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Weekly News: Warrnambool Carnival Preview

Please click below to watch our weekly news and Warrnambool Carnival preview with Shayne Driscoll.

OTI’s Warrnambool Runner’s Preview

‘The ‘Bool” race week kicks off today for OTI with Romanesque and Etna in the BM78 over 2350m. Having drawn barriers 15 and 12 respectively, jockeys William Pike and Fred Kersley will be looking to jump and find cover before working home strongly. Both jockeys hail from WA and have ridden competitively in Victoria, with the grandson of the great trainer Fred Kersley (Snr) basing himself in Melbourne taking the ride on Romanesque.

Romanesque comes into the race with plenty of fitness, having had three starts to kick off his campaign. He continues to look for further, so we hope to see an improved effort over the 2350m journey. Etna also comes into this race off the back of a few runs this preparation and his racing history also suggests he will relish in the distance on offer. Both horses will need to improve on their recent form, however the track surface will be primed for the first day of the carnival and provide plenty of give which will be well appreciated by our European bred runners.

Wednesday sees Harbour Views have his first career start in the 1400m maiden. After arriving in Australia he has been placed in the care of local Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams. Winning a race at ‘The ‘Bool’ is always a career highlight in front of your home crowd, so Williams has set the tone of the race with a total of four runners contesting the 1400m race. Harbour Views has taken well to the beach lifestyle, so we hope to see just what he is capable of on the track.

Warrnambool Cup Day is always the highlight of the carnival and the day begins for OTI with So Far Sokool stepping out in the 1400m Open Handicap for trainer Archie Alexander. Her recent first-up effort this preparation saw her run a solid third place at Terang and in carrying the light weight of 54kg, she looks well placed in this race at Warrnambool. We hope to see her settle well and power home under jockey Declan Bates.

The second last event of the day sees OTI with four runners in the Warrnambool Cup. With all horses drawing wide we hope that they are able to find some luck in running and score a handy trifecta as they pass the post!

Plymouth Road is making the trip down from Sydney to take on the quality field. Like the other horses representing OTI in the race, Plymouth Road enjoys a bit of cut in the ground so it is hoped the soft surfaces remain for the week. Trainer Matt Smith is pleased with his progress since his last start win and is looking forward to seeing him hit his straps as he nears peak fitness.

Joining Plymouth Road is Instigator, Azuro and Romanesque. Backing up from his Warrnambool start on carnival Tuesday, Romanesque will follow a similar path in that of last season. It would be great to see him regain his 2018 carnival form after he ran a strong second in the BM78 over a similar distance, then a third in the 2018 edition of the Warrnambool Cup.

Instigator has tapered off in form in recent weeks after a solid third place run in the Colac Cup back in February. Trainer Aaron Purcell feels that the soft track and distance will suit and hopes to see him bounce back for the big one!

Lastly Azuro looks set to contest the Cup for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace after an impressive, fast-finishing third place at Sandown last start to fellow OTI runner Wee Gilly. The French bred by Myboycharlie, takes plenty of racing to reach his peak fitness, so to see him finish so well this early in his preparation gives us every indication he will be competitive this week.

We look forward to seeing you at the track this week for the Warrnambool Carnival and wish our connections all the best with their favoured runners.