Punters steering into Iowna Merc
Talented three-year-old gelding IOWNA MERC has been well backed early to atone for a luckless last-start defeat in Saturday’s $150,000 Benchmark 88 Handicap over 1200m at Randwick Racecourse, Australia.
IOWNA MERC is coming off a hapless run, finishing fourth at this track two weeks ago. Initially loaded into the barrier, IOWNA MERC became fractious and reared, resulting in apprentice jockey A McLucas’ head making contact with the barrier partition. Following this, McLucas advised the official starter that she was able to fulfill her engagement but was subsequently stood down post-race.
During the race, IOWNA MERC began awkwardly, shifted in, and made contact with another runner. Positioned well back in the field, the gelding had a lot of ground to make up in the straight but closed off strongly. With winning jockey Dylan Gibbons in the saddle, IOWNA MERC is on track to secure its fifth win at start number nine, reverting to a positive racing pattern.
Freedman-trained 3YO on the up
Three-year-old gelding SILENT RUSSIAN looks on track to secure two consecutive wins when he competes in the $40,000 Class 1 Handicap over 1400m at Newcastle Racecourse, Australia on Saturday.
SILENT RUSSIAN will have his fourth career start this week and was particularly impressive in his last race, where he posted his first career win leading from start to finish over 1300m. After two starts for two placings with trainer Kim Waugh, SILENT RUSSIAN is now under the guidance of trainers Richard & Will Freedman, and he has seemingly improved because of the stable change.
With further room for improvement, SILENT RUSSIAN is expected to perform well as he makes his Handicap debut on Saturday.
Moonlight River to guide Poy home
Three-year-old filly MOONLIGHT RIVER can go one place better this Sunday when she contests the $18,500 Maiden race over 1620m at Kalgoorlie racecourse, Australia.
MOONLIGHT RIVER showed improvement at her second start at this track mid-last month when the Iffraaj filly stalked the speed and fought bravely in the straight to check into second over 1400m. The form has since been franked with the third place getter DUKE IAM, who endured a similar trip, going on to score a subsequent win easily.
Based on pedigree, the extra distance will suit MOONLIGHT RIVER even better, and from an ideal draw, she can prove hard to run down under jockey Michael Poy.
Catch Hold of Maloney
Jockey Ryan Maloney will be confident that three-year-old filly ON HOLD can land her second career win this Sunday when she lines up in the $28,000 Class 1 Handicap over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast racecourse, Australia.
A one-time winner with three placings from seven starts, ON HOLD was heavily supported at Doomben last start but found one too good that day. In a slowly run race, the Headwater filly was not suited by settling off the speed, but still posted the fastest final 400m to close off powerfully, missing by only 0.6 lengths over 1110m.
This week, ON HOLD finds a highly winnable race which looks not as competitive as her last start, and she has to be rated a big winning chance from an inside draw.
