In Brief
- Significant drop in class for Appraise on Monday.
- Trainer expects 4YO to run well.
- Loki Patera well suited over the sprint trip.
Monday’s nine-race program on the synthetic track at Ballarat will have a distinct Tasmanian flavour with several current and former Tasmanian trained horses engaged.
Of the bunch, the John Blacker-trained Appraise has the best chance of securing a win according to bookmakers, installed a $3.70 chance with Ladbrokes for a benchmark 58 handicap over 1200 metres.
The four-year-old gelding hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced as a $1.65 favourite over 1600 metres in Launceston back in March, but that was in a much harder grade than he will contest on Monday and Blacker expects a forward showing.
“Appraise is going extra well and while he is first-up since he just missed a place in Launceston in early March, I would be surprised if he didn’t figure in the money,” said Blacker.
Blacker will also saddle up his stayer Generalmaintenance in the last race of the day and he appears better suited over the 2100-metre trip of Monday’s race as opposed to the mile last start.
Other horses on Monday’s card with Tasmanian interest include the Cameron Thompson-trained pair Trojan Storm and Limerick City who will each contest benchmark 58 grade races over 1200 and 1000 metres respectively.
Up against Limerick City will be the Terry Evans-trained speedster Loki Patera who will enjoy the short course trip and is given the better chance of those two in early markets, rated $10.00 with Ladbrokes compared to $26.00 for Limerick City.
Former Tasmanian horses racing on Monday’s program in the care of Victorian based trainers include Breathtaking (race five) and It’s a Battle (race nine).
The first race at Ballarat is scheduled for 12.30.
Watch a replay of Appraise winning a class 3 over 1200m in January this year.