Melbourne: Comprehensive preview of every race at Warrnambool

A COMPREHENSIVE preview of every race for Wednesday’s meet at Warrnambool with Ray Hickson

Local trainer Darren Weir is set for a big day at Warrnambool on Wednesday. Picture: Colleen Petch.

NOTE: Numbers in brackets are the official handicap ratings for each horse. Track rated Heavy 8 at time of writing, expecting a heavy track.

RACE 1

10. AROHATA (NR) looks an improving type and while she had her chance at Geelong at her second start she has the blinkers on here in what is a very winnable race. Both starts have been in the wet and she seems to have her chance to break through. 3. JOSEPH (NR) comes out of what was a very strong maiden on the synthetic at Geelong in mid-September where he ran on without threatening. Three starts back was close up on a heavy track at Echuca and on that he’s in the mix. 1. HIGH ROLLA (NR) and 2. IWAUNA (NR) come through the same race at Casterton where they ran third and fourth respectively. That was a highweight maiden so whether that stands up here remains to be seen but both are going well enough to be some chance.

RACE 2

10. ST FRANCO (NR) was sent out a short priced favourite at his debut at Swan Hill and certainly wasn’t disgraced in finishing a closing second. With natural improvement and the benefit of a bit more ground he should be harder to beat. And, again, this isn’t a super strong maiden. 8. PIPED ABOARD (NR) celebrated her fourth birthday (by birth date) on Sunday and she’s showing some promise with placings at both starts to date. She’s been a beaten favourite, but less than a length from the winner, over shorter trips so this might be a good chance for her. 6. NEW GRADUATE (NR) has had a few chances to break through to date but is consistent and seems to handle the wet, though she hasn’t seen a heavy. Drifted in the market last time but battled on okay and she’s hard to leave out of the chances. 3. BRYAN (NR) probably got too far back at Casterton at his third start but hit the line like he’s looking for the extra ground. Can’t overlook him either and 4. PERCIVALL POTT (NR) probably wants further but he’s had a couple of jump outs ahead of his return from a placing at 2000m in May.

RACE 3

On face value 8. GRATWICK (NR) should have these covered though beware a strong betting push for one of the first starters, all sight unseen. He was placed behind Extreme Choice on debut in a G3 back in February then went under a short priced favourite first-up at Murtoa. Bit of a D-Day for him I’d say but trained here and hard to go past. 3. RED HOT ROMEO (NR) was a huge drifter in the betting on the synthetic last time and ran accordingly but before that he was solid in markets and produced a couple of close seconds on soft ground. Check the flucs with him and include if there’s support. The three first starters to keep an eye on are 9. STREICA (NR), 10. CONWOMAN (NR) and 11. IRISH MOSHE (NR). All are three-year-olds and the latter two are trained on the track. The former is trained by Jarrod McLean who is also Darren Weir’s Warrnambool foreman. Betting will be a very good pointer to their chances.

RACE 4

Good race. 3. TERINDAH (63) couldn’t have been more impressive winning first-up at Kilmore as a very short priced favourite. Importantly that was on a heavy track and he tracked the speed before sprinting away. Obviously up a notch in class but so are many of his rivals. Good chance. 2. FALCOOL (63) may well have relished the conditions as well as the class drop after resuming with a dominant Casterton win a couple of weeks back. He led and was never really troubled. Must be respected. 1. IF YOU WILL (64) has a city placing against his name back in April where he ran a very handy third behind Valliano. Unknown in the wet but that’s really the only negative. Going with the other two mainly as they are proven. 6. IN CONTEMPT (63) was an easy maiden winner a month ago and had a bit of support up to G3 company at the Valley where she wasn’t entirely disgraced. Well worth including in the chances.

RACE 5

9. WRITTEN ERA (62) is coming out of a maiden win at Casterton but she looks well placed to at least be competitive up in class. She was only narrowly beaten first-up before strolling to that heavy track win and given she has more upside than most of these she’ll go well. 4. LICORICE BULLET (65) has a consistent record aside from a flop at Geelong second-up. Ran on a bit too late at Swan Hill last time but she’s honest and she should be somewhere in the finish. 3. HEZA CHAKA (61) has disappointed in two runs since an impressive first-up win. Perhaps he’s a real heavy tracker so he’s worth forgiving a little. Certainly if he doesn’t perform here then he’d be hard to follow going forward. 2. BULLYWOLFE (62) gave a sight at Geelong a month ago but wasn’t able to hold them off. Going on his previous heavy track form he can’t be left out. Won well over this course back in June on 10. Each-way.

RACE 6

Another competitive sort of race. 5. FABULONH (67) was a beaten favourite on a synthetic track last time out but his wet track form before that was strong. City winner in July at Sandown on a heavy and ran on too late at Geelong two starts ago. Has a win at his only 1400m attempt and he’s a model of consistency so he should be hard to beat again. 3. THE TEN BOB (71) wasn’t beaten far at his first run back, also on a synthetic track, and he’s also proven in the wet and on this track. Yet to win beyond 1200m but expect him to be thereabouts. 2. JARRAH TWIST (73) looks to be getting back into some form with a solid third at Swan Hill last time out. He usually runs well here and is unbeaten in two starts over the 1400m here while eight of his 10 wins are on wet tracks. Definite chance. 1. FIERCE COMMAND (73) is also a very good wet tracker and he made it four heavy track successes with a game effort at Casterton. Comes down 1kg here and is another with claims.

RACE 7

4. MISS SHRIMPTON (66) is a lightly raced mare who is showing good ability and handled the class rise well when making it back to back wins at Geelong last time. Broke her maiden on a heavy 10 at this track and distance and is sure to be in the finish again. 2. SUPER HAZE (63) will be fitter for a closing second at Gawler when resuming. He was a beaten favourite there and has been a bit costly in his seven starts to date but he performed well in Melbourne last prep and is a threat here. 1. SIGA LA VACA (65) gave a big sight on the speed behind Miss Shrimpton at Geelong and meets her better at the weights. While he is consistent he doesn’t win out of turn but he’s hard to leave out of the main hopes. 5. MAC’S METTLE (61) is another frustrating type with seven minor placings on end. Ran on okay at Pakenham last start and while you couldn’t have him on top he’s one of those horses you should always have in the multiples.

RACE 8

Best race of the day to finish up with. 7. KNIGHT STAR (67) looked the winner a long way out at Moonee Valley a couple of Fridays ago but he still had to work for it after being held up coming to the turn. Versatile type with form on all sorts of conditions and with the run under the belt at a similar trip he’s in peak shape. Hard to beat. 9. LIPS AREIOS (65) must love Victoria he didn’t fire a shot when based in NSW following his first couple of local starts last season. First run for Darren Weir and he romped home at Mornington on a good track. I’d suggest the wet won’t worry him here and he’s a good chance. 13. BAJA MOON (62) has come back in fantastic order with two easy wins on heavy tracks. If she starts here instead of Stawell on Tuesday she has to be respected despite skipping a couple of grades. 3. LAVISH MACTAVISH (70) is hard to fault with three wins from four starts and he was too good under 61kg at Casterton last month when back in distance. Previously won well over this course on a heavy 10 and he’s a definite chance. 6. JUST CALL ME BRUCE (67) led all the way to win at Morphettv8ille a few weeks back and he is adept racing here. Each-way claims at least.