OTI is excited to be represented by one of its own in The Meteorite on Saturday, with Cloudland set to line up in the inaugural running of the $1 million slot race.
The Meteorite, a 1200m contest under Set Weights & Penalties, will see 14 sprinters compete at Cranbourne on Saturday. It marks the first leg of the new Southside Slot Series, with the second race, The Supernova (1400m), set to follow at Pakenham on December 21.
After what was an extensive selection process, we were delighted to lock in Cloudland and involve his owners in the excitement of such a valuable event.
Fresh off a strong victory in the Subzero Handicap at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, he heads into Saturday’s challenge in terrific condition.
Cloudland wins the Subzero Handicap on Melbourne Cup Day.
“It was a good, tough win last start, and I thought James McDonald gave him a lovely ride,” trainer Kris Lees told Racing.com on Wednesday. “He was up on the speed and toughed it out well. He’ll need to step up again against some quality opposition, but he’s come through the win in great shape.”
With six career wins to date, Cloudland has always been held in high regard by Kris, although he has not been without his quirks. While Saturday presents as a steep rise in grade, the high-pressure contest should give him every chance to settle during the run and conserve energy for his finishing burst. Mick Dee has been booked to ride and will need to navigate a challenging outside draw.
OTI is proud to support Southside Racing in this fantastic initiative led by CEO Neil Bainbridge and General Manager Alastair Dwyer. The Southside Slot Series is a welcome addition to the racing calendar, with great potential for growth in the coming years.