3 minute read

We're off to Ballarat for Cup Day and, as is typically the case, there's some deep betting races on the card.

The Cup itself is intriguing, with multiple chances and angles, but we find our bet of the day 40 minutes later in the 3&4yo Classic over 1100m. 

There we see the Coolmore form step out for the first time, with Li'l Kontra the one given the honour of being the first to showcase what was undoubtedly one of the race's of the spring.  

Li'l Kontra  was no match at all for the first three past the post there, but they are all stamped as top-liners, and there were no less than four stakes-winners among the talented group in behind the fourth-placed Li'l Kontra. 

The time they ran looks exceptional and despite missing the top three for the first time in her career it looks as good as anything Li' Kontra has done to date, backing up her strong second in the Blue Sapphire at Caulfield. 

Those two ratings stand her out back sharply in class on Saturday with Star Fall the one nearest to her on peak figures but he has to concede race fitness to the filly who looks a good gamble to run her number back at 1100m. 

It's a good day for each-way punters, with no shortage of options that fit that bill. We will stick with the promising three-year-old theme for our best each way play, with Rocking Eagle making some appeal in the fifth on the card, the Eureka Stockade.  

Can't Be Done  heads the betting and heads the ratings but he does have to jump from 1000m to 1400m which must be of some cornern, and if that results in him running below his top then Rocking Eagle  looks well placed to take advantage. 

There are no less than five last-start winners in the race but none have a figure to match Rocking Eagle's second last time out where he was arguably stiff not to win and the filly that knocked him off ran well in a good race last week after holding her place in the market. That all reads well and each way odds appeal on the strength of it. 

THE MELBOURNE MAIL 

Bet Of The Day: Race 9 #11 Li'l Kontra @ $3.00

Each Way Play: Race 5 #5 Rocking Eagle @ $8.50