A tough test for horses and punters
Story By by Gary Crispe
Tuesday, 19 February 2008:  | | Pentup |
The former Victorian, now with Greg Bennett in Scone, looks to have come back in good order and will appreciate stepping out to 2100m in today's RB76 Handicap.
The four-year-old son of Pentire is a winner of one race from 12 starts including four minors.
As you'd expect, he wasn't a precocious type and didn't begin to show his best until out to a trip.
Last campaign, getting out to a suitable trip for the first time over 2037m at Kyneton, he put the writing on the wall with fast finishing effort to place, before stepping up to 2214m at Sale where he sat just off the pace before going on to score his maiden win by a length over Constant Cheers.
He then skipped a grade and tackled a much tougher race over 2215m at Seymour and ran a disappointing fifth, before racing over the same journey in an RB68 at Ballarat where he turned in a better effort to finish a 1.5 length runner-up.
At his last run before a spell, he stepped up much further in grade and also journey to 2500m at Moonee Valley in the VRC St Leger, where he sat off the pace but in a rough house race dropped right out top finish near the tail behind Lazer Sharp.
After a long spell, the gelding re-appeared as a four-year-old with Bennett and his two runs have been sound.
After resuming over 1400m at Tamworth where he hit the line hard to finish runner-up, beaten a nose, behind Sutton Star, he stepped up to a mile at Scone and turned in another strong effort.
Tackling an RB67 Handicap, this time he sat just off the speed and battled home strongly to finish fourth, beaten less than two lengths, behind Miss Annaliese.
Today he tackles a field rated a few lengths tougher but looks ideally placed.
Not only will he strip fitter for the three runs from a spell, the extra journey will be right up his alley as he gets back up to his winning distance range for the first time since last campaign.
He also drops significantly in weight, down 4kg on his latest effort.
From barrier four in the small field he is likely to be sitting just off the lead and on his two runs this time in looks ready to show his best for his new trainer.
The gelding has no wet track form to speak of, and has been unplaced in all three runs on dead tracks, but there were excuses at all three including the first two being over unsuitable distances.
On the form he showed over a trip last campaign he looks the one to beta in this line-up.
The David Payne-trained Global Approach would be expected to improve sharply as he too is fitter for three runs from a spell.
The gelding was a 1600m winner at just his second career start and put away for a spell, no doubt Payne believing he would improve with time and more gorund.
This time in it has taken him a while to get going but he looks ready to show up now with the three runs under his belt.
Fresh-up he ran a solid race over 1550m in this grade on the Kensington track, then raced over 1800m at Randwick in tougher class where he got back and was outsprinted in tougher company.
Last start he stepped straight up to 2400m at Randwick and after getting back again worked to the line well to finish fifth, beaten only three lengths behind Choose To Dream.
Today's race is rated about the same strength but he is fitter now and has a light weight.
He has drawn well and should be hard to hold out over the shorter trip.
Lady Who Lunches is fitter for three runs from a spell and is another suited by the longer trip.
The mare worked home solidly last start over a mile here to finish fifth but her maiden win was recorded when getting to this journey last time in.
She has a good record at the track and trip and with the light weight and the inside draw is ready to show her best.
Giant's Gate, Mr Gilly and Hilly were all scratched from an easier race over the same journey at Cessnock on Tuesday.
Prepared at Muswellbrook by Mack Griffith, Giant's Gate was a shade disappointing on heavy ground last start but is expected to do better today.
The lightly-raced gelding was a maiden winner over 2000m at Hawkesbury last campaign and is fitter, also has a light weight and suited by the longer trip.
The Kim Waugh-trained Mr Gilly has had five runs this campaign, winning his maiden two starts back over 1850m at Newcastle before racing here in slightly easier grade over 2100m where he drew wide and covered ground before battling into seventh, beaten 4.8 lengths behind Swindon Town.
He could fill a minor placing on his previous run.
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