Australian Racing: Show Faith in Ballarat contender

There are just two meetings scheduled to take place across Australia on Tuesday including on the synthetic track at Ballarat.

They also race at Newcastle.

Race 7 Ballarat

Give Faith @ 7.50

Race 8 Newcastle

Ostracised @ 5.50

Race 1 Ballarat

Keeni @ 2.10

Give Faith in with a shout at Ballarat

The finale at Ballarat is a 1000m Benchmark 58 handicap which is expected to see I Am Piki jump as favourite to defy a wide barrier.

Trained by Anthony & Sam Freedman, the filly made her first start on the synthetic track here a winning one when saluting over 1100m last month.

The daughter of I Am Immortal won by one-and-a-half lengths on that occasion having registered some good efforts on turf prior to that.

Those placed efforts included a two-length second in a Benchmark 0-64 handicap over 1170m at Wangaratta two starts earlier.

Dakotah Keane’s one-and-a-half-kilogram claim is a positive here, however, her mount looks opposable, with GIVE FAITH preferred.

The three-year-old has yet to score in six starts this prep, however, she has registered top two finishes in four of those outings including her two most recent appearances.

The 7.50 pick went down by a length when contesting a Benchmark 58 handicap over 1000m at Mornington when racing on good going in May.

The Alabama Express filly went on to lose out by less than half-a-length when contesting a similar event held on a wet track at Seymour last month.

John McArdle’s filly is a versatile type with regard to tactics and she has the services of Brad Rawiller when jumping form barrier nine here.

Grisedale gelding looks good at Newcastle

The finale at Newcastle is a 1300m Benchmark 66 handicap expected to take place on a soft 6 surface.

My Mate Kate has been running well on wet tracks in recent months and she is expected to feature prominently in the betting.

The five-year-old finished down the field in a metro contest at Rosehill three starts back, but returned to winning ways when racing at this venue next time.

The mare came home one-and-a-half lengths clear of her rivals when contesting a 1400m Benchmark 64 handicap held on a heavy surface on that occasion.

Ben Lees’ representative backed that up with a solid fourth, beaten just over three-and-a-half-lengths stepped up to 1600m at Gosford.

The drop back in distance shouldn’t pose too many issues, however, preference here is for last time out winner OSTRACISED.

Trained by Donna Grisedale the gelding came home over half-a-length clear of his seven rivals when taking out a 1305m Benchmark 82 handicap at Coffs Harbour that day.

The six-year-old was winning for the fourth time in his career when saluting on a heavy 8 track there, having placed second in testing conditions at Ballina prior.

That Ballina effort saw the son of Divine Prophet lose out by less than half-a-length when contesting a 1300m Benchmark 58 handicap.

The 5.50 selection jumped from an inside barrier on each occasion and he is again set to jump from close to the rail here.

The quicker going expected for this event shouldn’t be a problem, with the pick having placed second on the forecast soft 6 ground at Inverell three starts back.

Apprentice Glenn Cahill takes a valuable two kilograms off the gelding’s back and his mount looks up to recording back-to-back wins.

Keeni to break maiden in Ballarat opener

The opener at Ballarat is a 1200m maiden contest, with KEENI taking the eye here having delivered a highly promising effort on debut.

Racing on a wet track the filly came home just under half-a-length behind the winner in finishing runner-up in a 1000m maiden at Seymour.

The 2.10 selection just missed out having stayed on nicely in the straight on that occasion and she is expected to improve this step up in distance.

The daughter of Pierata had made just one jump out appearance prior to that Seymour effort, finishing runner-up in a 1000m event at Pakenham in May.

The Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman team know what it takes to win at this venue and their representative can help them improve on their 20% strike-rate (4/20) here.