Australian Racing: Goodwin's Star to shine at Ballarat

There are four race meetings set to take place on Tuesday including at Ballarat where the synthetic track is in use.

They also race at Cairns, Port Macquarie and Wyong.

Race 6 Ballarat

Albanian Star @ 3.60

Race 6 Wyong

Zip On By @ 3.00

Race 4 Port Macquarie

Lord Akomeed @ SP

Ballarat prospects bright for Albanian Star

The sixth race on the Ballarat card is a 1500m Benchmark 64 handicap contest.

Peru is expected to have his supporters for the Ben, JD & Will Hayes team as he seeks his first win this prep.

The three-year-old has been contesting stronger races than this, however, including when sixth in a 1600m Benchmark 0-64 handicap at Pakenham last month.

The son of Brazen Beau was beaten just over four lengths that day and he arrives here on the back of a down-the-field effort over 1600m at Flemington earlier this month.

While this looks like an easier contest, he has to concede weight to his rivals here on his first outing on a synthetic surface.

The Reece Goodwin-trained ALBANIAN STAR is preferred here, with the mare having won twice this prep including first up at Balnarring in March.

While the five-year-old failed to shine at Donald early last month he has recorded two good efforts since including when fifth over 1400m at Echuca.

The Scissor Kick mare was beaten just one-and-a-half-lengths when competing in a Benchmark 52 handicap that day and she raced on the synthetic track here last time.

The 3.60 mare jumped from next to the rail when delivering a victory by just under half-a-length in a Benchmark 58 handicap that day and she steps up in grade here.

Alana Kelly placed on the pick over 1200m here in April and she looks up to steering the mare to victory when jumping from barrier eight.

Zip On By ready to score at Wyong

A soft 5 track is expected at Wyong, with the sixth race on the card a 1300m Benchmark 68 handicap.

Mitchell Beer & apprentice Holly Durnan can boast a near 26% strike-rate (10/39) together and they team up with Dumebi here.

The four-year-old broke through for his first win when successful by nearly three lengths in a Benchmark 64 handicap held over 1350m at Beaudesert in December.

The gelding was racing third up that day and he was spelled following a seventh in a 1400m Benchmark 72 handicap held on the Kensington track at Randwick in January.

The son of Lonhro gets a drop in grade on his return to action here, however, ZIP ON BY is preferred in this event.

The daughter of Sebring performed well when racing first up last prep and she resumed with a good second over 1000m at Gosford at the end of last month.

The 3.00 selection was beaten less than half-a-length when racing in a Benchmark 64 handicap on a heavy surface that day.

While you have to go back to June 2023 to find the Kylie Gavenlock-trained mare’s most recent win, she showed good form last time out and has won second up in the past.

An inside barrier is a further positive here and, with the forecast wet going no issue, Mollie Fitzgerald’s mount looks up to recording the third win of her career.

Lord Akomeed to deliver Port Macquarie win

The fourth race at Port Macquarie is a 1206m Benchmark 58 handicap expected to take place on a soft 5 track.

Akeed Mofeed gelding LORD AKOMEED has been in good form this prep including when completing a double in saluting in a Benchmark 50 handicap here in April.

The four-year-old raced over 1106m when winning by just under half-a-length that day and he followed that up with a runner-up finish on heavy going here eight days later.

The selection was beaten just under three-and-a-half-lengths when contesting a 1200m Benchmark 58 handicap on that occasion.

While Neil Godbolt’s representative failed to shine when only eighth over this course and distance nine days ago he can be forgiven that below par effort.

Ben Looker, on board for the previously mentioned Benchmark 50 win rides for the first time since and he looks up to returning to winning ways.