Selections:
#15 - Semana (NEXT BEST) - $4.40
#10 - Resonator - $5.00
#9 - Acquitted - $9.50
#5 - Longvillers - $8.00
BEST BET - #15 - Semana (NEXT BEST)
Interesting edition of the Winter Challenge but I do think it’s gonna be tough to beat Semana for Maher and Eustace under Dylan Gibbons who has only been unplaced in 2 of her 11 career starts and is a five time winner. She won a 1400m race at this track three weeks ago dominantly, leading by two lengths and never relinquishing that lead. She’s hard fit, given a nice little break for this and shapes up very well here from the low draw. She should slide forward and Gibbons will know how to control her from out front to save something for them at the end.
THE DANGER - #10 - Resonator
Resonator should have plenty to offer here for the Waterhouse / Bott stable. He recorded two sharp wins at the course two and three back, one over this distance and one over the 1400m before racing last time out in a strong BM78 at Randwick where he jumped awkwardly, bumping another runner but recovering and finding the lead there, I think that the early trouble might have just told late though as he just found one better in Battleton who had a perfect ride. Fit, in form, loves this track and trip and is a winning chance.
VALUE BET - #9 - Acquitted
You would have to think Acquitted is close to winning his first Stakes race for Kris Lees and this is as soft a chance as he will get. He raced in the listed Winter Stakes two weeks back at Randwick where he was held up and had to continue shifting wider and wider at the 200m to find a run and when he did he powered away from them to beat all but the winner. With a more economical run he wins that and I think that reads very well for this as he was beaten by flying stablemate Ucalledit on that day.