Australian Racing: Plenty of love for Casanova

There are a number of meetings set to take place on Thursday, including at Gosford, where a seven-race program has been scheduled.

Race 7 Gosford

Pierolite @ 9.00

Race 10 Moe

Marbastion @ 7.00

Race 5 Bathurst

Casanova @ SP

Pierolite for Gosford glory

The finale at Gosford is a 1200m Benchmark 64 handicap event expected to take place on a soft 7 track.

Glenbower has made just three starts to date, including when returning from over a year off the track to break his maiden at Newcastle in May last year.

The son of Churchill triumphed by nearly three lengths that day, however, he failed to shine in Benchmark 72 handicap company at Rosehill the following month.

This four-year-old has trialled well ahead of his return from over a year off the track and debut for Ciaron Maher.

The drop to provincial level racing is a positive here, however, preference is for Gary Portelli’s PIEROLITE.

The three-year-old resumed with a maiden victory when competing in a 1000m event held on a wet track at Kembla Grange last month.

Pierolite has registered two solid efforts in defeat since, including when third over 1100m at Warwick Farm when contesting a Benchmark 64 handicap next time.

The gelding went on to be beaten just under four lengths when finishing sixth of nine in a similar event over the same track and trip just over two weeks ago.

This drop down from metro racing is a positive in this event, with the soft underfoot conditions no issue to a gelding who has won and placed on soft and heavy in the past. 

Apprentice Coriah Keatings, on board for all three starts this prep, is again set to ride and her mount is taken to defy a wide barrier to record the second win of his career.  

Marbastion to salute at Moe

A soft 7 track is expected for Moe’s 10-race card with the finale a 1600m Benchmark 58 handicap. 

Trainer Gavin Bedggood is set to saddle the New Zealand-bred gelding Yorkel and he is expected to jump as favourite under Jason Maskiell.

The five-year-old recorded a good effort when third in a 1728m Benchmark 64 handicap held on a wet track at Sale on his penultimate start. 

While the gelding could finish only sixth over 1600m at Seymour next time, he was beaten less than two lengths on that occasion.

A wide barrier isn’t ideal in this contest however and with that in mind, MARBASTION is the pick in this event.

The son of National Defense broke through for his first win when successful by nearly a length in a 1425m maiden held on good ground at Geelong when resuming last month.

Marbastion failed to shine when down the field over 1600m when contesting a Benchmark 0-58 handicap at Werribee next time out however.

That disappointing Werribee effort can be forgiven with the gelding jumping from a wide alley that day and he boasts a better barrier allocation here. 

Koby Jennings knows the gelding well and, having gone well on wet tracks in the past, the four-year-old looks up to recording the second win of his career. 

Casanova for Bathurst success

The fifth race at Bathurst is an interesting Benchmark 66 handicap event.

This race, which is scheduled to take place over 2000m on a soft 6 surface, has attracted 12 declarations, including CASANOVA for trainer Claire Lever.

The four-year-old recorded the second win of his career when getting home by a narrow margin in a 1500m Class 1 handicap at Hawkesbury in March.

This son of Stratum Star raced on a wet track that day and went on to finish third over 1600m when contesting a Queanbeyan Class 3 event two starts later.

Regular rider Chad Lever, due to ride here, was on board for both of those efforts and his mount arrives here on the back of a fifth in a Benchmark 64 handicap at Kembla Grange.

This looks an easier contest and, while barrier 10 isn’t ideal here, he has underfoot conditions to suit and looks capable of recording a win stepping up in distance.