Australian Racing: Bat Out Of Hell can swoop to Canterbury win

There are a number of meetings set to take place on Friday including metro fixtures at both Canterbury and Moonee Valley.

Race 7 Canterbury

Bat Out Of Hell @ 3.50

Race 4 Moonee Valley

Bellakai @ 9.00

Race 4 Cranbourne

Room For Bingo @ 3.00

Bat out of Hell to fly home at Canterbury

The most valuable race on the Canterbury card is the penultimate race of the day, a 1550m Benchmark 78 handicap.

A good 4 track is expected for the race, with Inquiring Minds expected to feature prominently in the betting.

The five-year-old showed good form in his first prep racing in Australia, including when winning on a soft 6 surface at Warwick Farm in May.

Inquiring Minds faced just five rivals that day, having previously lost out narrowly when second in a 1500m Benchmark 64 handicap at Kembla Grange.

While the son of Kingman failed to make much impact in two subsequent outings that prep, he returned to action with a triumph in a track and trip Benchmark 72 handicap last month.

Zac Wadick’s mount rates highly here, however, Bjorn Baker’s BAT OUT OF HELL is the pick on this occasion.

Bat Out Of Hell is a consistent sort, finishing in the first three in three of his last four starts.

The sole exception came when fourth of six over this distance in a Benchmark 78 handicap at Kensington on his penultimate outing.

This five-year-old arrives here on the back of a third in the previously mentioned course contest and he looks up to reversing from with Inquiring Minds in this race.

Bat Out Of Hell boasts a good barrier here and with Rachel King, on board for two of his last three starts up, he looks up to returning to winning ways.

Bellakai to salute at The Valley

The fourth race at Moonee Valley is a 2500m Benchmark 64 handicap set to take place on a good 4 surface.

Anthony & Sam Freedman are represented by the ex-European galloper Galilaeus in this contest.

The five-year-old is without a win in five starts since switching hemispheres but is expected to jump as favourite racing second up.

This gelding performed well when beaten less than two lengths into fourth in a 3000m handicap at this venue in February.

Jamie Mott is set to ride here, with his mount having finished fifth when contesting a 2400m Benchmark 74 handicap held on a soft 6 track at Sandown in June when last in action.

Preference on this occasion is for the Symon Wilde-trained mare BELLAKAI, who steps up to metro company here.

The mare performed well when saluting by over a length when contesting a 2065m Benchmark 70 handicap at Mount Gambier three starts back.

A good second place finish over 2400m in a similar event at Geelong followed prior to a below par effort when eighth at Ballarat last month.

Bellakai has been freshened since that Ballarat effort and she should have no issues with the 2500m distance she is set to tackle here.

The daughter of Fiorente raced on a good 4 track at Geelong and, with similar underfoot conditions expected here, she is selected to record her fourth career win.

Rom for Bingo to salute at Cranbourne

The fourth race at Cranbourne plays host to our third selection, with ROOM FOR BINGO the pick to deliver a second up success in a 1000m Benchmark 64 handicap.

This four-year-old placed second twice in maiden company here, prior to breaking through for her first win in a track and trip maiden at the end of May.

Room For Bingo raced on a soft 5 track that day but has since proven she handles quicker going, having finished fourth on the Heath track at Caulfield when racing first up this prep.

The filly lost out by just under three lengths when contesting a Restricted 64 handicap over 1000m on that occasion.

Regular rider Remi Tremsal is again set to ride here and the pair look capable of recording their second win together.