Geelong again hosts Victoria’s midweek metropolitan meeting on Wednesday, with a competitive eight-race program on offer.
The rail is out 3 metres and the track is rated a Good 4 at time of writing, with fine weather forecast to aid conditions across what shapes as a tricky card — particularly through the closing races.
Our Best Bet comes up early in Race 2, where Tony and Jake Noonan present a promising mare who looks well placed to break through, while there are also a couple of genuine each-way options worth following.
Full race-by-race analysis for all eight events can be found in our Geelong Preview below.
INSPIRING (4) showed good early intent on debut at Mornington last month, pressing forward to find the lead before only weakening late over the final 150 metres to finish just outside the placings.
Beau Mertens retains the ride from the same gate and the slight drop back in trip looks a positive, particularly with nearly four weeks between runs.
With a couple of rivals likely to push forward early, Greg Eurell’s three-year-old should get the genuine tempo he wants and looks capable of taking a clear step forward here.
SOMETHINGSOSTRONG (8) looks close to a long-overdue win for Tony Noonan and connections.
The seven-start maiden made a strong return at Seymour last month, working home well from the tail to finish a brave fourth, just 1.2 lengths from the winner.
She didn’t enjoy the clearest passage in the straight there, and this shapes as a more suitable assignment stepping out in trip from a soft gate. With Jake Noonan staying aboard, she should be strong late again if she gets the right run off the speed.
| 8. Somethingsostrong (5) J: Jake Noonan 57.5kg 643×4 T: Tony Noonan |
DON’T SAY NO MIKKI (2) should be better suited getting back onto a firmer surface.
Still lightly raced for a five-year-old, he worked to the line well when a one-length fourth at Horsham first-up on a soft track and looks open to improvement stepping out to 1300 metres.
The son of Mikki Isle finished off strongly there, mirroring his second-up effort at Seymour last preparation when he ran a placing over this trip.
With John Allen returning to the saddle, he shapes as a solid each-way play in what is an open contest.
| 2. Don’t Say No Mikki (7) Scratched: | |||
UPOLU (7) is worth following over further after two encouraging efforts at Colac and Terang.
This is a step up in class for Jack Edwards’ gelding, but there was plenty to like about his latest run, charging home along the rail to grab second after a patient ride from Jack Hill.
Hill sticks from the inside gate and the rise to 1400 metres looks ideal, giving him every chance to be in the finish again.
| 7. Upolu (2) J: Jack Hill 58kg 22 T: Jamie Edwards |
HIGHLAND GLORY (7) gets in well at the weights with the benefit of a 2kg claim under Michael Dee.
Dan O’Sullivan’s mare went down by just half a length to Tsitsipas at Mornington on New Year’s Day, a race she may well have won after being held up around the turn and forced very wide on straightening.
She importantly finished ahead of Hollandia there and now meets that rival better at the weights. Drawn another low gate and likely to settle midfield again, she shapes as a key contender.
| 7. Highland Glory (2) J: Michael Dee 54kg 20352 T: Dan O’Sullivan |
LAPLAND (6) returned in solid order at Mornington late last year, rolling forward to sit on the speed before taking over and showing plenty of fight to hold off a late challenge.
He was a little soft late, but has proven he can handle longer trips, having placed twice at this track to close out his maiden preparation last season.
With another dry surface in his favour, the son of Group 3 winner Anders looks ready to measure up again stepping up in grade.
| 6. Lapland (10) Scratched: | |||
WINSOME STAR (3) has been up for a while and looks ready to peak.
He’s had his runs well spaced since resuming in mid-November and was last seen charging home from the tail to finish third at Sandown, after being held up when attempting to peel out near the top of the straight.
The extra 100 metres looks ideal given the strength of that finish, and with Billy Egan retaining the ride from a better gate, he shapes as a major player.
| 3. Winsome Star (4) J: Billy Egan 60.5kg 0x683 T: J G Symons & S Laxon |
SALCHOW (12) appeals as a genuine each-way option in a race with a handful of winning hopes.
The five-year-old gelding by Tivaci has been holding his form this preparation, doing plenty right when finishing fifth at Geelong two runs back after overcoming a wide draw over 1400 metres.
He was then tested stepping sharply to the mile in a stronger race at Flemington, but looks better placed here dropping back to 1500 metres with fitness on his side.
Given his pattern of settling back and finishing off, the wide gate may also prove no disadvantage.
| 12. Salchow (8) J: Michael Dee 58kg 9×457 T: Dan O’Sullivan |