Australian Racing: Northern Eyes has Warwick win in his sights

There are five meetings set to take place on Wednesday, including at Warwick Farm where a seven-race program is scheduled.

Race 6 Warwick Farm

Northern Eyes @ 5.50

Race 5 Belmont

Prophet And Power @ 5.50

Race 6 Bendigo

Honor Galore @ 2.60

Northern Eyes to complete five-timer

The penultimate race on the Warwick Farm card is a 1300m Benchmark 78 handicap expected to take place on a good 4 track.

The John O’Shea & Tom Charlton team have been in great form in recent weeks and their Ravello is expected to jump as favourite for the race.

This four-year-old was set some tough assignments last season, including when eighth in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes over 2000m at Randwick in October.

The gelding was spelled subsequently and ended his following prep with a length third in an 1800m Benchmark 72 handicap at that track in May.

James McDonald is an eye-catching jockey booking, however, his mount is dropping in distance here and looks worth opposing in a competitive affair.

Kim Waugh’s in form sprinter NORTHERN EYES is preferred here, with the gelding the winner of each of his last four starts.

The first of those triumphs came at maiden level when coming home over three-lengths clear of his eight rivals in a 1300m contest held on a soft 5 track at Hawkesbury last month.

Three narrow-margin victories have followed including when contesting a 1400m Benchmark 72 handicap at Randwick earlier this month.

Jay Ford, on board for the pick’s first three victories, is reunited with the four-year-old for this contest.

The son of Zoustar usually races close to the speed and, with the drop back to 1300m no issue, the gelding looks capable of continuing his winning run.

Prophet and Power to resume with win

In Perth they race at Belmont with the fifth race of the day a 1400m Class 3 handicap.

A good 4 track is expected, with Takahide Ikenushi set to saddle Mine Host, the winner of two of his last four starts.

The first of those victories saw the gelding triumph by one-and-a-half-lengths on a heavy 8 track when racing on the Scarpside track at Pinjarra at the start of last month.

This five-year-old won over 1400m that day placing third on his next two starts, including when beaten three lengths over 1650m at this venue.

Mine Host returned to winning ways when saluting by a narrow margin in a similar race to this over track and trip three weeks ago.

While Mine Host holds obvious claims, Jim P Taylor’s PROPHET AND POWER is the selection in this event.

The six-year-old lost out narrowly when runner-up in a 1414m maiden held on a good 4 surface at Bunbury in December.

Prophet And Power won both subsequent outings, including when stepped up to 1600m for a Class 1 handicap at this venue the following month.

This son of Divine Prophet came home two lengths clear of his rivals and was spelled following that effort.

Prophet And Power has had a couple of outings in barrier trials here and stepping up in grade he looks up to resuming with a win under Luke Campbell.

Honor Galore to salute at Bendigo

Bendigo are set to host an eight-race card with the sixth race a 1000m Benchmark 64 handicap event.

HONOR GALORE takes the eye here having registered two good efforts in defeat when racing at metro level.

Both of those efforts have come at Sandown with the first of those seeing her lose out by half-a-length when third in a 1200m Benchmark 70 event on the Lakeside track last month.

A switch to the Hillside course and a drop to this distance followed, with the filly finishing fourth with jockey Blake Shinn, set to ride here, on for both of those efforts.

Cliff Brown’s sprinter has won at this Benchmark 64 level in the past and, while an inside alley would be preferred, she looks up to recording a win from barrier nine.