This evening I’m riding at Moonee Valley for the night meeting. The rail is out three metres and the track is rated in the good range.
Race 3 is the BM64 Dynamic Print Group Handicap over 2040 metres, my ride here is I AM THE FOX who is trained by Jamie Edwards. This seven-year-old gelding by Foxwedge has had 51 starts for a record of nine wins and 12 placings. He had the blinkers applied to his head gear at the start of this preparation three starts ago and was dominant in winning a BM58 1400 metre race at Terang. He then started from a wide barrier over 1600 metres in BM64 grade at Wangaratta and closed the race off really well to finish fourth. He stepped up to 1850 metres next start and put in a dominant effort to win the Hanging Rock Cup at Kyneton. He comes into this full of confidence from his last start win and seems to be racing in career best form. I’m looking forward to having my first ride on him and he will take a lot of beating in this event.
Race 4 is the Listed Ladbrokes Torney Night Cup over 2500 metres, my ride here is BARTHOLOMEU DIAS (GB) who is trained by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace. This six-year-old gelding by Mount Nelson is raced by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Australia and partners. Before arriving in Australia he had only won on synthetic tracks in England, but since arriving here has won on heavy ground once, when I rode him at Sandown last year. All of his runs since that win have been solid efforts from him without winning. He is stepping up slightly in distance from last start where he finished third over 2400 metres and the blinkers stay on his head gear. He meets the horse that beat him last start in Moshe Music better at the weights and the form from that race has been franked. He carries the minimum weight of 54 kilos in this Listed race and he will be one of the main chances.
Race 6 is the BM64 Schweppes Handicap over 1600 metres, my ride here is LORENZETTI who is trained by Jamie Edwards. This five-year-old gelding by Al Maher is lightly raced having had 17 starts for a record of three wins and three placings. All of his races have been won on good and soft ground and his last preparation showed how consistent and dominant he can be. He’s had two runs at Moonee Valley and seems to race well here which gives me confidence coming into this race and he has winning form at this distance. He races first-up here and is resuming after a long layoff, but I did ride him in an official trial at Geelong recently and he was very solid in his effort to win the heat. If he brings his best form to the races and runs up to his Geelong trial he will take a lot of beating.