Pardon the pun, but the Summer series is starting to hot up! It really is fast becoming a big part of the racing calendar and does spark a lot of interest amongst not only locals, but interstate also.
I have talked to a few of our leading trainers and they all point out that our top sprinters are more than capable of matching it with the best, and they used the Spring carnival to make their points. Woorim, Facile Tigre, Phelan Ready and Buffering all went particularly well and more than held their own by winning or placing in group and listed races.
Over the Summer series we should get to see horses like Work The Room, Fillydelphia, Excellantes, Listen Son, Gundy Son, Spirit Of Boom, Ready To Rip, Playtime, Essington and some more really nice horses doing battle in what is a mouth-watering thought for the diehard punters out there. We have had a three week period where a heap of short priced favourites have been winning, however that may not continue when the better races start up and horses return for the series and the magic millions race day in January.
The first two races over 1200m (Keith Noud this weekend and then the George Moore G3). The Lough Neagh over 1350m often see very similar fields engaged and are always cracker jack races. The 1615m Bernborough a week later can see some of the true sprinters avoid that race and can be a slightly weaker race on paper.
From talking to a few trainers and watching some replays from some of the returning horses there are a few I think will run very well. Ready To Rip, Spirit Of Boom and Excellantes will all get in well at the weights as they have this week and I expect them all to be major players over the races up to 1350m.
**A few commitments this week mean it may be a smaller “Punt” section, or even a video preview. It will be hard to back up last weeks 6 winners, but it looks a great card for a bet.