RANVET TRAVIS HARRISON CUP

RACE 7 - 2040m

SAYEDATY SADATY

The imported Maher runner, SAYEDATY SADATY came out and controlled the race over 2000m at Caulfield and repeated the dose over that trip with a classic Craig Williams ride at his latest. Came to Australia with really big wraps and ran in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup where nothing went right. The stable then gave him a decent break and gelded him. He looks to have come back a stronger horse and this distance does fit well. The ANODIN gelding will go forward once again, take up the running and try to control this race. Moonee Valley could be the perfect course for this guy and a wise move from the stable going for three-in-a-row. Tough to roll. Winner in one.

☆☆☆☆☆

BENCHMARK 100 HANDICAP

RACE 4 - 1000m

MORNINGTON GLORY / BOONIE / MIDWEST

Comeback king MORNINGTON GLORY became SHALAA's ninth Australian stakes when claiming Moonee Valley's Norman Carlyon Stakes before an impressive victory in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1200m) last September. It handed young trainer Gavin Bedggood his first top-tier winner with a half-length to spare on the line from Blue Diamond Stakes winner HAYASUGI, with Golden Slipper victor LADY OF CAMELOT - and this was after he had been retired. But this guy goes incredibly fast and is well-suited to the tight-turning Valley circuit. Only two runs since that magic victory, however he did win an 800m jumpout at Caulfield beating home couple of quick Kiwi's in DESERT LIGHTNING and LA DORADA. Will go to the front and try to stretch them right to the line. The time to grab him is now.

☆☆☆☆

The imported BRAZEN BEAU gelding BOONIE hasn't exactly set the world on fire down under, and has changed hands from team Hayes, to Will Clarken in Adelaide before ending up with Tom Dabernig at his traing base of Warrnambool, where he last won in December. Lost the bob in the New Year's Day sprint and had been trialling up a storm before a hard run resuming down the Flemington straight. Knocked around in his only run here, but this circuit should really suit a speedster like this and we're willing to suggest he can offer up a much stronger effort 2nd-up.

☆☆☆

MIDWEST is a sharp sprinter when he's on and Mark Zahra gave the ZOUSTAR gelding the perfect ride to win the VG Comet over 1000m at Flemington in March before a solid effort for 3rd in the Listed Bob Hoysted returning there. Went on to win the Eucha Discovery before a spell, with his resuming run better then it looked after becoming unbalanced when brushed at the 200m. Kept going soundly last start for a 3rd behind MARBLE NINE and CLEO CAT, which is pretty good form for this. Won a jumpout at Caulfield last week so likely to strip in fine shape and appears close to peak physical condition. Will probably try to settle forward with cover and gain a late tow through.

☆☆

OPEN HANDICAP

RACE 6 - 1000m

OYSTER LANE / BACASH / CAVALRY GIRL

Love the way this horse OYSTER LANE savages the line and the BLUE POINT colt has shown us more then enough in only two starts. We're pretty sure Ciaron Maher would have preferred a couple of pickets next to his name, although he was quite impressive bursting through at the 150m when 2nd to SONOFKIRK over 1000m at Caulfield, before missing the bob down the straight at Flemington. Probably learnt plenty as a two-year-old, and now out of his nappies he can up the ante and go one better. Sweet run through here and will be hard to hold out as a highly promising type.

☆☆☆☆

The COSMIC FORCE colt BACASH performed exceptionally well in his two-year-old season, finishing 2nd in the Group three Maribrynong Plate at Flemington behind TYCOON STAR last year before racing away to win his maiden returning over 1200m at Cranbourne. Tempo was a little slow for him last start at Flemington, so shot forward and despite being under siege at the 300m, still finished 2nd. Ben, Will & JD Hayes have managed this program carefully budding towards a productive 3YO campaign, so expect more of the same from the colt here.

