A strong contingent of Victorians descends upon Wentworth Park in Sydney on Saturday night – including ‘Toolleen trio’ Love The City, Red Reactor and Flight Risk.
All three are Mar ’20 Fernando Bale x Subconscious littermates and trained by Daniel Pell.
Love The City will contest a heat of the all-female Peter Mosman Opal (520m) while Red Reactor and Flight Risk are engaged in heats of the male-only Vic Peters (520m). (Both G1 finals on July 9 carry a $75,000 winner’s cheque.)
Winner of a $25,000 first prize in the G3 Country Championship final at The Meadows on G1 Australian Cup night, Love The City (Box 4) lines up in Heat 3 (Race 4, 7.07pm).
At her most recent start, she finished seventh in the Pink Diamond Rookie Sprinter final. She also finished fourth in the Launching Pad Consolation in mid-April.
“But I think $101 pre-post is completely overs. If she made the final and happened to draw well, she’d be up to her eyeballs in it.”
Love The City, which has won five races (with eight seconds and two thirds) from 24 starts, is quoted at $26 in her heat and is $101 on TAB’s ‘All In’ market.
Counterparts Yahiro Bale ($5.50), which is equal second in nominal betting, along with Kelsey Bale and McKeon Bale (both at $15) – all prepared by Daniel Gibbons – are considered by the betting giant as Victoria’s best chances in the Peter Mosman Opal series.
“She (Love The City) needs to get out in front and will require a bit of luck,” Pell said. “The ‘blue’ trap isn’t ideal, but she’s a chance if handy early.
“But I think $101 pre-post is completely overs. If she made the final and happened to draw well, she’d be up to her eyeballs in it.”
Pell is quite buoyant about Red Reactor (Box 2) – Heat 3 (Race 8, 8.34pm) – which is a $4.80 chance and at $18 ‘All In’.
Runner-up in the GRV Vic Bred Maiden on Australian Cup night, Red Reactor has won six races (with one second and two thirds) from 16 starts. At his most recent start, he finished fourth in the Pink Diamond Rookie Sprinter final.
“He’ll have to begin and get in front of the ‘red’ (Cumbria Kid) by the first turn,” Pell added. “He’ll rail all day and he’s strong.
“He doesn’t ping the lids, but he can muster quickly. He’s the best chance of my trio.”
Meanwhile, Flight Risk (Box 1) is engaged in Heat 1 (Race 6, 7.50pm).
A winner of five races (with five seconds) from 16 starts, Flight Risk has a 29.75sec PB at Sandown Park (515m) and a 23.74sec PB at Bendigo (425m) – set on race debut.
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Flight Risk is quoted at $5 in his heat and $15 in TAB’s pre-post market.
“There’s not much between my three over 450 metres, but he wants to run in the middle of the track,” Pell said.
“He’s not as strong as Red Reactor but is quicker early. And he can give this race a shake if he shows his best box behaviour.”
Pell will leave on Saturday morning with his terrific triumvirate – a nine-hour trip with stops.
“Mum (Bev) will fly up late Saturday afternoon after she finishes up with the rest of the team.”
WATCH: LOVE THE CITY (B3) powers home to claim the G3 Country Championship final at The Meadows on February 26.
