Australian Racing: Mr Rocket It can reach new heights

There are four meetings for punters to get involved in including at Newcastle where a seven-race card is scheduled.

Race 6 Newcastle

Mr Rock It @ 4.00

Race 7 Seymour

Howlin’ Rain @ 4.80

Race 7 Bunbury

He’s Archie @ 5.00

Rock for Newcastle glory

The penultimate race of the day at Newcastle is an 1150m Benchmark 68 handicap set to take place on a good 4 surface.

Proud Image registered her second win of the year when victorious in the Montrose Mudgee Cup Day Sprint at Mudgee earlier this month and is expected to have her supporters.

The five-year-old came home two lengths clear of her rivals when contesting the 1200m handicap, which was held on a good 4 track on that occasion.

Prior to that, the daughter of Pride Of Dubai had finished sixth when jumping at $31 for an 1100m Benchmark 72 handicap at Canterbury.

While the mare boasts a good barrier here, preference is for the consistent MR ROCK IT who has recorded place efforts in all four starts this prep.

The gelding’s most recent start saw him beaten just under three lengths when contesting a 1250m Benchmark 64 handicap earlier this month.

Mr Rock It raced on a soft 7 surface that day having previously placed third in a 1000m Benchmark 68 handicap at Hawkesbury.

That Hawkesbury third came when racing on a good 4 surface and the selection has a good barrier three from the rail.

Apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald, on board last time out, is again set to ride and she looks up to partnering Robert & Luke Price’s sprinter to his fourth career win.

Rain to register Seymour success

The seventh race of the day at Seymour is a 2000m Benchmark 64 handicap with top weight Cavalry Man expected to feature prominently in the betting.

This four-year-old won his first two starts this prep, including when resuming with a narrow margin victory in a 1600m maiden on a good 4 track here in October.

The gelding duly followed up stepped up to 1856 for a Benchmark 56 handicap held in similar conditions at Kyneton early last month.

Heavy 8 going was likely against the son of So You Think when last of seven over this distance at Kilmore subsequently and better will be expected in this race.

Cindy Alderson’s HOWLIN’ RAIN is preferred on this occasion, having recorded top-three finishes in four of his five starts this season.

The sole exception came when beaten four lengths into fourth when contesting an 1800m Benchmark 70 handicap when racing on the Heath track at Caulfield last month.

This five-year-old went on to deliver a victory when racing over the same course and distance in a Benchmark 64 handicap eight days later, with both of those efforts coming on good 4 going.

Howlin’ Rain has been allocated a wide barrier for this contest but has performed well when racing from off the pace in the past, including when second at Cranbourne earlier this prep.

Jockey Thomas Stockdale boasts a near 21% strike-rate (5/24) here this season and his mount can help him improve on that.

Archie for Bunbury victory

The penultimate race of the day at Bunbury is a 1675m Class 3 handicap expected to take place on a good 4 track.

HE’S ARCHIE takes the eye here, having registered three top-four finishes in similar races to this since winning over 1190m at Narrogin early last month.

The five-year-old lost out by just over one-and-a-half-lengths when fourth in a 1400m Class 3 handicap at Belmont Park 10 days later.

Trained by Chris Stelmach, a fourth-place finish when contesting a similar race held on a good 4 track at this venue followed.

He’s Archie tried to make all prior to fading on that occasion and positive tactics are again likely here, having raced close to the speed when third over the same track and trip here last time.