Australian Racing: Maximum Vortex can blow away rivals

There are three meetings scheduled for Tuesday with Hamilton, Quirindi and Ballina all set to stage racing action.

Race 8 Hamilton

Long Lost Friend @ 8.00

Race 5 Quirindi

Movin’ Denman @ 2.80

Race 6 Ballina

Maximum Vortex @ 4.00

Friend for Hamilton success

The concluding race on the Hamilton card is a 1400m Benchmark 58 handicap set to take place on a good 4 track.

Dantooine is expected to have his supporters in this contest, having resumed with a good third-place finish over 1100m at St Arnaud in October.

The four-year-old gelding was beaten just under four-and-a-half-lengths on that occasion and followed it up with a fifth when stepped up to 1300m at Bendigo subsequently.

This son of Rebel Dane raced on a soft 5 surface when contesting a Class 1 handicap on that occasion and should have no issues returning to a sound surface.

Apprentice Jordyn Weatherley, on board for both starts this prep, is again set to ride however the gelding looks opposable with LONG LOST FRIEND preferred on this occasion.

The filly returned to action with a good third when beaten just over half-a-length in a 1200m Benchmark 58 handicap at Warrnambool in September.

While the pick proved a disappointment when only seventh at the same venue subsequently, she was beaten just one-and-a-half-lengths when fifth in an 1100m event next time.

Mark O’Donnell’s filly registered her second top three finish this prep when third in an 1100m Benchmark 58 handicap at Mortlake on her penultimate start.

Jockey Jarrod Fry, set to ride here, rode for the first time when the selection broke through for her second win when stepped up to 1335m at Geelong last month.

The daughter of Shamoline Warrior should have no issues with the 1400m distance here and, jumping from two off the rail, she looks up to completing a double.

Denman for Quirindi glory

The fifth race at Quirindi is a 1000m Benchmark 58 handicap which is expected to see Mrs Ed feature prominently in the betting.

Allan Kehoe’s mare registered a win on the forecast soft 6 going when contesting a 1200m Benchmark 58 handicap at Moree in early June.

The five-year-old won by two lengths on that occasion and, while unable to replicate that success in four subsequent starts last prep, she did deliver some respectable efforts in defeat.

MOVIN’ DENMAN is preferred in this event however, with the gelding arriving here race fit having made five starts so far this prep.

The six-year-old finished runner-up in the first four of those, including when beaten less than half-a-length over 1000m in a Benchmark 58 handicap at Muswellbrook on his penultimate start.

This son of Denman broke through for his first win since January when victorious by a length in a similar race to this over course and distance.

That track and trip triumph came on a good 4 track, however, the softer going expected here is no issue having gone well on wet tracks in the past.

Rodney Ollerton’s representative boasts a good barrier here and is taken to record the sixth win of his career.

Vortex for Ballina victory

Ethan Ensby is set to saddle MAXIMUM VORTEX in the penultimate race on the Ballina card.

The race in question is a 1300m Benchmark 82 handicap set to take place on a soft 5 surface.

Maximum Vortex showed that he handles wet tracks when runner-up in a similar race to this held on a soft 7 surface over 1190m at Grafton in May.

While unable to shine in two subsequent starts that prep, the five-year-old has been in good form this time around including when runner-up at Beaudesert on his return to action.

Apprentice Siena Grima took the ride when Maximum Vortex finished three lengths clear of his rivals in a 1206m Benchmark 82 handicap at Grafton last time.

The son of Kuroshio raced close to the speed at Grafton and, stepping up slightly in distance, looks capable of completing a double.