The final day of the Adelaide Racing Carnival took centre stage at Morphettville last Saturday, while the Sunshine Coast held a strong support program as part of the Queensland Racing Carnival. In this week’s edition of The Follow Files, we have found three runners that are worth adding to your blackbook after strong performances early in their winter campaigns.
Sunshine Coast
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 1: Benchmark 85 Handicap (1200m) | Time: 1:12.36
- Horse to follow: Pereille (1st)
Pereille kicked off his winter campaign with a demolition job in the opening race at the Sunshine Coast as the James Cummings-trained gelding recorded an impressive four-length victory over 1200m. James McDonald allowed the son of Fastnet Rock to settle midfield before balancing up and rounding up his rivals by the 200m mark. This gelding’s turn of foot was devastating in the final 300m, and he showed that he was much better than Benchmark 85 grade.
When to bet: After improving his record on wet tracks (8:3-4-1) and keeping his 100% place record on those tracks with his most recent win, it is expected that Godolphin will wait for another wet track in Queensland for his next start. A rise in grade and distance is on the cards for Pereille, and he appears to have returned in fine style this time in.
Race 5: Listed ATC Trophy (1200m) | Time: 1:12.53
- Horse to follow: Freedom Rally (3rd)
Although Freedom Rally has a third-place finish next to his record, it doesn’t tell the story of how good his performance was when you consider that he was first-up and was racing on a Heavy track for the first time. Vlad Duric saved ground along the inside where the ground was inferior for most of the day, but the Tony Gollan-trained galloper finished off nicely to nab a placing. With strong second-up form (3:2-0-0), it is expected that he will step up in trip to 1300m or 1400m next start and appreciate a firmer track.
When to bet: With nominations in both the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap, Freedom Rally will need to have one more run before competing in those races. The Group 3 BRC Sprint on May 25 looks to be the ideal race for Gollan and his team to target.
Morphettville
Rail position: +4m entire circuit
Race 6: Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) | Time: 1:11.40
- Horse to follow: Right To Party (2nd)
Anthony & Sam Freedman sent Right To Party to Morphettville to compete at Group 3 level for the first time, and the three-year-old filly produced a barnstorming finish from the back of the field to finish second behind Boognish. After settling near last, the daughter of Zoustar had to weave a passage between runners towards the inside and recorded the fastest 400m (23.02s) and 200m (11.86s) sections of the meeting.
When to bet: It is unclear where the Freedman’s will enter Right To Party next; however, it is clear that she is up to Group 3 level against her own sex, and if she is entered in a similar race next start, we will be following her.
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