Australian Racing: Kiss Me Ned to love Moe challenge

There's racing action from across the country on Thursday with five meetings on offer, including at Moe, where a nine-race card is scheduled.

Race 6 Moe

Kiss Me Ned @ 5.50

Race 5 Hawkesbury

Irish Bliss @ 4.80

Race 7 Albury

Fifty Five Mustang @ 4.80

Kiss Me Ned looks made for Moe

A good 4 track is expected at Moe, with the sixth race of the day a 1600m Benchmark 58 handicap.

Peter Gelagotis’ Cyclone Harmony is expected to have his supporters, having registered top-three finishes in three of his last four starts.

Those starts include a length success in a Benchmark 58 handicap when racing over this distance on his penultimate outing.

The five-year-old went on to finish third when crossing the border for an 1800m metro Class 2 contest at Morphettville at the start of this month.

Both of those efforts came on a sound surface and he is set to encounter similar conditions here.

The Patrick & Michelle Payne-trained KISS ME NED is preferred here, however, with the mare having recorded two wins so far in 2024.

The first of those saw her break through for her first victory when contesting a 1406m maiden on a good 4 track at Benalla in January.

The 5.50 selection has since proven that she handles softer conditions, including when placed at this Benchmark 58 level at Echuca in June.

The mare has made three starts since that Echuca effort, including when returning from a break in finishing tenth over 1400m at Warrnambool last month.

The daughter of Highland Reel clearly derived benefit from that effort as she recorded her second win at Benalla when stepped up to 1606m a week later.

That latest success came in a Benchmark 58 handicap and she looks capable of completing a double with apprentice Sarah Field booked to ride.

Bliss set to delight at Hawkesbury

The fifth race at Hawkesbury is a 1400m Benchmark 68 handicap set to take place on a soft 5 track.

Fiddlers Green has shown a liking for this venue in the past, registering four top-two finishes from five starts.

The four-year-old is expected to jump as favourite on his first start since finishing fifth of seven over 1600m at Warwick Farm in May.

The gelding was beaten just over five lengths in a Benchmark 68 handicap when racing on a soft 6 track on that occasion.

Trained by Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald, the son of Merchant Navy’s most recent success came over this track and trip in April.

However, his trial efforts ahead of his return to action could have been better and, with that in mind, IRISH BLISS is the selection here.

The gelding came home four-and-a-half-lengths fourth when contesting a 1500m Class 1 handicap at this venue in July.

The 4.80 pick raced on a heavy 8 track that day and lost out by a narrow margin when runner-up on a good 4 surface over 1600m at Kembla Grange subsequently.

Nathan Doyle’s representative was spelled following that effort, but recorded the perfect result on his return to action saluting at Newcastle earlier this month.

The soft 6 track appeared to suit when successful over 1300m that day and the slightly quicker going expected here is no issue.

The four-year-old was won over further in the past and looks capable of registering a victory under Lee Magorrian.

Mustang has the drive for Albury win

The finale at Albury is an interesting 1400m Class 1 handicap event.

A good 4 track is expected for the race, with FIFTY FIVE MUSTANG selected to register his second win.

The five-year-old came home a length clear of his rivals when contesting a 1280m maiden at Muswellbrook in May.

The 4.80 gelding was successful on a soft 6 track that day and has placed second in two of his three subsequent starts.

The pick returned from a spell to record a close second when contesting an 1175m Class 1 handicap at this venue earlier this month.

Luke Pepper’s gelding is expected to appreciate the 1400m distance, having shaped as if further would suit when racing over 1300m in the past.