Australian Racing: The Sheriff to reap Swan Hill Reward

There are a number of meetings scheduled to take place on Friday, including at Doomben, where a seven-race metro fixture is programmed.

Race 6 Doomben

A Lot Of Booty @ 11.00

Race 6 Launceston

Diesel’s Sunshine @ 3.60

Race 8 Swan Hill

Reward The Sheriff @ 3.80

Booty for Doomben glory

A heavy 10 track is expected at Doomben with the penultimate race of the day a 1200m Benchmark 65 handicap.

King Potter is expected to start a short-priced favourite for the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald stable.

The three-year-old has experience of a heavy track, having finished sixth of seven over 1110m when debuting on a heavy 8 surface at this venue in August.

King Potter broke through for his first victory when saluting by nearly six lengths in a 1110m maiden that took place on a soft 6 surface in October.

The son of Rothesay went on to finish a length fifth over this track and trip in a handicap and he has trialled well ahead of his return to action.

Gary Duncan’s A LOT OF BOOTY is preferred here, having shown up well on heavy surfaces in the past.

The gelding is more exposed than King Potter, however, he has recorded a number of good placed efforts in addition to his two victories.

Those placed efforts include a second in a 1110m Class 1 set weights contest at this venue a year ago.

A Lot Of Booty’s most recent success saw him record a second up victory last prep when getting home by a narrow margin in a Benchmark 60 handicap at Sunshine Coast in September.

The five-year-old raced over this distance on that occasion and he again performed well second up when half-a-length third in a Class 2 handicap over 1100m at Ipswich last month.

A Lot Of Booty raced on a soft 6 surface at Ipswich and with a good barrier three from the rail he may prove capable of upsetting the favourite on his return to heavy going.

Roach mare to shine at Launceston

The sixth race at Launceston is a 1400m Class 1 handicap expected to take place on a soft 5 surface.

Barry Campbell’s Shy Guy is expected to feature prominently in the betting having registered some good efforts in Queensland last prep.

Those efforts included a third in a 2200m Benchmark 68 handicap held on a good 4 track at Sunshine Coast in August.

The four-year-old made his first start in Tasmania when finishing runner-up in a 1220m Class 1 handicap at this venue last month.

Shy Guy was beaten less than two lengths that day and should have no issues switched to a wet track, with the extra distance in his favour.

DIESEL’S SUNSHINE has been in good form in three starts since being freshened, following a down-the-field effort in an 1100m maiden at Hobart in January.

The pick lost out by a narrow margin over this course and distance when placing second in a 1400m maiden held on a soft 5 surface in February on his next outing.

A comfortable two length maiden success at Devonport Synthetic followed with the mare racing over 1350m that day.

Andrew Roach’s representative proved that he can compete against winners when half-a-length second in a similar race to this over track and trip two weeks ago.

David Pires, on board last time out, is again set to ride with the pair looking capable of recording a win from barrier six.

Sheriff to salute at Swan Hill

The finale at Swan Hill is an interesting Benchmark 58 handicap set to take place over 975m.

A good 4 surface is forecast for the race with REWARD THE SHERIFF this selection having shown good form here in the past.

The three-year-old has won two of his three starts at this venue, with the sole defeat here coming when fourth in a track and trip maiden on debut in September.

While the gelding failed to shine when sixth of seven over 1000m in a Bendigo Benchmark 70 handicap here first up this prep, he returned to winning ways here last time.

Reward The Sheriff won by a narrow margin when competing in a 975m Restricted 58 handicap held on a good 4 track on that occasion.

A wide barrier shouldn’t pose too many issues for Logan McNeil’s mount who looks up to completing a double.