There are a number of meetings scheduled to take place on Sunday, including at Cranbourne, where a good 4 track is expected.
Everain @ 3.40
Becamo @ SP
Mr Shorty @ 3.80
The penultimate contest on Cranbourne’s eight-race card is a 1300m Benchmark 0-64 handicap.
Bold Strike is expected to feature prominently in the betting, having shown up well in three starts to date.
The second of those starts saw the gelding break through for his first win when saluting by three lengths in a 1300m maiden at Ararat last month.
This three-year-old proved that he can be competitive against winners when recording a good fourth of six in a Benchmark 64 handicap at Sandown subsequently.
The son of Too Darn Hot was beaten just over one-and-a-half-lengths over 1400m that day and the drop to provincial level racing is in his favour.
EVERAIN is preferred on this occasion however, with the pick having made just two starts to date.
The Manhattan Rain gelding debuted with a highly promising fourth over 1400m at Ballarat in November.
Everain raced on a sound surface that day and returned from a spell with an impressive three-length victory dropped to 1200m at Mornington earlier this month.
The three-year-old raced on the speed when encountering a heavy 9 surface that day and the extra 100m and quicker ground expected here shouldn’t be an issue.
Jye McNeil takes the ride for the first time and he looks up to defying a wide barrier to complete a double.
A soft 6 track is expected at Sunshine Coast with the sixth race on the card a 1600m Benchmark 68 handicap.
Pasima is expected to have his supporters, as she chases his second victory of the season.
The first of those wins saw him come home over two lengths clear of his nearest pursuer in a 1600m Class 1 handicap at Wyong in November.
This four-year-old was spelled following that effort and, while he failed to shine at Gold Coast on his return to action, he demonstrated improvement there last time.
The son of Pierro lost out by less than half-a-length when third in a 1400m Benchmark 70 handicap last time and he has a good barrier five from the rail.
Shaun Dwyer’s BECAMO is the pick on this occasion however, with the gelding having recorded the third win of his career when saluting at Doomben earlier this month.
The son of Vancouver recorded a narrow victory when contesting a 1640m Class 2 handicap held on a soft 5 surface on that occasion.
Becamo had registered a couple of good efforts in Benchmark 68 handicap events on the synthetic track at this venue prior.
The second of those efforts saw him beaten less than a length over 1400m and he has Tiffani Brooker, on board for each of his last five starts, up.
A drop down from metro level racing is a positive and, while the gelding has a wide barrier here, he is taken to complete a double.
The fifth race at Echuca is a 2100m Benchmark 0-58 handicap expected to take place on a soft 6 track.
MR SHORTY takes the eye for the Mitchell Freedman stable here, having registered some good efforts without winning this prep.
A number of those efforts have come in a higher grade than he tackles here, including when fifth in a 1600m Benchmark 64 handicap at Terang three starts back.
The gelding recorded a fifth here on his penultimate start and arrives here on the back of a good fourth in a 1600m Benchmark 0-58 handicap at Werribee three weeks ago.
The son of Puissance de Lune was beaten just over half-a-length when racing on a sound surface that day and the softer going expected for this event is no issue.
Will Price, on board last time out, takes the ride and having gone well from a wide alley that day, he is taken to record the second win of his career.