Geelong Tips & Preview | Wednesday 22 April

Bit of a step back here for MARSEPT (8). 

The Hawkes-trained filly resumed at Caulfield a few weeks earlier over 1200m, holding her position well after setting up early to find the box seat and eventually beaten a length by Extragalactic. 

As a two-year-old, she was placed at Stakes level on debut at Headquarters and looks more than ready to finally shed the maiden tag in her fifth career start. 

Mark Zahra should have a good feel for ENEA (1) on debut. 

The pair combined to win at jump out together at Cranbourne last month and we’ve since seen this impressive two-year-old go on to win his latest hit out at Pakenham with a bit left in hand. 

There are a few others who look capable in this field, but armed with a serious turn of foot, this Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr runner commands big respect ahead of his first start.  

WARREGO (8) has gone up decent odds for Ciaron Maher and company. 

The three-year-old son to Kermadec is yet to find the money in as many career starts, but he did seem to find the 1400m trip a little on the sharp side fresh from a long layoff here at Geelong first-up. 

He was found to have a slow recovery post-race, but given nearly a month between runs, I think he can challenge here with Mark Zahra likely to push forward early and try to find cover from the wide gate. 

SOLDIER BOI (5) should attract plenty of support on return. 

We saw this son of Churchill debut for the Boyd stable over the track and trip last December, settling too far back early in the run where he left himself with a bit to do over the final stages, eventually settling for fifth beaten four lengths. 

The form from that race has held up well since however, and he’s dazzled in a pair of recent Ballarat trials. The barrier makes this tricky, but he looks forward enough to handle the trip fresh from a decent layoff. 

ETERNAL (1) looks hard to beat getting out over further now. 

Chris Waller’s mare found the front and led two back at Caulfield Heath, making every post a winner on her way to a solid win by three-quarters of a length. 

She was found to have some heart issues post-race at Sandown a fortnight ago but looks to have a clean bill of health now heading into her fourth-up assignment. 

Off three runs over 1200m, she just needs to handle the extra weight to bounce back under Mark Zahra. 

LOVE SYMBOL (11) is close to another win I feel for Nigel Blackiston and connections. 

The Savabeel mare over raced at a key stage second-up here to start the month but really knuckled down well to run a place when beaten by a very narrow margin. 

Keep in mind she was 1000m up to 1300m that day, so she should be better for the run now that Luke Currie has a good feel for her. 

MOVE THE TORANA (11) should benefit from the dry track getting back over shorter. 

Lindsey Smith’s mare has been good without winning this prep, scoring narrowly over much further here three back and then going on to finish a length off at Sandown where she was wide the whole way on a wet track. 

She’s been up for a while but continues to hold her form, and with Fred Kersley experienced in the saddle, she’ll be given every chance. 

MRS IGLESIA (11) looks ready to break through. 

She just came off second-best to the in-form Aqueduct at Ballarat a few weeks ago, a gelding who had a bit of a fitness edge when it counted midway down the straight. 

The Hayes-trained daughter to Dirty Work is plenty fit now herself fourth-up and after charging the line hard last start, she’ll be ready for the slightly longer trip.