A Sweet second-up win looms
Three-year-old colt SWEET RIDE can score a second-up win when he steps out in the $150,000 July Sprint Handicap over 1100m from Rosehill Racecourse, Australia on Saturday.
SWEET RIDE is second-up off a nine-month break and performed well first-up in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 8. On that occasion, the former G3 San Domencio Stakes winner struck a very slow run race, but he did perform well from back in the field, checking in an eye-catching fourth, beaten 1.6 lengths, after positioned ninth at the 400m.
SWEET RIDE should be much fitter now while he does race at a track and distance where he boasts two wins and two placings from seven starts. Well placed on 57kgs under Chad Schofield, this race presents a good opportunity for the youngster to bounce back.
Queen Alina can atone
Ultra-consistent mare QUEEN ALINA can score an overdue win in Saturday’s $80,000 Ratings 66+ Handicap over 2200m from Belmont Racecourse, Australia.
The Daniel & Ben Pearce-trained QUEEN ALINA has four wins and six placings to her name after 12 starts and was last seen checking in an eye-catching run into second place over 2100m. Despite racing wide for the majority of the journey, she worked home strongly to just miss out.
Having placed third over the 2200m two starts ago, there are no queries surrounding QUEEN ALINA’S staying ability, and from barrier 2 on Saturday, she should gain the run required to get her nose in front when it matters.
Faithfull Locking Down another win
Last start winner TOTAL LOCKDOWN can go back-to-back in the $22,000 BM58+ race over 1100m at Kalgoorlie racecourse this Sunday.
A four-time winner from 23 starts, TOTAL LOCKDOWN returned to his best form last start when scoring a narrow but impressive win at this track and distance. Stalking the speed that day, the All American gelding showed great tenacity late to fend off his rivals by a head.
TOTAL LOCKDOWN boasts an eye-catching record of three from four over this distance, and from a low draw, he can prove hard to beat for jockey Natasha Faithfull.
Huxtable to take Command
Jockey Justin Huxtable will be confident that four-year-old gelding COUNTER COMMAND can break through in the $30,000 Maiden race over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast racecourse this Sunday.
COUNTER COMMAND has shown improvement this preparation and he finished a solid fifth at Eagle Farm last start. Drawn wide on that occasion, the Counterattack gelding endured a wide trip but still stuck on well to miss by 2.6 lengths over this distance.
From pole position this week, COUNTER COMMAND should enjoy a perfect run and it appears a golden chance for him to land a first career win against moderate rivals.
