FEATURE RACE RUNNERS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY

Four winning chances for us at Flemington on New Year’s Day including Swords Drawn and Not An Option in the feature Listed races.

The time-honoured Bagot is over 2800 metres and Daniel Stackhouse is aboard Swords Drawn (pictured) with Mike Moroney encouraged by a strong piece of work on Tuesday.

“He worked well on the steeple grass and has come out of that in good order,” Mike explained. “His last two runs have been solid in stakes races and he will better suited by the step up in distance today.

“Today’s race looks pretty even to me but our horse is fit and well and he’s there with a chance.”

Not An Option is in the Chester Manifold Stakes over 1400 metres with Michael Dee to ride.

“He’s racing well without a lot of luck,” Mike said. “He continues to work well and is holding his condition.

“He finds himself in a similar field to last start and back on his favourite track with any luck in running, I think he can go close.”

Whiskey On The Hill is the first to go in the fifth race over 1800 metres with Blake Shinn to ride.

“We were not disappointed at all with his Australian debut at Sandown and he has trained on very well since,” Mike said.

“He will present much fitter today, will appreciate the extra trip and has Blake to help him.

“The inside barrier could make things a wee bit awkward however, with ordinary luck in running I do think he is a strong winning chance.”

Tasman Park rounds out our day in race eight over 1400 metres and with the advantage of Celine Gaudrey’s claim.

“Both his runs this preparation have been good and he has trained on very well since his last run at Caulfield and is in very good order,” Mike said.

“It appears a similar field to last start, the tricky part is the barrier but the scratchings have helped us there and he should prove hard to beat.”