Saturday
KERMAN SET TO ROCK ASCOT
Quality stayer KERMAN ROCK is on target to post a hat-trick of wins when he contests the $60,000 Special Conditions Handicap over 2100m from Ascot Racecourse, Australia, on Saturday.
KERMAN ROCK has been in career-best form this preparation, winning his last two runs most impressively. Two starts ago when fourth-up and rising to 2200m after two runs over 1400m and one over 1800m, the Snippetson gelding made all in the run emphatically, leading by one length on settling and then cruising clear by over four lengths turning for home before kicking strongly in the straight to win by over 10 lengths.
KERMAN ROCK prove that win no fluke by repeating the dose last start, again making his own luck out in front getting the job done by a length over 1800m. Back up in trip should suit KERMAN ROCK down to a tee come the Saturday and he will be giving backers a big run for their money as he tries to run his rivals rugged on the lead in search of three straight.
RIDE HIGH WITH DOYLE
Progressive filly OVERRIDING can atone for a last-start defeat when she races third-up in the $45,000 Class 1 Handicap over 1400m at Kembla Grange Racecourse, Australia, on Saturday.
OVERRIDING kicked off her career in the best way possible with a decisive first-up win on 26 December. On the back of a series of impressive barrier trials, the daughter of Star Turn let down with a devastating turn-of-foot to post an impressive 3.1-length victory over 1200m at Beaumont, landing a decent betting plunge in the process. Such was the win that OVERRIDING was sent out a well-backed $1.26 chance second-up, however she jumped awkwardly and settled near-last in the small field of five, before striking some trouble in the straight but only missing narrowly on the wire.
Third-up, and with even luck, OVERRIDING can bounce back to her true form that she showed on debut. The rise in trip suits and a bigger field should ensure she has better luck under a truer tempo.
Monday
DOLAN KEEN ON BALLON
Three-year-old filly BALLON BLEU is well placed to land her first career win this Monday when she contests the $27,000 Maiden race over 1400m at Goulburn racecourse, Australia.
BALLON BLEU is a two-time place getter from six starts and she was far from disgraced with a solid fourth over this distance at Warwick Farm last time out. Two starts ago, the Written Tycoon filly finished third in a strong form race at Hawkesbury, in which the second place getter AMOR VICTORIOUS scored a subsequent win at Randwick.
This week, BALLON BLEU finds a highly winnable race at the country track and based on the strength of her recent starts, she can prove hard to beat for jockey Robbie Dolan.
COLLECT ON COLLETT
Jockey Alysha Collett will be confident that promising filly ESTILETE can score a first-up win this Monday when she lines up in the $27,000 Class 1 race over 1200m at Goulburn racecourse, Australia.
ESTILETE has not raced since finishing second in a BM64 race at Hawkesbury in September last year. Prior to that, the daughter of Written Tycoon broke her maiden in fine style at this track when she made every post the winning post and drew away to score by 3.75 lengths over 1300m.
ESTILETE is well prepared with two trials for her return and from an inside barrier, she should endure a perfect trip and can prove hard to beat dropping to this class.
