Ballarat will host its biggest race day this Saturday, with the combination of key Magic Millions races supporting the feature, the 2200-metre Ballarat Cup. These are my five plays across the meeting.
Bet 1: Win – Race 2, No.6: I Am Someone
This is one of the better bets on the Ballarat card. Paul Preusker trains this four-year-old, who was well supported when resuming over 955 metres last Friday night at the Valley but just had too much to do from the back. In the end he did a great job to get as close as he did. The form around him reads well and he won his lone second-up appearance. Odds of $3-plus are more than acceptable.
Bet 2: Each-way – Race 4, No.2: Ancestry
He’s the clear overs in the Clockwise Classic. He showed good speed when having his first start in the Debutant at Caulfield and was far from disgraced in defeat in a race won by Champagne Boom, who looks very good and ran well on cup day. He had a jump out here last week, which went beautifully. He’s got race experience under the belt and is in the right stable. He looks overs at $7-plus.
Bet 3: Win – Race 5, No.1: Enbihaar
She opened short, so hopefully the price gets out. She looks the clear horse to beat. He’s had two weeks between runs for the Hayes-Dabernig team after racing over 1400 metres on Stakes Day at Flemington, where she got a lovely steer. She looked home, but in her first run in a month her condition just gave way when fourth to Ringerdingding, with that form clearly franked. Fitter and back to this level, I’m really keen on her chances.
Bet 4: Each-way – Race 8, No.7: Luvaluva
She’s a hit and miss mare, but when she’s on, she’s very good. She was racing for her career last time in the Matriarch at Flemington and redeemed herself with a close third to Kenedna. The negative is that the race was run at a farcical tempo, but the big tick is that despite being outsprinted, she came again and surged. If she improves on that, she’s a clear threat.
Bet 5: Each-way – Race 9, No.1: Bel Sonic
Platinum Angel is clearly the one to beat, but in terms of a bet, I much rather back Bel Sonic. Jason Warren trains this son of Bel Esprit, who seems to be most effective when produced on the fresh side. He hasn’t raced since the Creswick Final in the winter at Flemington when closing off from the back to run fourth to Nature Strip. His recent Cranbourne trial was very good. He’ll be charging late.
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