Australian Racing: Pioneer Lass to break new ground

There are a number of meetings set to take place on Wednesday, including at Caulfield where they race on the Heath course.

Race 2 Caulfield Heath

Eishaa @ 4.20

Race 4 Warwick Farm

Pioneer Lass @ 3.60

Race 4 Belmont

Close Talker @ 5.00

Eishaa for Caulfield glory

The second race on the Caulfield Heath card is an 1800m Benchmark 70 handicap restricted to fillies and mares.

A soft 5 track is expected for the race, with Lake Vostok set to head the market for the Luke Oliver stable.

The four-year-old returned to action with a down-the-field effort over 1500m in a Benchmark 64 handicap at Mornington in October.

However, the filly has been in good form in two starts since then, registering placed efforts on each occasion, including when jumping at $61 at Flemington on her following start.

The daughter of Russian Revolution lost out by a narrow margin when contesting a 1700m Benchmark 70 handicap that day and she went on to place second over 1600m here subsequently.

Tom Prebble takes a valuable three kilograms off Lake Vostok’s back, however, EISHAA is preferred on this occasion.

Trained by Paul Preusker, the mare registered a one-and-a-half-length victory when contesting a 1950m event at Morphettville Parks in September.

A sixth on the main track at Morphettville followed, prior to two solid placed efforts, including when narrowly beaten in an 1856m contest at Kyneton just under a month ago.

The five-year-old arrives here on the back of a good third when contesting a Benchmark 70 handicap on a good 4 track at Moonee Valley last month.

Eishaa raced over the Cox Plate distance on that occasion with the softer going expected here no issue.

Jye McNeil, on board last time out, is again set to ride and his mount looks capable of recording a victory from barrier four.

Lass to salute at Warwick Farm

The fourth race at Warwick Farm is a 1600m Benchmark 72 handicap expected to be held on a soft 7 track.

Apprentice Siena Grima is set to ride Binding with her mount expected to prove popular, having demonstrated good form at Sandown earlier this year.

The mare won on the Lakeside course in a Benchmark 70 handicap over this distance when racing on a good 4 track in early June.

A second-place finish over the same distance on the Hillside track followed, with that effort coming on a soft 6 surface.

The five-year-old has failed to shine in three subsequent starts however, including when racing first up over 1615m at Doomben last month.

The daughter of So You Think raced at Benchmark 85 handicap level that day and gets an easier opportunity here.

However, the concession of weight to PIONEER LASS is expected to prove too much, with the pick having performed well at a higher level last season.

The six-year-old followed up a Benchmark 64 win at Kembla Grange with a good third in the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes over this distance at Gosford in December last year.

A close second in a 1500m Benchmark 78 handicap for fillies at Rosehill followed and, while she failed to make the top three in four subsequent starts that prep, she showed up well first up last month.

That latest effort saw Pioneer Lass beaten just over five-and-a-half-lengths in finishing third in a 1400m Benchmark 68 handicap at Hawkesbury.

Pioneer Lass raced on a good 4 track that day but should have no issues with the softer going expected here, having placed on heavy tracks in the past.

Molly Bourke rides the pick for the first time and, jumping from barrier three, the pair look up to registering a win.

Talker to deliver Belmont victory

The fourth race at Belmont is a 1200m Class 3 handicap contest.

CLOSE TALKER has been in good form in the main this prep and is taken to register her third win of 2024.

This pick placed third in a similar race to this restricted to fillies and mares over track and trip when racing on a good 4 track at the end of October.

A Class 1 handicap success over course and distance followed, with the filly coming home nearly two lengths clear of her rivals that day.

Simon Miller’s filly failed to shine when stepped up to 1300m for a Class 3 handicap at this track when last in action two weeks ago.

However, a change of tactics saw the daughter of Overshare ridden cold that day and, dropping back in distance, she is the pick to return to winning ways.