4:35am - BILL RITCHIE HANDICAP | 1400m | Group 3 | i

So many questions in this G3 1400m contest. SIEGE OF QUEBEC (great first-up, can you forgive on wet second-up?) gets the lead on his own and rolls at a FAIR to STEADY tempo. He'll be hard to run down on best form, but he doesn't have the best sprint in the world and needs a smart ride from Tim Clark (get rolling 450m out?). PIERATA is of course the class horse in the race if he has bounced back from an injury following a win over Kementari fresh. The yard and market all important for him. INVICTUS PRINCE (big run last start, needs to back it up) and TOM MELBOURNE (hard to trust for a win, bad barrier, rates well) the other two key winning chances. MUSIC MAGNATE, DUCA VALENTINOIS and SIR PLUSH all place hopes. PARET's win was over some far lesser types last start. [updated 9:09am]