Ballarat Racing Tips for September 18 – Al Duca to claim the Gold Nugget

Here are our best bets from the meeting, which comes on the eve of a massive day of racing from around Australia that features the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Purgatorio can go close in Race 3. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained galloper has had just two career starts, finishing third at Echuca on debut back in April before resuming as favourite over 1200m at Seymour late last month and finishing a one-length fourth behind Cliff Runner. He settled in the leading pair but was hampered out of contention in the final 200m. The son of Hellbent had trialled well leading into that race and, despite the bad luck, recorded a figure three lengths slower than standard benchmark, which is 3.5 lengths better than the next-best last-start figure of any runner in this field. He should have time to find his rhythm from barrier nine, and with better luck in running this time around, he should be hard to beat.

Expensive Taste might be worth something in Race 4. The McEvoy-trained filly is yet to win in six career starts but has placed in four and showed promise as a two-year-old with an unlucky third in the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington. She has had three runs this preparation and was posted wide without cover early last time on the Ballarat Synthetic, spending far too many petrol tickets before eventually settling outside the leader and tiring late to finish fourth over 1500m. The daughter of North Pacific recorded a figure 3.7 lengths slower than standard benchmark, which is the second-best last-start figure of any runner in this race, behind Sister’s Run, who comes out of the same event. The rise to 2000m should suit, and with a more economical run this time around, she can produce an improved showing.

Keen on Al Duca in the Gold Nugget at Ballarat. Another from the Freedman stable, the six-year-old didn't show a great deal when resuming off an eight-week break at Caulfield recently, finishing eighth behind Fancify over 1400m after being posted wide without cover, while the winner pinched the race out in front. He is much better suited over 1600m and followed a similar path last autumn, missing out when resuming over 1400m before stringing together consecutive wins over the mile at Flemington and Caulfield. He should enjoy a perfect trail from barrier one this time around, while Damian Lane takes the ride and strikes at 27% for the stable.