Moonee Valley: 1st March Preview By Dean McHugh

Race 1: Happy 70th Paul Sinclair Handicap (1200m)

A small field of five will kick off proceedings for Friday’s opening race. With no previous winners in the field, this race is well and truly up for grabs, but it’s Eject who should start as the warm favourite.

Having just made the one start, he could only finish seventh on debut, but his connections will hope he would have learnt a lot in defeat and will be able to put that into good practice here. 

Sky Cap finished second on debut and could well have won had he not blown the start. Set to be attractively priced, he looks set to be the value angle of the race. 

Race 2: Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge Heat 14 (955m)

Eight horses will try and dash to the line in our second contest of the day. Drawn in gate 1 is Holy Racket, and he could take all of the beating. A winner last time out, he has won three of his nine career starts and looks set to arrive in flying form. 

Hoping to cause Holy Racket problems will be My Name Is. This will be just his fourth career start, and he is yet to finish outside of the top 2. A winner on debut, his connections will hope this will be the race that will see him return back to the winner’s circle. 

Race 3: The Ranvet Middle Distance Series Heat 7 (2040m)

The third race of Moonee Valley’s Friday card looks set to be incredibly competitive. With many horses in contention, it looks like Whakamana will start as the very slim favourite. Having won just two of her sixteen starts, she has now gone five races without a win but did finish second when last seen. 

French Flirt and Jennivamoose will both bring winning form into the race and have to be respected. Of the two, it could be worth siding with Jennivamoose, who looks slightly less exposed than her rivals. 

Race 4: The Opus Group Middle Distance Series Heat 6 (2040m)

The middle distance races are set to continue in our fourth race of the day. A field of twelve will head down to post, but it’s Tewkesbury who could take all the stopping. 

Despite having just notched one career win to date, he was desperately unlucky not to have won his last start. Falling by just half a length, he should go close once again. 

Prickley Prince brings in winning form, having been successful last time out. That win came at a lower grade, but he could be capable of stepping up to this level. At a massive price, it could be worth siding with Carisbrook or Mrs Murphy, who are the others to bring in winning form. 

Race 5: PJA Accountants & Business Advisors Handicap (1600m)

Nine horses have been declared for the fifth race of the day, and once again, it looks a tough race to call. 

Sea What I See should start as the favourite and looks like the most talented horse in the field. A winner of her last start, she has just had three runs and looks destined for bigger things.

Outside of the favourite, the betting looks set to focus on three horses: Magarten, Aiming and Vilnius. Of the three the most consistent looks to be Magarten. A winner when last seen, he was able to break a run of three consecutive second-place finishes and will hope to follow that victory up here. 

Race 6: The Orbit Logistics Summer Sprint Series Heat (1200m)

The competitive races keep on coming thick and fast, and the sixth race looks a tough betting heat for punters. 

If you’re looking for a horse to give you a good run for your money, then Mansiere could be the play. A winner just once in his career, that victory came four starts ago, but since then, he has finished in the top three twice. He looks capable of making the frame once more.

Artistic Genius is another intriguing runner. A winner on debut, he could only finish fifth in his next start. However, three horses from that race have gone on to win their next start, and that form looks solid. He could be worth backing at a price.

Race 7: Entry Education Abell Stakes (1200m)

The most lucrative race of the day comes in the Entry Education Abell Stakes. Twelve horses will head to post, and Jungle Jim should be popular in the betting. A winner of seven of his seventeen races, few can match his impressive strike rate and a race of this nature should be well within his reach.

Nunthorpe looks another horse worthy of consideration. Heading into this race, having won four of his eight starts, he was denied a third successive victory when only able to finish sixth in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes.

Few in this race have competed at that level, and he has to be one for the shortlist.

Race 8: The Orbit Logistics Summer Sprint Series Heat 7 (1000m)

A competitive sprint contest will close out Friday’s card, and the action promises to be fast and furious.

If you are looking to kick off your weekend in style then backing Andouillette could be the way to go. A winner of four of his five career starts, he has won three in a row and heads into the contest thriving. Another victory can’t be ruled out.

End Journey is another horse that warrants serious consideration. A winner of three of her four career starts, she regained the winning thread when a good winner last time out and looks set to play a major part in the contest.