Australian Racing: Lordosis can lead the way at Launceston

There are a number of meetings set to take place on Friday, including at Port Macquarie where it’s Cup Day.

Race 8 Port Macquarie

Touristic @ 5.00

Race 7 Cranbourne

Lievore @ 4.80

Race 7 Launceston

Lordosis @ 3.20

Touristic for Cup glory

The previously mentioned Port Macquarie Cup comes up as the penultimate race on a nine-race card.

This 2000m event has attracted a field of 12, with Raf Attack expected to start favourite for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott team.

The four-year-old has registered three top-four finishes from four starts this prep, with the exception coming when racing first up over 1300m at Rosehill in August.

Raf Attack likely found the trip on the sharp side despite being beaten just one-and-a-half-lengths that day and he placed third over 1900m at Rosehill last time.

That Rosehill effort came in a Benchmark 88 handicap held on a soft 6 track and he should have no issues with the soft 5 going expected for this event.

Rachel King’s mount has won at a higher level in the past, with his most recent success coming in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes at Randwick just under a year ago.

While he rates a worthy favourite, particularly receiving weight from his two biggest rivals, preference is for TOURISTIC in this event.

The six-year-old has to concede five-kilograms to Raf Attack, however, he has been in good form since winning a 2000m Benchmark 78 handicap at Mornington in June.

Touristic went on to finish runner-up in three subsequent outings, with two of those coming at Listed level.

The second of those Listed efforts saw the pick beaten less than a length in the 2350m Grafton Cup, held on a good 4 track at Grafton in July.

A second in Randwick’s Premier’s Cup over this distance followed, prior to a disappointing sixth of seventh in the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup.

Ashley Morgan rides the import for the first time here, with his mount taken to record his second win of the year.

Lievore to claim Plate

They are also set to race at Cranbourne with the $100,000 No Fuss Event Hire Pinker Pinker Plate the feature race.

The 2025m contest is the seventh race of the day, with Andrea Leek’s One Dream One Soul expected to have her supporters.

This mare recorded a narrow victory over 1600m when contesting a Benchmark 74 handicap at Moonee Valley last month.

The six-year-old has made just one start subsequently, delivering a creditable four length fifth on the Hillside track at Sandown just under two weeks ago.

One Dream One Soul raced over 1800m in a Benchmark 78 handicap that day and she holds obvious claims with the blinkers worn last time removed.

Fellow six-year-old LIEVORE takes the eye here however, having recorded top-three finishes in all four starts since a fourth on Pakenham’s synthetic track first up in July.

Those four efforts include three second-place finishes, with the most recent of those coming in a Benchmark 78 handicap held over 1800m at Flemington last month.

Trained by Nikki Burke, the mare has a good barrier here, having been beaten less than half-a-length by One Dream One Soul when third at Moonee Valley prior.

The extra distance shouldn’t pose too many issues in this contest and, racing on her home track, she is selected to record the fourth win of her career.

Lordosis to salute first up

Tasmania are set to play host to the sole metro meeting of the day, with eight-races scheduled for Launceston.

In the penultimate race of the day, LORDOSIS is set to make his seasonal reappearance, having demonstrated good form last prep.

The gelding won twice last campaign, including when breaking his maiden over 1200m on a good 4 track here in November.

This pick’s subsequent success saw him take out a 1200m Class 1 handicap at Hobart two starts later.

While the five-year-old was beaten by five-and-a-half-lengths here over 1600m when last in action in April, he gets a drop back in distance for this event.

Lordosis has placed in the top three in all three first up appearances and he is taken to resume with a win for trainer John Keys.