Wesley Ward has taken to steadily using an arresting turn of phrase to describe his crack sprinter Golden Pal: “The best horse I’ve ever trained.”

The question regarding Golden Pal is whether he needs a turn to live up to that description.

With the benefit of a recent prep race, Eagles Crag will start in the richest race of his career in Sunday’s $124,600 Swan Hill Cup at a mile at Swan Hill Racecourse.

Eagles Crag, a 5-year-old Irish-bred, is well-suited to the distance and well-drawn in post 2 in a full field of 14 for a potential fourth win in his eighth start.

Trained by Archie Alexander, Eagles Crag won 3 of 5 starts in 2021 and ended the season with a fifth in a field of 10 in a lucrative handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne last October.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, June 12, 2022)

It’s a good thing the Australian multiple stakes winner Ayrton is a handy horse.

A winner of 6 of 9 starts, Ayrton will start in the richest race of his career in Saturday’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm, a $1,079,000 race at seven furlongs. The race has a maximum field of 18, with Ayrton set to start from an outside post.

With his ability to race as a stalker, Ayrton may be able to scoot forward in the run to the turn and avoid a wide trip.

Last year’s race

Winner: Reshoun

Jockey: W Buick

Trainer: Ian Williams

Owner: Dr Marwan Koukash

Age: 7 Weight: 9st 7lbs

Starting Price: 66/1

Season Form Figures: 0

Previous Best: 1st - Class 2 Handicap, Newbury (July 2020)

By Paul Jones

Triple Missile won five of his first 10 starts in the state of Western Australia from September 2020 to February of this year. The 4-year-old was relocated to the state of Victoria a few months ago, a transition that places the gelding in a tougher racing circuit.

On Friday, Triple Missile will have his third start in Victoria in the $107,900 Golden Topaz Handicap at six furlongs at Swan Hill Racecourse, well north of Melbourne.

Tom Wood:

R1: 8-2-3-1
R2: 5-8-3-7
R3: 3-2-5-1
R4: 2-4-7-6
R5: 2-6-4-1
R6: 4-1-12-7
R7: 1-2-5-4
R8: 1-11-3-7
R9: 6-4-1-11

BEST: R8 N1 BE READY (WIN)
VALUE: R7 N1 MIGHTY VALOR (EW)
PLAY: R7 QQP 1,2,5

Paul Lally:

R1 8-1-4-7
R2 9-5-12-7
R3 3-5-2-7
R4 4-5-1-7
R5 4-1-2-6
R6 4-1-12-7
R7 1-2-5-3
R8 1-7-10-11
R9 10-1-3-11

Best Bet R3 N3 Beluga
Longshot R9 N10 Wood On Fire
Play Race9 QQP 1-3-10

Last year’s race

Winner: Poetic Flare
Jockey: K J Manning
Trainer: J S Bolger
Owner: Mrs J S Bolger
Age: 3 Weight: 9st 0lbs
Starting Price: 7/2
Season Form Figures: 1162
Previous Best: 1st – Qipco 2000 Guineas (Group 1), Newmarket (May 2021)

By Paul Jones

Last year’s race

Winner: Oxted
Jockey: Cieren Fallon
Trainer: R A Teal
Owner: S Piper, T Hirschfeld, D Fish & J Collin
Age: 5 Weight: 9st 5lbs
Starting Price: 4/1
Season Form Figures: 723
Previous Best: 1st - Darley July Cup (Group 1), Newmarket (July 2020)

By Paul Jones

Last year’s race

Winner: Berkshire Shadow
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Trainer: A M Balding
Owner: Berkshire Parts & Panels Ltd
Age: 2 Weight: 9st 1lbs
Starting Price: 11/1
Season Form Figures: 1
Previous Best: 1st - Class 4 Maiden, Newbury (April 2021)

By Paul Jones