Selections:
#5 - Keevs (BEST BET) - $2.10
#8 - The Negotiator - $1.90
#9 - Whispering Bob - $20.00
#7 - Secret Ambition - $11.00
BEST BET - #5 - Keevs (BEST BET)
Wow, very keen on this staying contest it should make for a very competitive race between, at the least, the top two choices in this field but I am keen to be with the Rob Blacker trained Keevs who has been working towards this in his three career starts to date. First run saw him debut over the 2000m before going out to the 2520m and 2400m where he stayed in both, one of those was a second placing to Stormy Grey and the two of them gapped the rest there. I think he is a very promising type, Spain has been with him in his last two runs and retains the ride for the third, very keen.
THE DANGER - #8 - The Negotiator
Obvious danger in this race and current favourite is the Cliff Brown trained The Negotiator who also looks to be a very progressive stayer that has had a solid length campaign without being able to win but he has been coming very close lately, placing in two of his last three and now gets a big jockey upgrade to Ben Allen, has the runs on board, will be hard fit and other than one or two standouts this isn’t an overly strong race. Top chance.
VALUE BET - #9 - Whispering Bob
My best outside chance in the race is probably Whispering Bob who has placed in five of his fifteen runs and comes into this off a 43 day let up after running 5th at Kilmore last time out over the 2012m on a wet track when far from disgraced, staying well but just hampering in the straight there. Before then nothing had been too flash but not bad either, I think he can run into the placings at big odds and a win wouldn’t totally shock.