Australian Racing: Lord Domino can knock over the competition

There are three meetings set to take place on Tuesday, including an eight-race card at Benalla.

Race 5 Benalla

Lord Domino @ 5.00

Race 7 Newcastle

One Beat No Beat @ 5.50

Race 5 Gatton

Hit ‘Em Up @ 3.50

Domino for Benalla glory

The fifth race of the day is a 1612m Benchmark 64 handicap set to take place on a soft 5 surface.

Patrick Payne’s representative Greta Moon won twice last season and is expected to jump as favourite for this contest.

The first of those wins came by two lengths in a 1600m Benchmark 58 handicap held on a good 4 track at Moe in December.

Greta Moon went on to complete a double when successful in a metro Benchmark 70 handicap over 1700m at Flemington the following month.

The daughter of Puissance De Lune drops in grade here, following a seventh over 1400m on the Lakeside track at Sandown when contesting a Benchmark 70 handicap first up.

A step forward is expected here, however, LORD DOMINO is the pick to register a win for the Peter Burgun stable.

The gelding recorded a victory on a heavy 8 surface when contesting a Benchmark 64 handicap over 1600m at Bendigo three starts back.

Lord Domino raced close to the speed on that occasion and followed it up with an eighth in a 15-runner 1600m Benchmark 74 handicap at Moonee Valley subsequently.

This son of Trust In A Gust put that Moonee Valley effort behind him, when three lengths third in a 1500m Benchmark 64 handicap at Bendigo.

The soft 5 track here is no issue and jumping from barrier nine he looks capable of providing jockey Hannah Le Blanc with a winner.

Beat to resume with Newcastle win

The finale at Newcastle is a Benchmark 64 handicap set to take place over 1200m on a good 4 surface.

Tinka’s Lad will jump from next to the rail and he is expected to have his supporters having demonstrated good form last year.

Tinka’s Lad’s efforts in 2023 included a win by a length when contesting a 1200m Benchmark 68 handicap on a good 4 track in June of that year.

The seven-year-old made his first start in nearly a year when finishing a good fourth back at Kembla Grange in a 1200m Benchmark 64 handicap last month.

Kim Waugh’s representative is expected to have improved for that effort, however, preference is for ONE BEAT NO BEAT.

The filly has demonstrated her best form in recent times at Muswellbrook, registering her third win there in the last year when scoring over 1450m there at the start of May.

One Beat No Beat came home over a length clear of her rivals when contesting a Benchmark 74 handicap on a soft 6 track that day.

Apprentice Mitch Stapleford, on board that day, was again in the saddle when the pick came home fourth over 1600m in a Scone Class 3 handicap.

The daughter of Jukebox has been spelled since recording a good effort, when racing wide throughout prior to finishing a close second over 1500m at Rosehill in June.

One Beat No Beat has placed on both previous first up starts and she looks capable of returning to action with a victory.

Campton gelding to salute at Gatton

The fifth race at Gatton is an interesting 1400m Benchmark 60 handicap event.

A soft 6 track is expected for the 11-runner contest, with HIT ‘EM UP taking the eye for the Adam Campton stable.

The four-year-old demonstrated good form on the polytrack at Gold Coast in November, winning twice over 1540m including in a Class 1 handicap event.

However, the gelding has made just three starts since, with two of those seeing him disappointing at that venue, including when seventh of eighth over 1540m in early April.

Hit ‘Em Up was spelled following that effort and, while he failed to shine in two barrier trials, he showed improvement when runner-up over 1400m here last month.

The son of Mikki Isle contested a Benchmark 65 handicap that day and, dropping in grade and with an inside alley, he is taken to record his first win of 2024.