Kyneton Racing Tips for November 17 – Enigmatise to go close in last of eight at Kyneton

Here are our best bets from the meeting, which also feature in our daily selections.

Voltrix should be hard to beat in the opener at Kyneton. The Hayes-trained colt has had two career starts, finishing a narrow runner-up on both occasions. He did plenty wrong on debut at Geelong, laying out around the home turn and almost throwing the race away before going down narrowly behind Avery Anna. He then headed to Pakenham and was again beaten by a narrow margin, this time behind Lumew. Voltrix produced a performance 4.5 lengths slower than standard benchmark figures on that occasion, a better rating than anything his rivals have produced throughout their careers to date. There is some uncertainty surrounding the three debutants, but on exposed form he looks clearly the one to beat.

Winter Nights has been knocking on the door in his quest for a second career victory, and the Hayes-trained galloper gets his chance in Race 6. The four-year-old has had three runs this preparation, most recently stepping out on a heavy track in Benchmark 66 company over this track and distance at Kyneton. He settled worse than midfield before producing a long, sustained run and recording the fastest final 200m, although he couldn't quite reel in eventual winner Gregolimo. That performance was 1.9 lengths slower than standard benchmark figures, the best last-start rating of any runner in this field. The son of The Autumn Sun now drops to Benchmark 56 company and should be approaching peak fitness fourth-up. He rises 5kg in weight, but looks to have a clear class edge on his rivals, while Damian Lane sticks with him. Winter Nights should be hard to beat.

Enigmatise can go close in the final race of the day following an excellent last-start performance at Wangaratta. The six-year-old mare settled handy on that occasion before finishing runner-up, beaten just half a length behind Setu, with a further three lengths to the remainder of the field. She had been unlucky when resuming at St Arnaud prior to that and looks to be building nicely into her preparation. Having been tried over longer distances previously, she has been kept to shorter trips this time in, and her best form does appear to be around this distance range. Enigmatise produced a performance just 0.7 lengths slower than standard benchmark figures at Wangaratta, more than five lengths superior to the next-best last-start rating of any runner in this field. She draws barrier seven and should settle within the first two or three pairs, giving her every chance to go one better. She looks the one to beat.