3 minute read

The best bets on the nine-race card in Devonport on Sunday look to be in the first and last races in the form of Strike Impact and Julius.

In Brief

• Julius and Strike Impact loom as the best in Devonport.
• Keating says Strike Impact has done well since his latest outing in Hobart.
• Julius should appreciate dropping back in grade.

The David Keating-trained Strike Impact has been working up to a win and he should get punters off on the right leg in the opening race, the Thai Imperial Maiden/Class 1 over 1880 metres.

The lightly raced four-year-old has been placed at his past three starts and looks well placed in a small field of eight.

"The horse has done well since his last start third in Hobart that was his first try over 2100 metres, but I didn't want him to have make three trips in a row to Hobart, so we've opted to come back slightly in distance and give him a go on the synthetic for the first time," Keating said.

"It was his first try at 2100m last start and they are always better at their next start, so the 1880m trip should be just right, and I don't expect him to have an issue with the synthetic track."

Strike Impact's main dangers appear to be Arcucci that was a last-start second to Zade's Stories over 1400m in Hobart three weeks ago, while Maincourt will be better for his last-start run in Devonport when fifth of eight, but not far from the winner in a maiden-class one over 1650m.

Julius has had two starts this preparation and should appreciate coming back from a benchmark 76 to his own grade, a class three over 1150 metres.

The Barry Campbell-trained five-year-old has had only eight starts for three wins and he should have benefitted from his two runs so far this preparation.

His most recent effort was a fourth to Ethical Dilemma that has won eight races and Julius led and finished only 1.3 lengths from the winner.

The Time for War gelding has had four starts on the synthetic for two wins and as many minor placings and all have been over the 1150-metre trip.

He goes up in weight (54.5kg to 59kg) and has drawn the outside gate (6) but this is a much easier assignment than last start.