FAMINE TO FEAST FOR US TODAY

From famine to feast for us today with nine runners at two venues during the day and then later tonight.

Aladdin’s Lamp, Do I, Kiyaya, Lady In The Sky, Sigourney and Unleash all travel to the day meeting at Ararat with Philadelphia Storm, New Hampshire and Settevelli under the lights at Pakenham.

Aladdin’s Lamp gets our day started in the first race at Ararat over 1608 metres under Madison Lloyd.

“She’s a work in progress and I have added blinkers to her today to help her focus,” Mike said.

“She has tended to race a bit upside down so far and she will present a fitter filly today so I’m looking for her to show us some improvement.”

Unleash runs in the second race over the same 1608 metres with John Allen aboard and she pleased Mike with her last start at Kilmore.

“I was encouraged by her last run at Kilmore where she was last passing halfway over 1600 metres and then ran on nicely to be beaten under four lengths.

“He handled the soft ground there fine so with natural improvement I’d like to think she can run a nice race today.”

Do I will be ridden by Fred Kersley in the third race over 1308 metres. “He’s actually raced better than the bare figures suggest, he was beaten just over three lengths last start at Pakenham when he finished seventh and he has shown us enough at home to suggest he shouldn’t still be a maiden and hopefully he can turn things around today.”

Kersley is also aboard Kiyaya in the fifth race over 2208 metres and Mike is looking forward to trying him at today’s distance.

“He’s another one that needs to show us some improvement but I was encouraged by his last start over 1887 metres at Kyneton where he made ground late and hopefully the extra distance today will help him into the placings.”

Dakota Keane again partners Lady In The Sky in the sixth race over 2208 metres. “She’s building on her preparation second up and Dakota gave her a good ride last start when she was first-up at Cranbourne,” Mike said. “Today’s trip will suit her much better and she taken nice improvement from her first-up run so it would be no surprise to me to see her run well today.”

Sigourney rounds out our day in the ninth race over 1608 metres with Dean Holland in the saddle. “She’s bursting to win a race after two decent efforts this preparation and she ran well last start at Cranbourne, making ground in the straight to finish third with the winner going on to group 3 placed in Adelaide last Saturday so a repeat of that form should see her in the finish here.”

At Pakenham New Hampshire is in the third race over 1200 metres with Jordan Childs to ride. “To be honest I’m surprised he’s still a maiden as he’s shown us good ability at home but he’s a gelding now and he only just missed last time out at Geelong,” Mike said. “The third horse there went on to win at Sandown during the week so a repeat effort should make hime one of the ones to beat tonight.”

Settevelli is in race five over 1200 metres and also partnered by Jordan Childs. “He’s a horse we like and he won on debut at Pakenham before a good fourth at Sandown after which we put him in the paddock to mature,” Mike said. “He’s pleased so far, whatever he does tonight he will improve on but all things being equal I’m anticipating he will run well.”

Philadelphia Storm runs in race seven with Zac Spain aboard. “I’ll admit I was a little disappointed with him last start where he finished fourth here as favourite but he’s fitter tonight and I’ll be looking for him to bounce back - certainly his best form is good enough to be winning.”