ANZAC DAY STAKES (L)

RACE 3 - 1400m

DRUMFIRE / BLIND RAISE / SERAPHOX

Never doubt the Waterhouse/Bott team with their juveniles as they tend to get them up and firing early, and DRUMFIRE is certainly one who has hit the ground running. The FARNAN two-year-old trialled up effectively on two occasions before winning on debut over 1000m at Musswellbrook and drew clear passing the 200m. Couldn't match UNDER FOCUS at Kensington, but rider advised he rode too far back after being slow away. She is out of an I AM INVINCIBLE mare with FASTNET ROCK in the pedigree mix, so plenty of speed and power. Drawn the ace gate and well in this contest.

☆☆☆☆

BLIND RAISE announced himself as a black-type horse in waiting with a dominant winning debut at Sandown Lakeside on Easter Monday, prompting trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young to plot a path towards the Anzac Day Stakes. The ACE HIGH  gelding travelled sweetly behind the speed in a 2YO Open (1400m) under Beau Mertens before unleashing a devastating late burst to put 2¼ lengths on HARRY MET SALLY. The progeny can get a little hot and a bit wound up, but this one seems bombproof.

☆☆☆

Ciaron Maher‑trained colt SERAPHOX bounced off his recent debut in the Todman Stakes to score a maiden victory at Warwick Farm under James McDonald. The HARRY ANGEL colt was sent out a short‑priced favourite and settled just off the pace before charging clear. Really looks a progressive type who will only get better as he steps up in trip. A $220,000 Inglis Ready2Race purchase, Seraphox was also sold as a weanling and a yearling. Also drawn not too badly with Declan Bates aboard.

☆☆

VRC ST LEGER (L)

RACE 6 - 2800m

SILVASISTA / JOHNICH / AWESOME ARTIST

A few good horses we thought would take on the St Leger have bypassed the race; however, the McEvoy father and son team are keen on their TORONADO filly SILVASISTA who we rate highly.

☆☆☆☆

ROYAL OPTIMISM is a Chris Waller-trained gelding by FRANKEL from the Irish mare UPSIDE and was purchased for $925,000 by Yulong Investments. The team certainly haven't pressed him along too hard as a slow maturing three-year-old who showed nothing in two runs last spring. Returned in February to finish 3rd on two occasions at Yarra Valley, firstly over 1500m, then 1968m. Effortless win last start at Geelong over 2255m against the older horses, and this increased distance is what the horse had been crying out for to excel. Should going even better at the mile and a half, and bred to be a powerful stayer. Will need a genuine pace here, not a sit and sprint but appears a good one in the making.

☆☆☆

SHOTARO is an interesting runner from the Busuttin/Young barn who is another looking for further to really shine and gets it here. Put the writing on the wall when hitting the lead over 2000m at Waracknabeal before being overpowered late by THINK YOUR AMAZING. Completed eight jumpouts before debuting at Sale, but went much better when peaking late over 1600m at Pakenham. He is by the Japanese sire ADMIRE MARS from Redoute’s Choice mare in MARDI, who was seriously gifted up to the mile in Benchmark grade in Sydney but only raced 12 times, with her dam BIANCA, 2nd in the 2008 Gr.1 Metropolitan and a multiple stakes winner. Has a bit to live up to as this is a fantastic, rich pedigree.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 100 HANDICAP

RACE 5 - 1400m

BIG SWINGER / KING ZEPHYR / MERRIGOLD

There is a possibility BIG SWINGER could be too good for this lot and looks a good bet on the card. He had a 2/2 record to commence his career for Charlotte Littlefield, both victories over 1200m at Ballarat. With each race, he has demonstrated improvement, suggesting that he will thrive in the 1400m distance. Finished 2nd in the Fisher Stakes at Flemington, then went full bore late when running 3rd in the Testa Rossa at Caulfield. Kept chasing back to the 1200m last start at Pakenham, but likely to be in prime shape for this. Big weight, however 2kg knocked off with Logan Bates aboard.

☆☆☆☆

KING ZEPHYR's performance two weeks ago over 1200m at this venue can be entirely disregarded. He, like many others, encountered significant difficulties on the inside track conditions and was effectively out of contention 600m from the finish. The fact that he persevered and avoided a last-place finish indicates a commendable effort despite the adverse circumstances. Should the track conditions be equitable, he is expected to be a formidable competitor.

☆☆☆

MERRIGOLD presents a significant opportunity. Her performance three weeks ago in the Distaff, covering 1400m, was commendable; she demonstrated strong closing ability after settling off the pace. With improved fitness and a more favorable distance, I anticipate a strong showing, particularly given her current odds

☆☆

BENCHMARK 100 HANDICAP

RACE 7 - 2000m

BENAGIL / BRING FORTH / BERKSHIRE BREEZE

The Glen Thompson trained BENGAIL has improved by lengths since going up in trip and looks a big threat in this after an interrupted run in the Gr.3 Mannerism resuming from a spell. Was just OK over shorter before hooking out at Caulfield to win the VOBIS Guineas (1600m) quite impressively. Little slow away in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud (2000m) at Rosehill, but was sound chasing home the three-year-old champion, TREASURETHE MOMENT. That form is good enough for this, should be on an upward trajectory and in peak condition 2nd-up.

BENCHMARK 84 HANDICAP

RACE 1 - 2500m

THE WESTERN FRONT / BLUESTONE / XTRA RUSH

The progressive middle-distance performer MUKHTALIF brought the gavel down at AU$694,000 for Ciaron Maher and has hit a new high since starting down under for the stable.The Shadwell homebred has won two starts for William Haggas, including a class two handicap at York. The SEA THE STARS gelding, under the ownership of MyRacehorseAU, demonstrated a strong performance in his Australian debut at Caulfield, effectively controlling the 1800m race after two promising trials. Connections are optimistic he will develop into a Cup horse and anything now in the Autumn is a merely a bonus as they learn more about this imported stayer. Can win again.

The Mornington Cup is on the agenda for THE WESTERN FRONT after the New Zealand-bred gelding outstayed his opposition in the Bert Bryant Handicap (2400m) at Caulfield. The Lindsay Park team decided to test his stamina with the step up to 2400m at Caulfield, and The Western Front gave them exactly what they were hoping to see. The WAR DECREE gelding showed plenty of greenness down the straight, but finished over the top of XTRA RUSH and went on to win by three-quarters of a length. A$1300 Gavelhouse purchase by Ralph Manning, The Western Front has now had 15 starts for five wins, three placings and A$178,150 in stakes.

BEST BET: SHE’S AN ARTIST

NEXT BEST: BIRDMAN

BEST VALUE: PARADISE STORM

WILDCARD: MORNINGTON GLORY