Please see below for our #BlackBook runner comments for Friday, 25 June 2021. The runner's highlighted are our #BlackBook runners (the key runners of focus), while those included in the 'other' section of each race are additional runner's that have jumped out well enough to be worth noting.
BALLARAT - Race 1
#2 BIXILON (9) - L Kavanagh
BIXILON went straight to the front in Heat 5 on Jun 18 and bolted in, winning by a big margin in a very slick time (only 0.03s off the fastest of the day). He didn’t have his blinkers on in his Jun 11 jump out, finishing 4th to Skiddaw, but certainly had them on here. Last preparation he resumed at Flemington without the blinkers before they went on for his next two runs that saw him finish a 0.4L 3rd and a 2.4L 4th to Sensationalisation in his latest where 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th have all won since. He has some nice form on the board now and a pair of nice jump outs to go with it, he can break his maiden early this prep.
BALLARAT - Race 2
OTHER
#3 CLAP is probably stiff to still be a maiden, and was stiff to just miss in Heat 4 on Jun 16 when closing super from the back. Can win a country maiden if he goes that way first up.
#5 RETELL moved well to finish 3rd in Heat 5. Will need to improve on last prep now as a late 4yo, but his best run came first up when 2nd at Sale. One for the ‘keep in mind’ list.
BALLARAT - Race 3
OTHER
#1 CACTUS KING was a bit green in the straight, but was ultimately too good and took out Heat 4 on Jun 16 with ease in the end. He sat in behind the speed before coming down the middle of the track with a fair turn of foot. Only the gelding’s first jump out back.
BALLARAT - Race 6
OTHER
#2 BALLE D’OR led from start to finish in Heat 6 on Jun 16, clocking the fastest 850m time of the day while holding off a fast finishing The Difference.
#6 BETTER KICK had the better of the handy Influential Jack in Heat 5, the nose roll a very noticeable gear addition here. JUNGLE JIM (pink) cruised in 4th position, looking to travel really nicely.
#6 BETTER KICK the pick of the bench though, he looked super and continued on with it past the line. Can go on with it.
#6 BETTER KICK another slick win, taking out Heat 4. He’s strung together two nice jump outs now and will certainly be competitive first up in a BM64 (or even a BM58).