away. The Danny O’Brien-trained gelding finished seventh on debut at Pakenham before running second at Geelong. The New Zealand-bred son of Pour Moi didn’t get within 2.5 lengths of the winner last start, but it was long in the odds and the run was encouraging for punters moving forward. With a bit of moisture in the surface, it should be fighting out the finish.
Race 1 tip: Solo Heart to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 2 – Highview Accounting & Financial Services Maiden (1400m)
Dazzle Street is a former Kiwi runner which made good ground last start. The Beer/Hinton-trained filly had two runs in New Zealand for one placing before coming to Australia and it looked solid over ground when fifth last start at Mornington. The daughter of Street Sense gets the services of Craig Williams for this and that should get the punters attention. It should get better with more ground, but the 1400m will suit at this level.
Ruby Sea has been well-backed in both starts to date and it only needs to cope with the wide draw. The Ciaron Maher-trained filly has drawn barrier 11 for this, but it has shown good tactical speed in two starts to date. The three-year-old by Sebring ran as the $1.70 favourite when finishing 2.75 lengths behind Star Patriot last start, but it was since given a spell and it should return in good order.
Race 2 tip: Dazzle Street to place at Bet365.com
Race 3 – Mega Trim Motor Trimming Plate (1200m)
More should be expected from Excess Love after three unsatisfactory performances to date. The two-year-old kicked off its career when running 10th in the Maribyrnong Trail at Flemington and it hasn’t improved in two runs since. It drops right back in grade for this and it gets a good draw and a good jockey. The well-bred type will jump from barrier two with Craig Williams in the saddle and that’s a fairly good indication of what connections are expecting here.
Isere did well to finish fourth on this track last start and another good showing is likely. The John Sadler-trained filly didn’t have much luck in the running, but it picked a path through the field to run fourth and that was an encouraging effort for this. It will likely be forced to settle wide again from barrier 12, but there isn’t much speed in the race and it could cross to the front.
Race 3 tip: Excess Love to win at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 4 – Colourmark Handicap (1300m)
Snipfit is a talented gelding which is looking to rebound after a poor showing last start. The locally-trained Ken Keys runner was a good winner on this track two starts back when winning by 1.25 lengths, but it failed in the heavy conditions last start. It has done all its racing at Cranbourne which helps and it has enough ability to handle this field.
Mostert has won only one from 18 starts, but it has placed in eight. The five-year-old is coming off placing where it was only a nose from the winner and prior to that it went to Caulfield and finished 21.4 lengths behind the winner. This is more its level of racing and with two placings from three starts at Cranbourne, it should figure in the finish at nice each way odds.
Race 4 tip: Snipfit to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 5 – Mypunter.com Sky Heights Stayers Series (2025m)
Bernie Boy comes into this with consecutive wins under its belt and another tidy showing looks likely. The Luke Oliver-trained gelding won by a half-length at Ararat last start over this distance and it handles all track conditions. The wide draw won’t worry the four-year-old over this distance and it should be in the thick of the action once again.
Craven Image has a fair amount of quality and it comes into this with a 3.5-length win under its belt. The Weir-trained gelding has been steadily rising up in distance and after a string of poor performances, it has looked to have found its calling. The son of Reset would prefer the track conditions to be on the sloppy side and it should get that to suit.
Race 5 tip: Craven Image to win at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 6 – Browns Sawdust & Shavings Handicap (1000m)
Scotopia is fresh up here after winning its last two starts. The local trained by Shea Eden won on this track by over two lengths last start and there’s no reason why it couldn’t continue that streak here. Its second up win was more impressive, coming by five lengths, and the drop in distance to the 1000m shouldn’t be an issue. It drops in weight and there isn’t much depth to this field.
Very Choosy is a three-time winner from eight starts which has a torrent of speed from the gate. The Smerdon-trained mare finished third behind Lyuba on multiple occasions last preparation and it won its only start on this track in style. This is its pet distance and having Craig Williams in the saddle is a big plus. We’re expecting punters to come for it and we’ll be following.
Race 6 tip: Very Choosy to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 7 – Tabcorp Handicap (1200m)
Hetuka Zarsho is resuming since January and it typically runs well fresh up. The Ellerton/Zahra-trained four-year-old has won and placed from three starts fresh up and it has placed in both starts on this track. This distance might be short of its best, but faces only a moderate field here and Williams has taken the ride. That’s a positive and the betting markets will indicate its winning chances.
Miss Iano stays in this grade after winning by 3.75 lengths last start and it must be considered based on that. The Mark Webb-trained local is a three-time winner at this distance and it’s in the right form to make it three on the bounce. This is its first run at Cranbourne, but it’s trained there and that won’t be a problem.
Race 7 tip: Miss Iano to win at Bet365.com
Race 8 – The Heath Agistment Mile Handicap (1500m)
Folk Tales hasn’t done much wrong in four starts to date, winning two and placing in two more. The Richard Laming-trained gelding has won and placed on this track and it looked good the last time it was here when winning by 4.75 lengths. That was a strong performance and despite drawing wide in barrier 10, it could go forward and give them all something to chase.
Idol has won only one of nine starts, but punters shouldn’t discount its chances. The three-year-old filly was a maiden winner on this track four starts back and it has since taken on some tidy opposition. The Lindsay Park-trained filly is bred to be good by Fastnet Rock and it could test most of these at a nice weight.
Race 8 tip: Folk Tales to win at Ladbrokes.com.au