Australian Racing: Master Of Disguise can sneak past rivals

There are a number of meetings scheduled to take place on Friday including metro fixtures at Moonee Valley, Canterbury and Launceston.

Race 7 Moonee Valley

Garachico @ 5.00

Race 3 Canterbury

Master Of Disguise @ 8.00

Race 6 Launceston

Cinch @ 2.90

Garachico to deliver Valley victory

The most valuable race of the day is the penultimate contest on Moonee Valley’s eight-race card, the Listed Manhari Torney Night Cup 2025.

A field of 12 is set to go to post for the 2500m handicap event with a good 4 track expected at the Melbourne venue.

Deakin is expected to jump as favourite for the Phillip Stokes stable, with the ex-Irish galloper having made just three starts since switching hemispheres.

The five-year-old made his Australian debut over 1600m at Ballarat in December and, having finished seventh that day, he took a step forward when winning at Pakenham two weeks later.

This son of Australia won by three lengths when contesting a 2000m Benchmark 78 handicap at Pakenham and he went on to place second over the same distance at Flemington last month.

Daniel Stackhouse, on board for all three of those efforts, takes the ride once more and he holds obvious claims racing off a nice racing weight.

GARACHICO is the pick here however, having registered wins in each of his last two starts with the first of those wins coming in the 2800m Australian Heritage Cup in early November.

The six-year-old won by half-a-length having jumped at $61 for that contest and he was spelled by connections following that triumph.

Dominic Sutton’s representative placed second in a 1500m barrier trial at Geelong at the end of last month, prior to resuming with a Benchmark 100 win at Caulfield just under two weeks ago.

The gelding raced over 2000m on a good 4 track on that occasion and the extra distance he tackles here is in his favour.

Michael Dee is set to ride for the first time and jumping from barrier three the pair look capable of recording a win.

Disguise for Canterbury glory

The third race at Canterbury is a 1250m Class 3 handicap expected to take place on a good 4 track.

Kaihoko is expected to have his supporters as he seeks his first victory since winning by nearly two lengths over 1600m at Moree in June last year.

The four-year-old returned from a spell with a third when racing over 1250m at Taree at the end of last month.

Kaihoko was beaten less than a length when contesting a Class 4 handicap on a good 4 track on that occasion and he rates highly despite a wide barrier.

Danielle Seib’s MASTER OF DISGUISE is preferred in this event however, having ended last year with back-to-back wins.

The first of those victories saw the filly come home five lengths clear of her nine rivals when contesting an 1175m maiden held on a good 4 surface at Albury.

A change of tactics saw the selection make all on that occasion and she successfully employed similar tactics when taking out a Class 1 handicap at Wagga Riverside 10 days later.

The fourth and fifth from that Wagga Riverside event have both registered wins in the interim with Master Of Disguise arriving here on the back of a second in a Goulburn barrier trial.

This daughter of Xtravagant has been partnered by Pierre Boudvillain in each of her last three starts and she looks capable of completing a hat-trick.

Cinch to claim Oaks

Ben, JD & Will Hayes-trained CINCH takes the eye in the Listed Tasmanian Oaks at Launceston.

The 2100m contest comes up as the sixth race on the card, with the pick having recorded some solid efforts in maiden company prior to breaking her maiden at Sale earlier this month.

Cinch came home two-and-a-half-lengths clear of her eight rivals when contesting a 1732m event held on a good 4 track on that occasion.

The booking of Anthony Darmanin takes the eye here, with his mount having lost out by a narrow margin when runner-up over 1600m in a Pakenham maiden on her penultimate start.

This daughter of Dundeel is expected to appreciate the step up in distance she gets here and she is taken to complete a double.