The wind and a bleeding attack were no help to me last weekend but racing returning to Moonee Valley on Saturday is cause for optimism.
SEA THE SPARKLE (MOONEE VALLEY - Race 1 No 7)
Going early and looking for a win from the lightly-raced Sea The Sparkle . She won well first-up at Sandown before a reasonable effort at Flemington on July 22. However, she showed she was ready to win with her effort behind the in-form Hell Or Highwater at Caulfield last time out. She came from midfield and sprinted well but the winner held her challenge late before franking that form with a win in stakes company last Saturday. Sea The Sparkle was four weeks between runs at Caufield and will be fitter on Saturday.
BET: WIN
ODDS $5.50 @ Bet365
HARLOW GOLD (Moonee Valley – Race 4 No 7)
Harlow Gold steps up to 2040m for her second-up assignment but she is racing like more of a stayer as she matures. The daughter of Tavistock got back but worked home well to finish fourth to the in-form Here To There when resuming at this track on August 26. There are a few horses going well in this race but the speedmap looks good for Harlow Gold with plenty of early pressure likely up front with the likes of Foundation and Moonovermanhattan to push forward from wide gates while Harlow Gold is likely to get the soft run midfield. Couple her in exotics with Foundation, Hans Holbein and Killarney Kid.
BET: WIN
ODDS $5 @ CrownBet, Ladbrokes, Bookmaker, Bet365, Betstar
SANADAAT (Moonee Valley – Race 6 No 8)
This girl is a promising filly that was a terrific first-up winner at Sandown on August 6. She raced handy to the speed and blitzed her rivals in the soft ground at her first go at 1200m. Her firm-track form is solid as well with a comfortable debut win in Adelaide and a good third to Ducimus, who enhanced that form with a good effort in Sydney at his subsequent outing in March. Sanadaat is one on the way up and can break through for a stakes win on Saturday.
BET: WIN
ODDS $5 @ Bet365
BIG DUKE (Moonee Valley – Race 9 No 1)
I thought this bloke could go close to winning first-up at Caulfield and, while he didn't get the money, he showed he has come back well with his effort. He simply got too far back in a race that wasn't run that quickly at Caulfield but his effort to close within 1-1/2 lengths of the winner Rhythm To Spare was excellent. Big Duke has placed in both his second-up runs and there looks to be more pace engaged in the closer with Mihany and Onpicalo among those that will push forward. He was a good winner at his only previous Moonee Valley run and will be running on late on Saturday.
BET: WIN
ODDS $5.50 @ CrownBet, Ladbrokes, Sportsbet, William Hill, Luxbet, Unibet, Bookmaker, Bet365, Betstar
