Race 5 - E B COCHRAN TROTTERS CUP (GROUP 2)

SS=Sit Sprinter V=Versatile E=Enforcer L=Leader

OVERVIEW:It sounds horrible but given Tornado Valley’s freakish dominance in Australia’s trotting ranks right now it’s actually nice to witness our second squaregaiting feature in as many weeks where his absence signifies an opportunity for Victoria’s other top-end trotters; and no trotter deserves a big-race triumph more than SAVE OUR PENNYS (4). It’s almost flabbergasting to think that Gavin Lang’s gun 7YO has been beaten by Tornado Valley in each of his past five starts and on four of those occasions he’s beaten everybody else. Tonight he’ll be driven with significant early urgency and if he finds the front as expected the race is at his mercy; particularly without the presence of a brutal breeze horse to upset his rhythm. On raw ability the only serious threat is DANCE CRAZE (5) who appears capable of anything on her night but who was well below her best in the Maori Mile last start and must contend with a draw which will cruel any tactical edge she may have hoped to have. Pretty much every other runner in the race in this Cochran cup is worth considering for wider exotics but the best value lies with PIZZA QUEEN (3) who was huge in the Maori Mile and still doesn’t get the respect she’s definitely earned in recent weeks while SKY PETITE (7) must also warrant huge respect despite tiring late in last week’s George Gath at Shepparton.