Australian Racing: Iowa to rock Boulder Cup at Kalgoorlie

There are no fewer than nine meetings scheduled to take place on Sunday. including an eight-race metro card at Flemington and Listed action at Kalgoorlie.

Race 6 Flemington

Lavalier @ 4.40

Race 7 Kalgoorlie

Iowa @ 2.80

Race 5 Flemington

Slick 'n' Quick @ 3.20

Hayes charge tipped for Flemington glory

The sixth race on the Flemington card is the 1800m Victoria Derby Preview, a set weights contest for three-year-old colts & geldings.

A field of 13 has been declared for the race, with Giddy Up Warrior expected to have his supporters having improved with racing.

The son of Saxon Warrior came home fifth when racing on a heavy 10 track over 1100m at Bendigo on debut in July.

The youngster kept on nicely having been ridden from off the pace and went on to lose out narrowly over 1400m on the Lakeside track at Sandown when runner-up next time.

The gelding broke through for his first win switched to the Hillside course back at Sandown when racing over 1500m earlier this month.

Trained by Ben, JD & Will Hayes, his two most recent efforts have come on a good 4 track and, while he holds obvious claims, preference is for LAVALIER.

The colt has shown good form in three starts to date, with all three of those efforts coming on wet tracks.

The second of those saw the 4.40 pick break through for his first victory when contesting a 1300m maiden held on a soft 6 surface at Kembla Grange in July.

Trained by James Cummings, he delivered a highly creditable third when contesting a 1523m handicap event at Moonee Valley last month.

The winner that day, Evaporate, went on to follow up off top weight in a 1600m handicap at the same venue earlier this month and the selection has Jamie Kah up once more.

The son of Microphone shapes as if the extra distance he gets here will suit and he is taken to return to winning ways.

Improving Iowa ready to rock

The feature race at Kalgoorlie is the 2116m Listed Boulder Cup, due off as the penultimate contest on their eight-race card.

Starry Heights is vying for favouritism, having recorded some good efforts over shorter distances here this prep.

Those efforts include a fourth in a 1650m Benchmark 84+ handicap held on a soft 7 track at Belmont just over a month ago.

The five-year-old went on to finish runner-up in the 1760m Coolgardie Cup when racing on a good 4 surface here subsequently.

William Pike, on board that day, is again set to ride, however, the pair are expected to find IOWA too strong in this event. 

Formerly trained in Europe the seven-year-old showed good form when trained by Annabel Neasham, including when runner-up at Eagle Farm in January.

The 2.80 pick was beaten less than two lengths when racing from the front in a 2400m Benchmark 78 handicap on that occasion.

The son of Galileo has been in great form since joining current trainer Simon Miller and switching to Perth, with the gelding having won two of his three starts this prep.

The most recent of those victories saw the selection triumph by just under a length in a 2200m Benchmark 66+ handicap held on a soft 5 track at Belmont.

Jockey Chris Parnham leads the Western Australian Jockey Premiership in the early stages of the season and he can extend his advantage with a win aboard Iowa.

Slick aims to be Quick at Flemington

Ciaron Maher's SLICK 'N' QUICK is set to line up for the 1800m Crown Oaks Preview, the fifth race at Flemington.

The filly broke through for her first victory when delivering a one-and-a-half-length victory in a 1500m maiden on a soft 5 track at Hawkesbury last month.

Connections stepped the 3.20 pick up to Benchmark 64 level for her next start, with the daughter of Pride Of Dubai finishing a close third over 1600m at Kembla Grange.

The selection over-raced in the early stages when racing on a good 4 surface on that occasion and she is expected to appreciate the step up in distance.

Ethan Brown’s mount has a decent barrier in six here and she looks up to doubling her career tally.