☆☆☆

Always had plenty of time for this super decent BIVOVAC filly, CAVALRY GIRL, who finished 2nd in the Geelong Diamond on debut behind CHERISH ME, before cruising away to score soundly over 1000m down the Flemington straight six. Resumed there in March, but went lame in the near hind leg after being put under pressure in the Listed Festival Stakes and rested again. Trialed recently, so it will be interesting to see what she can produce for Tom Dabernig. The filly is out of an I AM INVINCIBLE mare in ISLANDS and does possess a nice turn-of-foot with FLYING SPUR close up in the pedigree. Could surprise and run a place.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 84 HANDICAP

RACE - 1200m

ELOUYOU / LUNA CAT / NAVAL ACADEMY

The Scott Cameron trained ELOUYOU is two for two on this Valley track/distance, and the stable are obviously coming here looking for some kind of form reversal. Won here over 1200m in March and April, then just poor over 1400m at Sandown after a month break. Couldn't get into it last start and was never travelling well, although 2nd in an 800m jumpout at Flemington behind EVAPORATE suggests the SO YOU THINK gelding hasn't lost his spark entirely and only needs a few factors to fall his way to regain his mojo. Set to go much better and we're keeping the faith.

☆☆☆☆

The team Hayes trained LUNA CAT is an underrated type who just keeps turning up and running bold races. Third here in March after being slow away, then won at Terang with an easy kill over 1200m. Didn't handle conditions at Warrnambool before being crowded early at Swan Hill. Beaten by the barrier when caught three wide, but still ran 4th, then held up until the 200m when 3rd at Caulfield last start over 1100m. Some better luck here with Ethan Brown aboard, then we could see the best horse emerge. Too good to ignore.

☆☆☆

The Maher-trained NAVAL ACADEMY will gain the services of Jamie Melham, and she could deliver a winning ride on this horse in the last. The five-year-old JUSTIFY gelding won at Horsham and Mornington last spring and then set aside for a fair spell. Clear resuming before his run ended at the 150m, and a similar result when 6th over 1100m at Caulfield, but still a sound effort. The stable seem to have taken their time with this one and he is yet to be over-extended by any margin. Need to keep this gelding safe jumping from a handy gate.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 74 HANDICAP

RACE 8 - 1600m

RUAKAKA RAIDER / PRINCEOFNOTTINGHAM / SAVIOR FAIRE

We quite fancy the Cindy Alderson stable, and they have a nice horse in RUAKAKA RAIDER who could be sitting pretty here with Zahra aboard. The REDWOOD gelding was strong in the spring, with two wins at Sale and Caulfield, before holding his ground in the next two. Finished in behind them resuming at Caulfield, Sandown and Flemington before running on well for 2nd over 1800m at Sandown Hillside. Checked and almost fell last start, so definitely a forgive and look for a massive effort this time. Well-placed to feature.

☆☆☆☆

Paddy & Michelle Payne have been on a golden streak, helped plenty by JIMMY THE BEAR and his talented stable cohorts. Nonetheless, this PIERRO gelding PRINCEOFNOTTINGHAM isn't half bad either and can feature on this course. Won here last November over the mile, then repeated the dose in December at the Valley, with the run of the race. Four runs back this prep and has been building fitness possibly aiming to get back on this track, and at a distance he enjoys. Certainly have to rank this horse highly as another ready to strike and coming out of a red hot, in-form stable.

☆☆☆

We just keep sticking by SAVOIR FAIRE, and probably quite foolishly, but he'll bob up one day at massive odds and shock every man and his dog. The six-year-old SAVABEEL gelding trained by Mark Walker at Cranbourne has lobbed up and cashed in for us in the past, but isn't going so well at present. Won brilliantly over 2000m at Caulfield in May 2024, then again at Cranbourne in November. Been a bit average since then, with a very solid effort here for 2nd over 2040m in March. Forget the last few inconclusive runs and throw up a hail Mary if saved up for one final burst.

☆☆

BEST BET: SAYEDATY SADATY

NEXT BEST: MORNINGTON GLORY

BEST VALUE: ELOUYOU

WILDCARD: SAVOIR FAIRE