Our recent run of form continued over the ANZAC Day weekend with four winners globally, including Ottoman Emperor, My Swashbuckler and progressive staying prospects Blue Ocean and Amade, who saluted for trainer Phillip Stokes and rising hoop Ben Allen.
Aquilo capped off the week with an impressive win to break his maiden at Geelong on Friday afternoon under Dean Yendall for Matt Cumani.
This weekend, six runners will step out across Australia, France and Ireland. The OTI team of gallopers will feature at Morphettville and Sandown on Saturday and Bendigo, Paray-le-Monial (FR) and Sligo (IRE) on Sunday.
SATURDAY
Morphettville
King Of Camelot will resume for Strathalbyn-based trainer Kristi Evans over 1600m in a Benchmark 82 Handicap (Race 2 – 12:50 pm). The well-bred French import has drawn superbly in barrier 5 and is likely to settle down midfield with cover under leading local hoop Jake Toeroek. He is proven at a mile, having won on debut in 2017. However, we expect that he will take immense improvement from tomorrow’s run and figure prominently stepping out over 2000 metres and beyond.
Sandown
Talented Redwood filly Yosemite will step out for the Robbie Griffiths and Matthew De Kock stable in a 1000m 3yo Handicap (Race 9 – 4:55 pm). The last start winner has continued to thrive since her impressive effort at Geelong, and we expect her to run a bold race despite rising sharply in class. 2kg claimer Lachlan Neindorf will ride from barrier 8 in a competitve field of 16.
Paray-le-Monial (FR)
The Edouard Monfort-trained Kloster will be out to break his maiden when he resumes here in a 1700m Class 4 affair. (Race 4 – 11:30 pm). Edouard has been delighted with the talented four-year-olds progression this time in, saying that he is continuing to develop into an imposing staying prospect. We expect the son of Style Vendome to prove very competitive, running on strongly from back in the field.
SUNDAY
Bendigo
Miss Chang’e is our sole Australian representative on Sunday, stepping out in a 2200m Benchmark 64 Handicap (Race 5 – 3:15 pm). Trainer Archie Alexander has been pleased by the lightly raced four-year-old’s progress since prevailing last start over 2046m. We expect her to relish the wide-open Bendigo track and work home powerfully out wide under Harry Coffey, bearing she can secure cover from barrier 11.
Sligo (IRE)
The Jessie Harrington-trained Spanish Class has trained on well since her seventh-placed debut effort over 1400m on April 10. With three weeks between runs, she is trending in the right direction. We are confident that she can improve dropping back to 1060m and are hopeful that she can find cover and attack the line with intent.
Stablemate Camphor will line up in 2110m 3yo+ Fillies Handicap on the same program. The ever-consistent Camelot mare is continuing to thrive in the care of Harrington and is glowing in condition ahead of her second-up attempt. She is a proven middle-distance performer and will relish stepping out here with fitness on her side.
We wish connections the best of luck!
