Moonee Valley Preview: Saturday 27th January by Dean McHugh

A low-key contest kicks off Saturday’s Moonee Valley card with eight horses set to canter down to post. 

Likely to take all the stopping is Acid Wash. Having never finished outside the top two places in any of his three career starts, he was a dominant winner last time out, and anything close to that performance could make him hard to stop. 

Cognac In Mine looks a decent alternative. Having won impressively on debut, she will hope to keep her unbeaten run going. 

Socks Nation is another who warrants respect, having not finished outside the top two in any of her last three starts. 

A tricky-looking contest awaits in the second race of the day, where twelve horses have been declared. 

Ceerseven is likely to jump off as the short-priced favourite, and in this lineup, it’s not hard to see why. 

Easily boasting the best winning strike rate in the field, he heads into the race looking to better his third-place finish when last seen. 

If wanting to take him on, Brooklyn Boss could be a safe bet. A winner last time out, that form stacks up well in this field and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him play a major role. 

The same can be said of Adandiman, who is also looking to follow up on his win when last on track. 

The third race of Saturday’s card looks to be between two horses, Kind Gesture and Very Sewreel.

Of the two, it’s Very Sewreel who is the least exposed. Having had five career starts, she has won once and placed on two other occasions. Likely to be the pace angle of the contest; if you like to back a horse who you know is always going to travel in the front rank of horses, then she could be the horse for you. 

Kind Gesture won’t let Very Sewreel have things all her own way out in front. A winner of two of her eleven career starts, she normally races at a higher level than this and could relish the slight drop in class.

Nine horses will head down to post for the fourth race of the day. Set to lead the charge in the betting is Running By. 

A talented mare, she has won three of her seven career starts and looks to have a great chance of notching a fourth career success. Heading into the race having won her last two starts, she is the one they will all need to beat. 

If you don’t like backing short-priced favourites, then Toronto Terrier could be the bet for you. A remarkably consistent horse, he has finished second in four of his last five starts. No stranger to the winner’s circle, he has won on three separate occasions, with his last win coming three starts ago. 

The halfway mark of Saturday’s card will see a fillies & mares handicap run over 1200m. Ten runners have been declared, and it looks like it will be Extratwo who will jump off as the favourite. 

A winner of two of her five career starts, she may have too much ability for most in this lineup, and her connections will hope to move on to bigger and better races.

Hoping to keep the favourite in check will be Lazy Susan. She has been in fine form of late, winning when last seen and finishing second in her two prior runs before that victory. 

At a price, it could be worth taking a second look at Tango Jewel. She has finished second in each of her last three races and will be hoping to end her recent losing run here. 

One of the longest races of the card takes place in the sixth race of the day. With just seven horses being declared, the betting for the contest looks wide open, and there are several horses in with a real chance of victory.

Independent Road is a really consistent horse. Having won two of his last four starts, he arrives in great heart and will be looking to regain the winning thread after two consecutive defeats. 

The same can be said of Flash Feeling. Having won two starts ago, he ran a poor race to finish well down the field when last seen. Hiked up in distance here, it remains to be seen whether the extra metres will have any sort of effect.

Mankayan and Don’t Doubt Dory are two others who warrant major respect.

Another long-distance race awaits in the seventh race of the card, and the betting looks fierce. 

Fretta is one of the most exciting horses set to feature on Saturday’s card. Having just had three starts, she has posted two wins and was unlucky not to have won her last race. Set for another big run, she could take some major stopping. 

Interlinked shares similar form lines to the favourite and also saw his unbeaten start come to an end when finishing fourth last time out. Clearly capable, his chances have to be respected. 

Miss Tarzy will be hugely popular. A winner of her last three starts, there’s nothing to suggest that she can’t keep up her winning run here. 

The last of the sprint contests comes on Saturday’s card. Set to be fast and furious, Mornington Glory arrives in fantastic form. 

A winner when last seen, he has only finished outside of the places twice in his last nine starts. Another bold bid can be expected. 

Flying On A Limb saw a run of three consecutive victories ended when she could only finish sixth in her last start. She has had 23 weeks off and could be a huge danger to the rest of the field after her break. 

At a larger price, Shirshov looks to have a chance. A winner of four of his last five races, he looks a little overpriced.

The most valuable race of the day comes in the form of the Sharp EIT Solutions Stakes, where $210,000 is available to the winner. 

Eleven horses have been declared, but two horses look set to dominate the betting, Veight and Recommendation. Of the two, it should be Veight that starts as the favourite. 

A winner of three of his seven career starts, he boasts one of the best winning strike rates in the field. Now, without a win in three, he is taking a huge step down from Group 1 company. His second place in the Caulfield Guineas is the best form in this race, and he looks hard to oppose.

Recommendation has form to find with Veight but has been in great form. A winner of 60% of his races, he was only just denied when last seen. Used to operating at a slightly lower level than this, it will be interesting to see how he does against a horse of the class of Veight.

A twelve-runner handicap rounds out Saturday’s card, and once again there is a heavy favourite. 

Pereille has placed in seven of his thirteen career starts and has notched two wins in the process. Usually on the premises in races of this nature, he looks set to feature heavily once again. 

Zou Sensation looks set to be Pereille’s main danger. An admirable performer, he has won one of his last three races and hasn’t finished outside of the top three in any of them. Well drawn and in good form, he is more than capable of springing the upset. 

Squad is another who deserves respect. Another recent winner, he will be hoping to go one place better than his second-place finish when last seen.