Moonee Valley: 9th February Preview by Dean McHugh

Moonee Valley will host an exciting eight-race card this Friday, affording you the opportunity to kick off your weekend in style. Read on as we preview each race in detail.

Race 1: Dynamic Print Group Maiden Plate (1000m)

A competitive field of fifteen will head down to post for Moonee Valley’s opening race of the day. 

In what looks like an exceptionally tight betting heat, the favourite for the contest looks to be Olive Baguette. Making his first start, he hasn’t run in any trial contests and will require a leap of faith.

If you’re looking to find a winner with more experience, it could be worth siding with My Name Is. Making the third start of his career, he has finished second in both of his first two races and his connections will be hoping he can go one step better here.

Race 2: The Entry Education Valley Summer Middle Distance Series Heat 1 (1528m)

Eleven runners have been declared for the second race of the day, and all of the betting attention looks set to focus on Miss Keeler and Simeon.

Miss Keeler is never usually out of the picture and has placed in 62% of all her career starts. Whilst the wins are few and far between, she did win two starts ago, and there will be plenty of market confidence for further success.

In comparison to Miss Keeler, Simeon is relatively unexposed but has won two of his twelve starts. His win last time out came in gritty fashion, and he looks to have every chance of following up that performance here.

Race 3: The Cirka Valley Summer Middle Distance Series Heat 2 (1600m)

The third race of Friday’s Moonee Valley card looks to be one of the most competitive on the card.

Following two consecutive victories, Justifiable Award looks to be the one to beat. Her latest victory suggested that there could be more to come, and she could be one of the best bets of the day.

Keen to ensure that Justifiable Award doesn’t have things all her own way, Born Hustler and Perfect Ending should make a real race of it. 

Perfect Ending is one of the more intriguing horses in the contest. Having won two of her first six starts, she looks capable of landing another decisive blow here.

Race 4: Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge Heat 11 (955m)

The fourth race of the card looks set to be fast and furious, and Scuderia will be looking to keep her impressive winning streak alive.

A winner of her last three starts, she arrives at Moonee Valley fresh following a six-week break, and there will be major hopes that she can win a fourth consecutive race. 

Hoping to take advantage of any rustiness from Scuderia will be Flying on a Limb. Having won three of her first six starts, she was disappointing last time out and finished well down the field when last seen. Looking to bounce back, she is already proven at this level and could be one of the better bets of the day.

Race 5: The Orbit Logistics Valley Summer Sprint Series Heat 1 (1000m)

The competitive sprint action continues with the fifth race of the day. In what looks like the race of the day, all eyes will be on Dakota Lee. Yet to taste defeat in any of her seven career starts, she will be looking to keep her unbeaten streak alive and land an eighth successive contest.

Dakota Lee won’t have things all her own way and Andouillette could well leave his mark. A winner of three of his first four starts, he has won his last two contests. Given the plum inside draw, he could certainly make a bold bid for victory. 

Race 6: Musk Creek Farm Handicap (1000m)

Completing a trio of sprint contests is the Musk Creek Farm. With thirteen horses declared, the contest looks wide open, and a host of horses look capable of pulling off the victory. 

Goodes is relatively unexposed to most in the field and will be having just the fourth run of his career. Able to break his maiden when last seen, he could take another leap forward here. 

Spicy Margs has won the most money in the lineup but is now without a win in any of her last four starts. She will need to produce something special to poke her head in front. 

Keep an eye on Maajida. A winner on debut, she should have learnt plenty from that experience and looks capable of taking another leap.

Race 7: The Orbit Logistics Valley Summer Sprint Series Heat 2 (1200m)

The penultimate race of the day will see thirteen horses head down to post for a competitive-looking handicap. 

Set to start as one of the best bets of the day, the horse to beat is Extratwo. A winner of two of her first six starts, her connections will be hoping that she can bounce back from a poor effort when last seen. 

If Extratwo fails to fire, then Scully looks like a great alternative. A winner of two of his last three starts, he rates as a significant threat to all in the field. 

Kusini hasn’t won in any of her last two starts but has proved capable at this level in the past. She is another who warrants some consideration.

Race 8: The Orbit Logistics Valley Summer Sprint Series Heat 3 (1200m)

Three horses look set to dominate the betting in the final race of the day. 

Moesha will be running her fifth race and will be looking to win her first race in her last three starts. She looked an impressive horse when shedding her maiden tag and should have the ability to run a big race here.

Naiconi had won two consecutive starts but found her winning streak broken when only narrowly missing out last time out. She could well pick up the winning thread in this race. 

Shaime looked to be a horse going places but recently has found life difficult. Looking to win for the first time in three starts, she looks like a certified contender here.