Races

Deane Lester’s Moonee Valley Best Bets

RACE 1 NO.6 CALL ME ROYAL

CALL ME ROYAL resumes from a short break when she contests the Fillies and Mares Benchmark 84 Handicap (1200m) and looks a genuine chance at each way odds. The Waterhouse/ Bott trained mare has struggled on wet tracks in two Victorian runs during June, however she has impressed in a recent trial at Flemington suggesting that she is close to her best form. The five year old possesses good tactical speed so expect rider Dwayne Dunn to fire her out from the barriers into a prominent position and run a bold race.


RACE 2 NO.14 SHANDY

SHANDY has returned to racing in stunning form and can complete a hat trick of wins when she contests the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m). The five year old has always displayed glimpses of good talent but looks fully mature now and her results replicate this. After a solid first-up win over 1300 metres at Bendigo on July 29, the daughter of Fiorente scored a dominant win under a light ride over 1400 metres at Sandown Hillside on August 12. The step up in distance looks ideal and elite rider Jamie Kah retains the ride. SHANDY is in a rich vein of form and represents the best bet of the day.


RACE 4 NO.6 JUNIPAL

JUNIPAL will be fitter for one run back from a spell and looks the one to beat when he tackles the Open Handicap (1600m). The son of Reset hit the line nicely when finishing a first-up 3rd behind SHOWMANSHIP over 1400 metres at Caulfield on August 15. He won at this meeting last year so the tight track holds no fears for him. The Maher/ Eustace stable has maintained a high level of excellence in recent seasons, however the stable has never gone better than it has in the past two months. JUNIPAL is a good class galloper that appears superbly placed in this race and looks one of the better bets of the day.

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