The Batavia Sprint is the feature of the day at Geraldton on a cracking day of racing.
The feature looks a great race with chances throughout the field, with the supporting races having plenty of betting angles.
As always, you can catch all of the action from Geraldton, and every meeting in the west, live and free on 7Plus and Racing WA.
Race 1 - NEXT GENERATION PRADO MAIDEN (1200m)
GRINT (1) resumed in nice order over this course and distance when favourite, only feeling the pinch late in the race. He'll need a touch of luck from the draw, though he'll be better for the fresh run and with improvement likely, he'll take beating. DIXIE PRINCESS (9) is ticking along nicely this time in work, beating home Grint last start. She too has good early speed and can roll across from the deep. Hard to knock her form and can make her presence felt again. DESTRUCTOR (2) has had a few goes now and was disappointing at long odds here last time out, though third-up and a better barrier can see healthy improvement. He's got competitive ratings from here last campaign and is worth including. IL BELLO BEALS (5) got a long way back last start and has claims from a better gate today. GOLD LIGHTNING (10) is best of the rest.
Race 2 - TOYOTA TUNDRA MAIDEN (1400m)
IDEALLY (8) ran home strongly on debut at Bunbury when bumping into a couple of sharp ones. She has drawn wide again today which is a niggle, though this looks an easier race and CJP hops in the saddle. Watch for her running over the top late. BIG BONED BAZ (2) led them up over 1618m here last time out and drops back in trip this time. That was a better effort from him and dropping back to this trip from a good barrier ticks a few boxes. Can play a major role. ROYALE MUCK UP (4) got a long way back first-up at Belmont and never really featured when beaten 5.1L. Out in trip can see him sit much closer in the run and if he can get back to something like his best, he'll be right in the finish. SPECIAL PLAN (6) resumes today without a trial but the 1400m fresh should suit. Include. DORSET TIDE (5) can improve on the debut effort out in distance.
Race 3 - TOYOTA MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE HANDICAP (1400m)
VANCOUVER STORM (2) comes into this fresh and without a trial, though he has spent most of his time in tougher company. 1400m fresh looks ideal after stretching in distance last campaign and proving successful. Just has to reproduce his 1400m ratings last start to be winning. MIFF MUFFERED MOOF (7) should put up a good fight though following a 0.2L defeat over this track and trip last time out. She is likely to get back in the run, but she jumped favourite last start and she's expected to be closing off strongly over the concluding stages. HILLSIDE HORACE (3) was a big winner fresh over 1113m here on resumption and has placed 3/4 at this course and distance. Maps for a nice run and his form may have been franked by now. Can make his presence felt. JURUENA GOLD (4) will appreciate this trip first-up and won't be far away. He loves this track and trip. MONTY ZOOMER (5) stuck on well last start and will be fitter again now. Include.
Race 4 - MATT AND KELSEYS WEDDING HANDICAP (1900m)
MYTHICAL DREAM (7) just missed over 1800m at Ascot last start when favourite and drops in weight today. Despite this being a tougher race by grade, his recent figures stack up highly for this event and he gets the blinkers on first time. Just needs to run up to his last start effort to be winning this. FORBIDDEN APPLE (5) steps out to this trip for the first time, but judging by her last start win, it doesn't appear an issue. She maps for a cosy run just off the speed and she seems to be hitting her straps now. Can improve again and go close to winning. QUEEN NARDI (2) will appreciate getting out in trip once again and all three of her wins have come at this track. Lucy Fiore hops in the saddle and if she can get back to her best, she'll take plenty of catching from out in front. HARD QUESTIONS (3) is ready to fire third-up and out in trip. Worth including. BECALOTTI (1) is on the quick turnaround and right out in trip today. Nice draw and a case can be made.
Race 5 - GENUINE SERVICE GENUINE VALUE HANDICAP (1600m)
A LOT OF CLASS (4) was far too good over this course and distance last time out, bolting in by 2.6L at his first try over the mile. He was favourite there and this looks to set up similarly for him today. Has plenty of upside and can repeat the dose today. KING MAHUTA (2) stormed over the top to break his maiden at Northam last time out and did so in good time. He mightn't be as far back today from a nice alley, and CJP remains in the saddle. Key player if he can replicate that effort. DAIYAMONDO (5) disappointed a little here 24 days ago when a 3-1 chance over this course and distance. Her previous effort was better than that and the form out of that last start has stacked up well. Anticipating that she can bounce back. ALMAYA (3) is racing well this time in and has claims from a nice gate. GONDRINKIN (10) will find this slightly easier and should be doing his best work late.
Race 6 - REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HEAT: THE ROAD TO ASCOT (1200m)
A heat of the Regional Championship and SURE NO SOMETHING (2) makes the most appeal. He was strong here last start when running over the top of his rivals and now gets CJP in the saddle. He looks a progressive type and he can keep raising the bar. SAFE HUSTLE (6) is hard to knock on recent form, finishing behind Sure No Something last time out. He meets that galloper worse at the weights, but the senior jock replaces the apprentice hoop. Not much separated them that day and they looks key pillars in this event. WELL PLAYED (3) drops right back in trip today after failing badly over the mile most recently. He is a course and distance winner previously and if he can be at his best, he'll be right in the finish. SPIRIT MAN (7) will appreciate the slight rise in trip and has shown good versatility in his outings. Strong claims. JUSTHANDY (8) is better than she showed last time out and can make her presence felt if she gets back to her best.
Race 7 - GERALDTON TOYOTA BATAVIA SPRINT (1200m)
Time for the Batavia Sprint where DRAKAINA (11) goes on top. She was great in her WA debut, coming over as a Listed winner over 1400m in NZ. She was right in the market there and she was a second-up winner in her debut prep. Has plenty of class and looks the one to beat. WESTOZI (14) was very good when winning here first-up as favourite when running on from the back. He drops right in the weights today and he is a course and distance winner in the past. Appears the main danger with improvement expected on the fresh effort. DEFENDING (5) is a course and distance winner and looks set up for this event. She was solid from the back last start in Saturday grade at ascot and now draws inside for the in-form Kyra Yuill. Can sit much closer today and looks set for a bold effort. SUPERSESSION (3) won this race back in March and only carried 0.5kg more. Right in this. CELEBRITY PRINCE (10) can run a bold race here fresh.
Race 8 - OH WHAT A FEELING HANDICAP (1200m)
FAMOUS DREAM (8) was too good at Bunbury last start when winning by 0.8L as favourite and the form out of that race has been franked. CJP hops in the saddle now and she looks a very progressive filly moving forward. Can improve again third-up and looks the one to beat. ON THE MARK (3) jumped favourite here last start and was only 0.9L off the winner. He'll be fitter for that effort and he should be able to sit a touch closer this time around. Strips fitter now and with plenty of improvement expected, he'll take beating. IDENTIFIER (4) was superb last campaign and was a winner over this track and trip first-up. Comes into this without a trial, but she looks a progressive type who can continue to work through the grades. HOT NOVA (13) just missed last start over 1100m here and won't be far away. MASTER ALEX (2) is a second-up winner in the past and won't be far away.
