A Flemington Trio

Race 3 kicks off our day with Bancory Bay taking his place in a BM70 1600m contest with Jy McNeil aboard from barrier 1.

He ran a nice race in a similar contest at The Heath last time out and looks suited on the bigger circuit that is his home track.

Having his fifth run for the campaign, the lightly raced and talented three-year-old “continues to improve fitness wise,” with Glen noting that “he has worked well this week and we are really happy with him - he heads to the races in good order.”

Still a tad green at his latest outings, Bancory Bay has the blinkers going on today - “hopefully they can just sharpen him up a bit and get him doing everything right,” Glen said.

“If he can do that he can be right in the mix. He is a horse we know has good ability, he just needs things to go his way in what looks to be an open race with a few in good form.”

“Jye should be able to have him wherever he is comfortable and hopefully we see the best of him.”

This time last year Big Watch was, at the same stage of his current campaign (third up), a winner down the Flemington straight and we are hoping for a case of Deja vu today!

To jump from barrier 5 with Daniel Stackhouse aboard, the five-year-old Shamus Award gelding won another race at Headquarters after that win so we are excited to have him back this favourite track.

“We know he really likes the straight,” Glen said, “so hopefully he can bounce back to his best.”

“He has been racing well without a lot of luck but they all get their chance down the straight so we expect him to run very well.”

It was great to have Bankers Choice back in winning form at Moonee Valley last start and we are hopeful that he can make it two in a row as he contests the 8th race on the Flemington card, a BM100 over 2000m.

It’s a similar race to that which he won in strong fashion last time out and he has pleased us since.

“He is nice and bright and heads to the races in as good a shape as last time,” Glen said, “so hopefully he can reproduce that run.”

“We will adopt similar tactics, roll forward and hopefully give them something to catch. There are a few chances in the race but we think that he is the best horse in the race.”

Which his form in Group company certainly attests!

Mark Zahra, who has teamed with Bankers Choice (pictured courtesy of Racing Photos) for a Group 2 second, reunites with the gelding who jumps from barrier 8.