Today I’m riding at Cranbourne. The rail is out 7 metres and after the recent rain the track is rated a Heavy 10.

Race 1 is the Designer Coolrooms 2YO Maiden Plate over 1000 metres for two-year-old’s. My ride here is RUE LEPIC who is trained by Trevor Rogers. This daughter of De Gaulle is having her first start today. I rode her in an official trial earlier in the year at Cranbourne where she was really quick and solid in her effort in winning her heat over 800 metres. She was then sent for a break from training and this is her next preparation. I’ve ridden her again in a recent jumpout in preparation for her debut run where she showed nice natural speed in her heat at Cranbourne on heavy ground and handled the conditions well. If she handles the raceday pressure and conditions, and runs up to her trial form she will take a lot of beating in this.

Race 9 is the AFC – Peter & Lavella Darose Class 1 Handicap over 1200 metres. My ride here is APRES LA MER who is trained by Dean Binaisse. This four-year-old mare by Reward for Effort has had 10 starts for one win and five placings and has been very consistent in her racing. She won her maiden at her ninth start at Sandown at the end of her last preparation and was then sent for a spell. She resumed this preparation at Sale on July 9th in a Class 1 over 1200 metres where she finished just over three lengths from the winner. Her only attempt on heavy ground was at Flemington where she finished second behind Oxley Road, who went on to win a Group race at his next start. If she brings her best form she will be very competitive today.

Race 10 is the Frankston Mazda BM78 Handicap over 2060 metres. My ride here is SEB SONG who is trained by Jason Warren & Dean Krongold. This three-year-old gelding by Sebring is very lightly raced for his age having had eight starts for a record of two wins and three second placings, with the only times he has missed a top two position he’s finished in fifth and fourth (twice) placings. He broke his maiden at his third start in 3YO BM70 company at Moonee Valley over 1600 metres, so the stable have always had a big opinion of him and he has been a very consistent galloper. With his rating of 69 in this BM78 race he carries just above the minimum weight racing with 55.5 kilos and this will be the lightest weight he has carried in his career. This is his first time racing over this distance and after watching his replays he looks like he can get a bit keen and aggressive at times, so I will be mindful of that and try and get him to conserve as much energy as possible and relax into a nice rhythm. If he runs out the distance and races up to his consistent form he will be too good for this field.

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