Fawkner to walk in the Park
Talented stayer FAWKNER PARK looks on track to score six wins in a row this Saturday when he lines up in the $160,000 Petaluma Premier’s Cup Prelude over 1800m at Rosehill Gardens, Australia.
FAWKNER PARK has been unbeaten with four consecutive wins since relocating to Australia from Ireland early this year. Despite competing in quality races at metro tracks recently, the Zoffany gelding has proved that he is still highly competitive when defying big weights and taking down everything before him, including two impressive victories over this track at his last two starts.
FAWKNER PARK gets in well at the weights under this week’s racing conditions, and with newly crowned champion apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd takings the reins, he can continue his winning ways.
First Encounter primed for Pike
Promising four-year-old FIRST ENCOUNTER can score a fourth straight win this Saturday when he contests the $80,000 RTG66+ race over 1400m at Belmont racecourse, Australia.
FIRST ENCOUNTER broke his maiden in fine style at Pinjarra three starts ago before scoring a double at this track in mid-May. The son of Dundeel had since been rested for two months before resuming with an impressive first-up win late last month, when he displayed a strong turn of foot to overhaul his rivals easily by two lengths over this track and distance.
FIRST ENCOUNTER appears to sit on an upward spiral and going up against a similar field this week, he can prove hard to hold out under champion jockey William Pike.
A Golden Fighter for Smith
The Matthew Smith-trained five-year-old GOLDEN FIGHTER can land his second career win in the $27,000 BM58 race over 1100m at Scone racecourse this Sunday.
GOLDEN FIGHTER has been racing in consistent form this preparation, finishing second once and fourth-place twice at his last three starts. The Sooboog gelding was heavily backed at Newcastle last start, but he probably found the 1200m trip a bit long, when being swamped late into fourth after sitting on speed for the majority of the race.
GOLDEN FIGHTER is suited by the drop in distance this week, and from an inside draw, he should enjoy a smooth trip and can prove hard to run down with the apprentice claim.
McCoull and his Bold Instinct
Four-year-old gelding BOLD INSTINCT can go one place better in the $25,000 Class 2 race over 1150m at Devonport racecourse this Sunday.
A two-time winner with six placings from 12 starts, BOLD INSTINCT put the writing on the wall last start that a third career win is just around the corner. On that occasion, the son of Impending gave a bold sight and led every post but the winning post, beaten a short head into second in the 1220m race at Launceston.
This week, BOLD INSTINCT finds a highly winnable race, where he stands out as the best horse going forward, so he has to be rated a big winning chance for Jockey Brendon McCoull, despite carrying the top weight.
