On the Punt: Best bets for Pakenham Synthetic with Michael Manley
Quesadilla has proven costly in her last three starts as favourite but the Tom Hughes trained filly should be able to break through at Pakenham Synthetic. BEST BETS INSIDE
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MICHAEL MANLEY’S BEST BETS: PAKENHAM SYNTHETIC
BEST BET: QUESADILLA (R4, No.8 $2.40)
She’s proven costly in her three starts where she has started favourite each time and finished second including her last one at this track and distance. She’s talented and should be able to break through in this.
NEXT BEST: REBEL EXCELL (R5, No.6 $3.50)
He’s been a late maturer. He broke through for his first win at start number 20 with an easy win at Echuca by 3.5 lengths over 2100m two starts ago. Then he followed that up with another comfortable win in a Benchmark 58 over 2100m at Ballarat Synthetic.
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REBEL RACER (R6, No.8 $4.20)
He’s drawn out but he’s a talented galloper who is capable of winning better races than this. He’s had two runs back from a spell for a third at Sandown Hillside and then a tenth at Flemington behind Debt’n’deficit where he worked early and tired.
KISHIDA (R7, No.10 $6)
Daughter of top Japanese stallion Lord Kanloa and she’s shown talent in her four starts. Not much luck last start at this track as she was held up for a run when 1.4 lengths sixth behind Evening Spirit over 1000m.
TAKE NOTE: SEA PRINCESS (R1, No.12 $4.60)
Two-year-old filly who is a member of the Anthony Freedman stable who sat last and then railed through to win Flemington jump-out, although was pushed out. She’s by Sebring out of a stakes placed Fastnet Rock mare.
THE TRAINER: TRENT BUSUTTIN
KELLERS SHELTER (R1, No.4 $3.70)
“She’s a good filly. She was very green when fourth at her debut at Donald. She’ll be hard to beat.”
KOKO CONNECTION (R1, No.9 $23)
“She ran well at her first start at Geelong where she was trapped wide throughout. She was a bit disappointing second up. She should run well.”
CHAIRMAN’S LIST (R6, No.17 $9)
“Good win last start. If he can get a run he’ll be hard to beat.”
BILLY EGAN LOVING BEING BUSY
You would think after a month where Billy Egan rode on 29 of the 31 days in May that he’d be keen for a break but he’s determined not to lose momentum after a successful month where he rode 22 winners from 104 rides.
The only days he didn’t ride was the Warrnambool jumps only meeting on May 3 and then at Swan Hill on May 11. He has ridden every day since and he has booking already for Monday and Tuesday.
“It’s been a really good month. I can’t expect every month to be like this as you usually have your ups and downs. I’m certainly getting more opportunities and the credit for that goes to my manager Mathew Alesci who is working hard to get rides for me.”
Egan at 30 is a late bloomer and he’s planning on taking his form into the spring.
“I’m putting a lot more homework into my form and it’s showing. Also I’m getting on the right horses in the right races.”
“I got a small taste of Flemington last spring where I rode every day and I really enjoyed. It’s something I’m working towards.”
Another sphere he’s got a taste for and striving for is in Group One races.
He’s finished second at his last two rides at that level – Southern Moon in the Victoria Derby and Miss Leonidas in The Galaxy at Rosehill.
And Egan is confident he’s got the horse to take him to that level next spring in the Patrick Payne trained three-year-old filly Rubisaki.
Egan rode her to win the $1 million Inglis Sprint at Warwick Farm in February. He couldn’t ride her due to the COVID-19 restrictions at her next two wins in Sydney over the carnival.
She has won eight of her ten starts and finished second twice.
Rubisaki may not be appearing at the Group 1 level as she’s being aimed at The Golden Eagle at Rosehill and possibly The Everest if she could snare a spot.
Payne has been a key player in Egan’s career as he has given him opportunities throughout his career.
“We understand each other and he has a lot of confidence in me. We are usually on the same page as to how to ride a horse as we take into account all the factors, such as form and how the track is playing. He also doesn’t put any pressure on. It’s enjoyable to ride for him.”
“The other thing is that I’ve got better is with my weight. I had to get down to 52 kilos to ride Miss Leonidas in The Galaxy so I’m hoping to get some light-weight opportunities during spring,”
Egan is also starting to get more opportunities with other stables. On Saturday he rode for Mike Moroney, Anthony Freedman and Danny O’Brien.
Originally published as On the Punt: Best bets for Pakenham Synthetic with Michael Manley