Racing at Rocky returns today with eight races from the Beef Capital. There was a little bit of rain around during the week, so we are on a Soft 5 and the rail is in the true position. It's a fairly early start for the midweek card at 12:20pm.
We found Chester's Angel a couple of weeks back and the form race we referred to was a 2YO Maiden on January 23, which I'm Strolling comes out of. The Better Than Ready filly lead the field up that day and stuck on gamely for fourth, with big margins to fifth. If she can control the speed from in front under Bubba Tilley, she can be winning this in the opener.
Pretty slim pickings in the second with just five runners and four of them under $4, so we will pass on this race. Worth listening to the call though: Ask Nino or Arks Nino?
A maiden over the 1300m has attracted a nine runners after scratchings and it looks a tricky one to dissect. Pure Purgatory has been in the placings in her last three in SEQ, but we question her genuineness, so we will side with Sabor here for Jared Wehlow. The ex-New South Wales galloper was only narrowly defeated in a Canberra maiden back in September in a race that has produced five subsequent winners, and he looks to be the one to be in a good spot despite barrier 10. He can be breaking through.
We are hoping Butler and Wehlow can snag a race to race double in the fourth when they partner Highmaster. The four-year-old gelding ran third to Savoury in a metro race three back - Savoury has since won again - and then ran second to Blesk who raced against the pattern in a recent midweek race, before joining the Wehlow stable where he ran sixth behind Racing Paradise at Eagle Farm. Racing Paradise only just missed in a Saturday metro this weekend gone, so the form reads very well. He's short, but he wins.
Our names aren't on the race book for the ownership of this bloke, but the amount of dosh we have spent backing him you'd swear we did. Brad, is a winner. Having won nine races since moving to CQ, he has been a money spinner for connections and punters. He has had 7 weeks between runs and should be fit to be winning here over the 1200m.
A bit of value can be found in the sixth with Hinvictus. William Weeks has had this gelding flying without winning, running third and second in his two respective runs this prep. He was only a length off the very smart Avocado Sunset first-up and was then heavily backed to run second in his most recent run, beating home Ziedrich who won his subsequent start albeit in the bush. He's drawn wide, but the 2kg claim will suit and he will get back anyway. He'll need every bit of the Rocky straight, but at the each-way price we are playing.
We are going to sit out of the seventh; it's not the easiest race to have a bet in with value all over the park. Great Fox would be the play if we are in front, otherwise it'll be a watch.
The last race is wide open again, especially now that our original on top pick in Charles Seven has been scratched. I Love This Hippy has been racing very well of late, winning back to back before finishing second to Avocado Sunset and beating home Hinvictus who we tipped in race six. Up to 1200m will suit him down to the ground, and Matt McGillivray in the saddle is a bonus especially since he has drawn the carpark. He looks the best horse in the race and can be returning to the winner's stall.
#LloydysLock - R4 Highmaster
Selections
Race 1: I'm Strolling
Race 2: No Bet
Race 3: Sabor
Race 4: Highmaster
Race 5: Brad
Race 6: Hinvictus
Race 7: No Bet
Race 8: I Love This Hippy
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