Australian Racing: Booty ready to star at Sunshine Coast

There are seven meetings set to take place on Sunday, with meetings taking place at Alice Springs, Bendigo, Gundagai, Kalgoorlie, Mudgee, Sunshine Coast and Woodville.

Race 5 Sunshine Coast

A Lot Of Booty @ 5.50

Race 8 Bendigo

Wichitall @ 4.60

Race 7 Kalgoorlie

Starry Heights @ 3.20

Booty to take home the prize

The fifth race of the day at Sunshine Coast is a 1200m Benchmark 60 handicap set to take place on a good 4 track.

Limero is expected to jump as favourite for the race following a string on good efforts this prep.

Those efforts included a length victory in a 1000m maiden held on a heavy 8 surface at Eagle Farm when racing first up at the start of July.

The four-year-old has recorded top-three finishes in all three subsequent starts, including when runner-up in a track and trip contest on his penultimate outing.

Stuart Kendrick’s gelding lost out narrowly on the polytrack here when racing over 1100m and has the services of James Orman for this contest.

However, he has been allocated barrier nine which isn’t ideal here and with that in mind Gary Duncan’s A LOT OF BOOTY is the selection.

The son of Sir Prancealot has placed at this venue in the past including when beaten just over a half-a-length when third in a 1400m Class 1 in April.

The five-year-old finished in the top three in both subsequent outings that prep, including when runner-up over the same distance at Eagle Farm next time.

The 5.50 gelding returned to action with a good third when beaten less than a length in an 1100m Benchmark 62 handicap at Ipswich last month.

While effective over that distance the selection’s best form has come over further and the extra 100m here is in his favour.

Zac Sprie takes a valuable three kilograms off the pick’s back and jumping from an inside alley his mount looks up to recording a win racing second up.

Wichitall to salute at Bendigo

The finale at Bendigo is a competitive looking 1300m Restricted 64 handicap event.

A good 4 track is expected with CIaron Maher’s War Drama sure to have his supporters following a victory in a similar contest at Sale on 22nd August.

The four-year-old came home over a length clear of his rivals when finishing strongly from off the pace that day and the extra 100m here should pose no issues.

Sarah Field, on board on that occasion, is again set to ride here and, while her mount rates highly, preference is for WICHITALL.

Symon Wilde’s gelding won twice on wet tracks in July, with the first of those wins coming by five-and-a-half-lengths in a 1230m maiden at Geelong.

The 4.60 pick raced on a soft 7 track that day and encountered similar underfoot conditions when following up in a Restricted 58 handicap at Casterton just over two weeks later.

While the five-year-old suffered a defeat when beaten just over two lengths at Geelong last month a change of tactics saw him race from the front that day.

The five-year-old has the services of Linda Meech here and he looks up to returning to winning ways.

Starry to claim Coolgardie Cup

The penultimate race on the Kalgoorlie card is the 1760m Coolgardie Cup, an open handicap event worth $100,000.

The powerful Grant & Alana Williams stable are set to saddle STARRY HEIGHTS here with the gelding looking capable of recording his first win this prep.

All three of the pick’s previous outings this prep have come in metro contests at Belmont Park, including when fourth in a Benchmark 78+ handicap there in July.

The five-year-old raced over 50m further when occupying the same position on similar going when contesting a Benchmark 84+ handicap there subsequently.

The good 4 track forecast here shouldn’t pose any issues, with the 3.20 selection having completed an Ascot double on a sound surface when successful over 1600m in December.

Barrier six is a decent alley here and he looks up to saluting under leading hoop William Pike.