Australian Racing Pick of the Week for November 27

Race 6 at Narromine (Australia A) on Wednesday night is an open handicap going 6 1/2 furlongs around one, right-handed turn with a long run down the backstretch. The track designation is Good-3 so it should be favorable to those that like firmer ground.

#5 VALREE may appear hard to back after finishing 12th last out, but she has plenty of prior class. After finishing up last season in good form against much better company, she went to the sidelines for five months before returning at Warwick Farm with an even run while racing wide with an amateur rider. She did little last out from post 10 going seven furlongs in fast time, but now drops down in class with two starts under her belt and it looks like trainer Rodney Northam (8-for-50 lately) has found the right spot.

#4 DESERT MARSHAL is a gelding by Lope de Vega that runs well when he shows speed away from the gate. He draws post 2 today, so I expect Mikayla Weir to send him like she did last out when he went gate to wire going this distance in fast time on Good ground. He picks up six pounds off that win, but his speed rating is the best he has ever run and there's no reason to think that he can't do it again. Weir is winning 6.7% since she started riding but shows a flat-bet profit.

#1 STEAMIN' is the highest-rated horse in this field but has to carry 134 pounds because of it. He's been running at longer distances against better company and will be rolling late with Ashleigh Stanley back aboard. He has two of the highest speed ratings of this group and the son of superstar horse and sire Lonhro has four wins over Good ground.

Dick Powell's Pick

Valree makes her third start off the layoff and looks well spotted against this group.