This evening I’m riding at Moonee Valley. The rail is out seven metres and the track is rated in the good range, with rain and poor weather forecast throughout the afternoon.
Race 2 is the Behind the Barriers Plate over 1200 metres, it’s a maiden race for three-year-old’s, my ride here is SILLY POINT who is trained by Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes. This gelding by Hallowed Crown is raced by the Shaw family. He’s had one lifetime start which was at Sandown on the Lakeside circuit over 1200 metres where he started from barrier one, and he will start from the same barrier again this evening. He got back in the early stages last start and closed the race off really well to finish just over a length behind the winner in second placing and was doing his best work through the line. With the benefit of race experience behind him he will take a lot of beating if he re-produces a similar effort.
Race 7 is the BM70 Mooneevalleypark.com.au Summer Stayers Series Heat 3 over 2040 metres, my ride here is DONNDUBHAN who is trained by Brent Stanley. This six-year-old gelding by Monaco Consul has had 27 starts for a record of five wins and seven minor placings. I’ve ridden him once before for a win, which was last year at Flemington over 1800 metres in BM70 grade. He is a very consistent horse that makes his own luck by racing on-speed and is a solid galloper. Even though he hasn’t won over this distance, he has been placed third once from four attempts at this range. If he doesn’t have to do too much work from a wide barrier draw I expect he will be controlling the race out in front and will take a lot of running down.