Today I’m riding at Geelong. The rail is out 3 metres and the track is rated in the soft range.
Race 1 is the bet365 Odds Drift Protector Maiden Plate over 1412 metres. My ride here is CAPTAIN ENVIOUS (NZ) who is trained by Danny O’Brien. This three-year-old colt by Savabeel is raced by Ultra Racing. I’ve ridden him in two jumpouts in preparation for his debut. When I first rode him, he was a bit backwards but had a nice action on him. In his most recent jumpout on the course proper at Flemington he felt like a staying type and I can understand why he is starting off over 1400 metres today. This doesn’t look to be an overly strong race on paper, but all of his rivals have race experience on their side. This will be a good starting point for him and provide a guide to where he may end up through the Spring.
Race 2 is the John Spence Three-Years-Old Maiden Plate over 1512 metres. My ride here is GUNDEC who is trained by Symon Wilde. This colt by Kermadec had two starts as a two-year-old when he was trained in NSW. His last start in NSW was in Listed company over 1600 metres, so he is a staying type of galloper. This will be his first start as a three-year-old for his new connections and his first start racing the Melbourne way of going. I rode him in a recent gallop on the course proper at Geelong where he gave me the feel of a nice staying type and he’s also had a jumpout in preparation for today’s race. This race will provide a good indication of his potential target races over the coming months.
Race 7 is the Rex Gorell BM78 Handicap over 1212 metres. My ride here is FARETTI who is trained by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott. This five-year-old gelding by I Am Invincible has had 12 starts for a record of three wins and three minor placings. Two of his wins and a second placing came in his last preparation when he raced in Melbourne. He races first-up today and seems to race well fresh with a record of a win and third placing from four attempts, but is unplaced from two starts over this distance. I’ve ridden him once previously which was two starts ago at Sandown when we won a BM70 race over 1400 metres where he made all the running. He has a gear change today with the winkers coming off his head gear. This looks to be a race where he can settle on-speed and control things and he should take a lot of running down on his best form.