Australian Racing: Second Sun set to stun rivals

There are a number of meetings scheduled to take place on Friday, including at Moonee Valley where eight races are set to take place.

Race 6 Moonee Valley

Octrain @ 7.00

Race 6 Orange

Super Sugoi @ 5.00

Race 8 Coffs Harbour

Second Sun @ 4.40

Octrain to salute at The Valley

The sixth race at The Valley is a 955m Benchmark 64 handicap that will see a reduced field go to post following a number of scratchings.

Grand Larceny is expected to prove popular with punters, having been beaten just over a length in a track and trip event at the start of this month.

The gelding contested a Benchmark 70 handicap on that occasion and gets a marked drop in grade for this event.

This son of Zoustar raced on a good 3 track that day and has the going to suit, having triumphed on a good 4 track at Newcastle when breaking his maiden.

The more experienced OCTRAIN is the pick on this occasion however, having resumed with a close second in the previously mentioned track and trip race.

The six-year-old recorded two wins last season, including when contesting a 1200m Restricted 64 handicap at Bairnsdale in May.

Octrain was making just his second start since that triumph when runner-up here last month and he is set to jump from barrier 11 here.

Teodore Nugent should be able to get across to track the speed from that alley, with his mount selected to record the fourth win of his career.

Sugoi for Orange success

They are scheduled to race at Orange with the sixth race a 1400m Class 1 handicap contest.

A good 4 track is expected with The Impeckable expected to start favourite for the Michael Mulholland stable.

This gelding has been going well of late, including when winning by two lengths when contesting a track and trip maiden last month.

The Impeckable has registered three placed efforts since, including when beaten three-and-a-half-lengths when third over 1400m at Gundagai a week ago.

While Shayleigh Inelgse’s mount boasts obvious claims here, preference is for SUPER SUGOI for the Matthew Smith team.

The four-year-old gelding showed signs of ability in his first prep racing but has shown improvement this time around.

Super Sugoi jumped at big odds when finishing third over 1400m on a good 4 track at Nowra on his return to action just over a month ago.

The son of Maurice went on to break through for his first win when successful by nearly two lengths over the same course and distance on a soft 4 surface.

Louise Day, on board for both starts this prep, is again set to ride and the pair look up to recording their second win together.

Sun to shine at Coffs Harbour

The penultimate race on the Coffs Harbour card is a 1600m Class 2 handicap expected to take place on a heavy 10 track.

Matthew Hoysted’s SECOND SUN broke his maiden over 1700m on a soft 6 track at Ipswich in March.

The four-year-old has been in good form since, finishing in the top three in both starts this prep.

Those starts include a third when beaten just over two lengths in a 1350m Class 1 handicap at Doomben on his return to action last month.

Second Sun finished one place better when stepped up to this distance for a Benchmark 62 handicap at the same venue subsequently.

While the pick is unproven on the forecast heavy 10 track, he is expected to appreciate it and is taken to defy top weight dropping down from metro racing.