Australian Racing: Mogo to show his Magic

There are four meetings scheduled to take place on Friday, including at Geelong, where 10 races have been scheduled.

Race 8 Geelong

Sun Gift @ 5.50

Race 6 Coffs Harbour

Ostracised @ 7.00

Race 6 Canberra Acton

Mogo Magic @ 2.70

Sun to shine at Geelong

The eighth race of the day at the previously mentioned Geelong meeting is a 2418m Benchmark 64 handicap.

A soft 6 track is expected for the race with the Irish-bred St Vincents Garden is expected to start favourite.

The five-year-old has finished fourth in two of his four starts this prep, including when beaten just five lengths over 2400m at Randwick last time.

The gelding contested a Benchmark 78 handicap held on a heavy track that day and the son of Camelot holds strong claims of recording a win.

Trainer Danny O’Brien saddles SUN GIFT here, with the filly recording her best effort this prep when runner-up at Sandown earlier this month.

The daughter of Savabeel contested a 2400m Benchmark 70 handicap held on the Lakeside course when beaten three-and-a-half-lengths on that occasion.

Prior to that the four-year-old had lost out by a length when recording a fourth-place finish in a similar event held on the Hillside track at Sandown two weeks earlier.

A wide barrier shouldn’t pose too many issues for the filly, who should have no issues with the forecast underfoot conditions in this event.

Jordan Childs, on board last time out, is again set to ride in this event and his mount looks capable of recording a win dropping in grade. 

Ostracised to salute at Coffs Harbour

Testing conditions are expected at Coffs Harbour with a heavy 8 track forecast for their eight-race card.

The sixth race of the day is a Benchmark 82 handicap set to take place over 1305m, with top weight Ocean Alps expected to have her supporters.

This four-year-old registered a respectable eighth place finish when contesting a 1400m Listed race at Gold Coast on her penultimate start.

Paul Shailer’s filly raced on a heavy track that day and came close to recording her seventh career win when runner-up at Casino at the end of last month.

The daughter of Headwater is set to carry top weight in this contest and is expected to go well here. 

OSTRACISED is the selection on this occasion however, having registered second-place finishes in each of his last two starts.

The first of those efforts saw him lose out by a narrow margin, when placing second in an 1100m Benchmark 58 handicap at Inverell. 

Ostracised raced over 1100m on that occasion and went on to deliver another good second place finish when contesting a similar event at Ballina recently.

The son of Divine Prophet raced over 1300m on a heavy surface at Ballina and he has similar underfoot conditions for this event.

Donna Grisedale’s representative has an inside alley for this contest and he looks up to delivering a victory under Andrew Mallyon. 

Magic for Canberra glory

The sixth race at Canberra Acton is a 1280m event set to take place on a synthetic surface. 

MOGO MAGIC takes the eye in this one, having recorded a good effort at this venue when making his synthetic track debut here earlier this month.

The five-year-old lost out by a narrow margin when placing second over 1206m on that occasion having been racing in stronger events prior.

Those previous efforts included a last of nine in an 1100m Group 3 contest at Rosehill two starts earlier.

Scott Collings’ representative has a decent barrier for this contest, with the extra distance here not expected to pose an issue.

Apprentice Dale Cole, on board last time out, again takes four kilograms off the pick’s back, with the pair looking capable of delivering his sixth career win.