3 minute read

Easter Cup Day at Caulfield headlines a big weekend of racing in Victoria and it's a bumper betting card.

The card features several looking to escape the heavy going in Sydney and one of those appeals to us as a good gamble in the fourth on the card; the listed Galilee Series Final. 

Mamounia was well gambled to win the Adrian Knox last time, starting favourite by the time the gates opened, and while she didn't land those bets she did walk away with her reputation enhanced having gone there a month between runs and straight to 2000m from 1300m first up. 

Adding to that was the very testing ground and Mamounia took her time to find her stride when the pressure went on in a race that was slowly run. Ultimately she was no match at all for her stablemate Honeycreeper who won well enough to be sent around favourite in the Oaks last week but Mamounia closed well and gave the impression that 2400m would be well within her compass. 

She finds 2400m on Saturday at Caulfield, back on top of the ground, and the local form - headed by The Cunning Fox - doesn't look up to much. 

The most interesting runner away from her might be another switching south from Sydney in Mediaro who finished on the heels of some smart performers (and a long way from Anamoe...) in the Rosehill Guineas last time but $4.00 Mamounia seems more than acceptable given she has an obvious scenario to improve and may not have to. 

We threw up Grandslam as an each way play at Flemington a month ago and by the time the gates opened he was a very un-each-way $2.88... He nicked a place, perhaps handy for those that took early prices but useless for the majority. 

The run was a touch disappointing, beaten fair and square by Pondus who goes again here, but that market support is a bit of a hint and he can be better for that run at 2000m. 

It was certainly an improvement on the first up run and a sign that a return to his peak from 12 months ago was still within range and perhaps right around the corner. Perhaps as soon as now. Double figure prices early doors are too generous to resist a nibble and he will surely be available to back at solid each way prices closer to the jump - particularly with a little map query. 

We go again.... 

THE MELBOURNE MAIL 

Bet Of The Day: Race 4 @ #12 Mamounia @ $4.00

Each Way Play: Race 7 #12 Grandslam @ $10.00ish