WEDNESDAY'S BEST
Warwick Farm Race 3 No.1 Higher Ground (Lee Magorrian) (a2) - $4.40
Chris Waller has a history of unearthing a progressive staying three year old at this time of year that he invariably aims towards the Queensland Derby - horses like Mackintosh and Hawkspur come to mind immediately, and this year Higher Ground might be the one.
A son of So You Think, from a solid staying female family, High Ground displayed in his first campaign towards the end of last year that he would be one to keep an eye on, after winning 2 of his 4 starts, the last of the quartet a four length victory over 1900 metres at Canterbury.
Waller tipped him out straight away, and after two quiet trials, we saw him return a fortnight ago at Warwick Farm over 1400 metres, in what was a decent midweek three year old event which Dissolution beat Sambro in, both of whom have run very well in stakes company at Randwick since - they walked that day and Higher Ground got left flat footed when they sprinted, but held his ground and finished off nicely for fourth.
Second up now he gets to a mile, in what appears to be a weaker race, even with some older types engaged, and although I'd expect him to be a touch closer in the run now, it's only a field of nine, so wherever he ends up shouldn't matter too much.
If he's going to be competitive in races like the Rought Habit, Grand Prix and Derby in Brisbane, then he really should be too good for this lot, even if he's best trip is eventually going to be further than this.
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Warwick Farm Race 2 No.6 Semper Fidelis (Kerrin McEvoy) - $3.30
She's becoming a little bit of a costly filly to follow Semper Fidelis, as she's started favourite in 4 of her 5 starts, and is yet to salute, but there's some talent there with this daughter of High Chaparral and this looks to be her day today - otherwise she might be on the barred list for good.
Chris Waller sent her to Wyong first up where she was outsprinted and didn't have much luck, before she was a touch disappointing second up at Warwick Farm, and then he took her back up the Central Coast to Gosford, where the stablemate Gresham got a soft time in front and was able to stave her off late - thought she chased really well there in what was a good bounce back effort.
Now gets into a race where most of her rivals are less experienced than her, isn't badly in at the weights, she's drawn to get a soft run in transit, and it should be a firmer surface than what's she's dealt with of late, which will most likely suit her more - I'm not saying it's D-Day for her career here, but I can't see punters forgiving her again if she were to get beat on her merits as this really does appear to be her race to lose.
Warwick Farm Race 1 No.7 Quick Nick (Josh Parr) - $8.50
Here's a youngster who might be flying under the radar here a touch, judging by what price he's come up.
Quick Nick, a son of Choisir prepared by that star sprinter's trainer in Paul Perry, looks very close to winning a race after a pair nice efforts, against some above average types, at his first two career runs.
On debut, he got left flat footed at Gosford when the pressure went on behind the talented Tchaikovsky who dictated proceedings from the front, but still Quick Nick worked through the line nicely, before Perry brought him back home to Newcastle for a maiden, in which he struck a probable city class filly in Sangita, the runner up there being El Dorado Dreaming, Saturday's shock Sires' Produce winner, and again Quick Nick stretched out well late, making up a few lengths in the last 200 metres, to be beaten half a length into third.
Maybe he wants a touch further now than the six furlongs of this race here, but from a good draw, Josh Parr might be able to settle him a touch closer than what he was at both Gosford and Newcastle and get him into the race at an earlier stage.
This is a handy midweek two year maiden, but Quick Nick's got some race experience and a fitness edge on a few of the others in the market and I've got little doubt he's got his foot right on the till - let's hope it works out well in the run and he gets his chance late.
Sandown (Lakeside) Race 7 No.3 Ancient Echoes (Damian Lane) - $3.40
Ancient Echoes has returned this prep a much improved galloper and Darren Weir's got the son of So You Think flying right now, after two easy wins since a break.
He was a class above winning his maiden at Swan Hill, before Weir sent him across the border to Adelaide for a Saturday three year old restricted race, where Ancient Echoes sat three wide the trip, was sent to the front as they straightened, and raced away to win eased down by almost 3 ½ lengths.
Now brings him back to Melbourne for a deeper race, but one that certainly looks within the gelding's scope, and I can't see how the step up to a mile will bother him.
The one slight query is where he gets to in the run from that awkward draw, but one of the state's best jockeys takes the ride in Damian Lane, fresh off a group one winning sojourn to Sydney, and hopefully he can slot him in somewhere a little better than midfield so he can produce late - as I said this horse is going as well as he can right now, and that is more than good enough to win this with any luck.
OVER THE ODDS
Sandown (Lakeside) Race 6 No.1 Barthelona (Fred Kersley) (a2) - $10
After winning his first three starts in impressive fashion, Barthelona, a half brother to former group one winner Under The Louvre, appeared to be a galloper going places, and it's probably fair to say he hasn't quite lived up to expectations, having not won in 12 starts since.
A large part of the reason he hasn't won is his racing pattern - he's a get back type that has to have things like pace on and luck in running to be a genuine chance, and unfortunately that hasn't always panned out for him, despite plenty of decent efforts along the way, including his last seven starts, where he's finished no further back than fourth, and has placed on five occasions.
This race looks to be the weakest he's been in for quite some time, hence the fact that's he's top weight here, and I think it sets up well for him - the Lakeside circuit should suit, there seems like there's some good pace engaged without a ridiculous amount that he'd been run off his feet early, and he's always shown that he's the type that runs well fresh, plus he gets a little weight relief with gun apprentice Fred Kersley's two kilo claim.
Yes, he'll back in the run again and may not look anything like the winner until late, but think he's got a little bit of class on most of these and I can envisage him being powerful late and being right in the finish at double figure odds.
QUADDIE SELECTIONS
Warwick Farm Leg 1 - 1,2,3,5,7,9,12 Leg 2 - 2,4,5 Leg 3 - 2,6,8,9 Leg 4 - 1,5 ($100 = 59.52%)
Sandown (Lakeside) Leg 1 - 1,2,4,5,6,7,11 Leg 2 - 1,4,11 Leg 3 - 3,10 Leg 4 - 5,8,11,12 ($100 = 59.52%)