Australian Racing: Lady Potato Head can put smiles on faces

There are five meetings set to take place, including eight-race cards at Warwick, Moruya and on the synthetic track at Pakenham.

Race 6 Moruya

Fourth Spargo @ 3.20

Race 6 Warwick

Silver Pearl @ 5.50

Race 4 Pakenham

Lady Potato Head @ 2.50

Spargo to score at Moruya

The sixth race on the Moruya card is a 1020m Benchmark 66 handicap set to take place on a good 4 track.

Acheson won his first two starts this prep and is expected to have his supporters, with the first of those victories coming over 1210m in a Class 1 handicap held on a heavy 8 track.

The four-year-old duly followed up with a two-length triumph stepped up to 1400m when encountering similar underfoot conditions at Gundagai.

Acheson arrives here on the back of a down the field effort when attempting to make all in a 1300m metro Class 3 handicap at Rosehill just under two weeks ago.

Keith Dryden’s representative raced on a soft 6 track that day and should have no issues with the quicker going forecast here on his first start over shorter than 1200m.

With the distance and a wide alley in mind, preference is for FOURTH SPARGO. who has been in good form in recent starts, including when runner-up at Muswellbrook three starts back.

The five-year-old met with interference at the start when contesting a Benchmark 66 handicap over 1280m that day and she dropped back in trip to salute over this course and distance subsequently.

Fourth Spargo recorded a victory by over a length when racing at Class 2 level on a soft 5 surface on that occasion.

The mare followed up that course victory with a third in a Class 3 handicap over this track and trip on a soft 6 surface here.

Nick Heywood, booked to ride here, was on board for both of those course efforts and with the quicker going expected here no issue his mount is selected to record her third career win.

Pearl to salute at Warwick

Warwick are set to race on a good 4 track with the sixth race of the day a 1350m Benchmark 64 handicap.

Private Banker showed good form earlier this year, including when winning over 1300m in a Benchmark 62 handicap at Toowoomba in February.

The six-year-old placed in the top three in all three subsequent starts that prep, including when runner-up over this distance at Warwick at the start of April.

Pirate Banker was beaten less than half-a-length that day and faded when seventh over 1400m at Gatton on his return to action earlier this month.

The son of Capitalist has improved for his first start back in the past and improvement is expected in this event.

However, SILVER PEARL is the pick on this occasion on her first start back from a lengthy absence.

The mare broke through for her first win when saluting in a five runner 1650m handicap at Beaudesert at the end of December 2022.

Silver Pearl raced on a soft 6 track that day and, while she has made just one subsequent race appearance, that was a winning one when saluting at Sunshine Coast in April last year.

The five-year-old dropped to 1200m for a Class 1 handicap that day with the pick racing on wet tracks on each occasion.

Lauren Abbott’s mare demonstrated improvement in her second barrier trial back when fifth over 1200m at Deagon earlier this month and that should have put her spot on for this race.

Regular pilot Georgina Cartwright is again set to ride and her mount is taken to record the third win of her career.

Lady for Pakenham victory

The fourth race at Pakenham is an interesting 1400m maiden plate with LADY POTATO HEAD taking the eye for the Phillip Stokes stable.

The filly failed to shine when contesting a 1250m barrier trial on the Parks track at Morphettville in February but demonstrated improved form in two jump outs prior to debuting on 5th August.

This daughter of Boom Time raced from off the pace when racing over this track and trip in that debut effort and she finished strongly to finish third under her jockey here Vlad Duric.

Lady Potato Head was beaten just over half-a-length on that occasion and she is entitled to have improved for that experience.

While barrier 10 isn’t ideal here, she is less exposed than the majority of her rivals and looks up to breaking her maiden at the second attempt.