Australian Racing: Fickle to double up at Moonee Valley

There are six meetings scheduled to take place on Friday, including at Moonee Valley, where an eight-race card is scheduled.

They also race at Ipswich, Kilmore, Launceston, Moree and Wagga.

Race 4 Moonee Valley

Fickle @ 2.50

Race 8 Moonee Valley

Kinetic Jewel @ 5.50

Race 6 Kilmore

Autumn Slide @ 3.20

Fickle looks good for Valley glory

The fourth race at Moonee Valley is a competitive looking 1200m fillies and mares Benchmark 70 handicap.

Matt Laurie sends out Sparkling here, with the filly having demonstrated good form earlier this prep winning her first two starts.

Those wins included a half-length triumph in a Benchmark 64 handicap over this distance on the Lakeside track at Sandown in August.

While the four-year-old has finished held on her two most recent starts, they have both come in 1100m Benchmark 78 handicap races including at Caulfield last time.

However, the filly has to concede upwards of four kilograms to FICKLE, who is preferred on this occasion.

Trained by Tom Dabernig, the pick demonstrated ability when debuting with a sixth over 1100m at Canterbury in January.

While she proved a disappointment at Gosford later that month, she has shown improvement since returning this prep.

The 2.50 selection lost out by a narrow margin when contesting a 1000m maiden at Warrnambool just under a month ago and duly went one better there last time.

The four-year-old came home three lengths clear of her nine rivals when racing on a good 4 last time out and shapes as if the extra distance she tackles here will suit.

The daughter of I Am Invincible raced from the front last time out and she boasts a rail barrier for this contest.

Jockey Celine Gaudray takes a valuable one-and-a-half-kilograms off her back and she looks up to completing a double.

Kinetic Jewel to shine in Valley finale

The finale at Moonee Valley is an interesting 1200m Benchmark 64 handicap event.

The scratching of Codigo leaves Roadcone as outright top weight and he is expected to have his supporters for the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman stable.

The four-year-old won both starts last prep, including by a length when contesting a 1400m Class 1 handicap at Pakenham in May.

While the gelding showed solid form when runner-up at Benalla first up this prep, he failed to build on that when fifth at Ballarat last time.

The drop back to 1200m is a positive, however, South Australian raider KINETIC JEWEL is the selection on this occasion.

The filly returned to action with a good fourth when beaten just over half-a-length in a Restricted 64 handicap on the Parks track at Morphettville in September.

The 5.50 four-year-old contested a 1000m event that day and finished one place better when stepped up to 1100m for a Murray Bridge Benchmark 64 handicap subsequently.

Phillip Stokes’ representative is set to make her first appearance in Melbourne and, wearing winkers for the first time, is selected to record her first win of the year.

Autumn Slide to salute at Kilmore

The sixth race at Kilmore is a 1457m Benchmark 58 handicap set to take place on a good 4 surface.

AUTUMN SLIDE demonstrated ability in finishing third in two of her three starts last prep.

Those starts included a defeat by just over a length when contesting a 1400m maiden at Bendigo in early December.

The filly was spelled subsequently, returning to action with a breakthrough narrow margin success in a 1300m maiden at Cranbourne last month.

The 3.20 daughter of The Autumn Sun jumped at $15 when getting the better of her 11 rivals that day and she should have no issue with the extra distance here.

Damian Lane, on board at Bendigo, is a notable booking and he can partner Simon Zahra’s filly to her second win.