Last Saturday, The Pinnacles continued to hold centre stage with Railway Stakes Day at Ascot featuring as the highlight meeting in Australia. Meanwhile, Cranbourne, Kembla Grange and Morphettville held strong support programs throughout the day. With several runners returning for summer preparations, we have found three that are worth following after strong performances early in the campaign.
Ascot
Rail position: +5m entire circuit
Race 9: RTG72+ Handicap (1400m) | Time: 1:22.86
- Horse to follow: Own The Queen (2nd)
Own The Queen returned from an eight-month spell following her Group 3 WA Oaks victory and subsequent failure in the Group 2 WATC Derby. The Justine Erkelens-trained mare was unwanted in betting with horse racing bookmakers, drifting from $14 to $34 before the jump. However, after running up behind a slowing pacesetter at the 150m mark, the daughter of Awesome Rock found clear air and exploded with a blistering turn of foot to finish a narrow runner-up.
When to bet: Connections of Own The Queen would have been delighted with her fresh run, and a rise in trip to 1600m or 1800m will suit second-up. Keep an eye out for where Erkelens places her next start.
Cranbourne
Rail position: +3m entire circuit
Race 4: Benchmark 70 Handicap (1300m) | Time: 1:17.65
- Horse to follow: Vienna Vixen (4th)
Vienna Vixen was unlucky in the fourth race at Cranbourne, as the Ciaron Maher-trained mare was blocked for a run twice in the final 400m. The daughter of Foxwedge went for a run in between horses at the 400m mark before having to head back to the inside, where she was then blocked by a wayward Snappy Secret in the final 200m. Once she picked herself up, Vienna Vixen smashed through the line and finished a luckless fourth.
When to bet: Vienna Vixen is nominated for a 1300m race at Wodonga on Friday, November 29, and if Maher sends her there, she will prove very hard to beat.
Kembla Grange
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 9: Group 3 The Warra (1000m) | Time: 0:55.92
- Horse to follow: Fleetwood (4th)
Fleetwood competed in his maiden Group 3 contest first-up at Kemble Grange, where the James Cummings-trained gelding finished off strongly for fourth place. The son of Encryption raced in his usual pattern at the back of the field, and after peeling wide to follow the eventual winner, he was left a little flatfooted with 300m. However, in the final 200m, Fleetwood started to take ground of the leaders, indicating that further is needed for him to show his best second-up.
When to bet: The Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on December 14 looks like the ideal race for Fleetwood to tackle next.
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