3 minute read

Two luckless runs in Melbourne sees El Rocko well placed to break a long run of outs at Morphettville Parks on Saturday.

After two frustrating but brave efforts to open this campaign, the John Mcardle-trained five-year-old looks to have found a suitable contest and comes up as this week's bet365 best bet.

In a race that has proven a good piece of form with three subsequent winners, El Rocko was given next to none when settling rearward and wide first up at Moonee Valley but did dig deep in the short straight to produce an eye-catching finish, despite finishing seventh.

Although managing to take a spot much closer to the action last start at Flemington, the son of Fastnet Rock saw nothing but backsides for much of the sprint home and didn't get clear running until it was all too late.

Stripping fitter third up and drawn perfectly for Jason Holder, El Rocko doesn't have to improve a great deal on his last start Racing and Sports rating of 94 to be playing a major role in the finish.

Expect Holder to stalk the pace from the low draw and have plenty to offer when the whips are cracking.

As for our best value play, it comes in the proceeding race where I'm confident Runsir can progress nicely in his second start for the sharp R & C Jolly stable.

Only warming to his task late first up at Strathalbyn, the former Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman runner took good ground off his rivals close to the line when running into fourth.

Sure to improve with that run under his belt, the five-year-old is drawn much kinder this time and gets the key jockey booking of leading rider Jake Toeroek.

Anticipating that he will be right there at the pointy end.

bet365 Say From SA

Best: Race 6 #5 El Rocko @ $5.50 with bet365*

Each Way: Race 7 #6 Runsir @ $8/2.75 with bet365*

*Odds correct at 1:30pm, 1/2/24

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