3 minute read
Recent stable addition Kingsheir looks well placed to make a winning debut for the Chris Waller yard when set to contest the ninth event at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Formerly trained by Team Hawkes, Kingsheir has displayed good ability in nine starts winning three and placing on a further four occasions.
At his last start he only went down narrowly when finishing second behind the Maher & Eustace trained Mayfair Spirit.
Kept fresh (52 days) he drops back to the mile and has been kept ticking over with a soft trial at Rosehill behind subsequent winner Shihonka.
Finds himself in an open affair but looks well treated down in the weights and expect him to react well fresh (his three career wins have been first or second up).
Looks to get the perfect run on the map and is expected to get a jump on the majority of his main rivals.
Three of his last four starts see him rated (weight adjusted) as the horse to beat and you'd be surprised if he doesn't have more to offer.
Respect Lackeen off his first up win but he looks to be caught in no man's land from the draw and happy to mark Kingsheir favourite.
I highly doubt the market will flip on Saturday as it's always hard to displace McDonald as favourite but as a result we are getting a better price.
With money back the place he looks a cracking bet as I struggle to see him missing the frame.
In the Gong I concede Count De Rupee is very easy to find however Brock Ryan will need to be at his supreme best to weave a passage from the carpark.
Unlike the Golden Eagle where he got all the favours he faces a completely different scenario on Saturday and looks under the odds as a result.
The David Payne trained Blue Soldier has been completely ignored by the market and maybe rightfully so, it's heavy track Hawkesbury form just pen it – however I can't help but ignore how well he is placed off that win.
It's not like that win was anything new for him either, sure it was new for him down under but it still rated lower than his previous best in Ireland [Old Name: Fort Myers].
In his first start for David Payne he fronted up and ran a Timeform rating of 109, trust me we've checked it, I even made Blencs knock it down 1.5kg this morning.
His previous best for Aidan O'Brien was 113 when third behind Patrick Sarsfield so his win at Hawkesbury was no fluke.
Can he repeat? Well that is the question however we are getting more than fair odds to find out.
He is expected to lead and should be in it for a long way.
Simon Dinopoulos' Tips:
Race 8 #12 Blue Soldier @ $34
Race 9 #17 Kingsheir @ $4.00
