Kembla gallopers can get off to dream start at Randwick
Story By by Gary Crispe
Thursday, 21 February 2008:  | | Choose To Dream |
The Gwenda Markwell-trained mare has been racing well this time in aside from a couple of bumps in the road where she has had excuses.
Choose To Dream took a while to get going this campaign, where she was safely held in four runs over shorter distances.
Stepping up to 1900m, though, she led until well into the straight and was no match for the smart Guillotine, but held the others safely finishing second and beaten almost six lengths.
She then raced over the same distance at Rosehill but in the far tougher Listed Underwood Cup, where she started a 100/1 chance from a wide gate.
After rolling forward and sitting second throughout she struggled against the superior opposition and tired in the straight, coming in at the tail.
Facing a massive class drop and getting up to 2400m, she carried a big weight and again rolled forward to sit second throughout, before kicking away with a 1.5 length win over Grizz.
Back into tougher grade and back to 2000m last start at Rosehill, she led from the good gate and was there until into the straight and battled home well in the run home, finishing fifth behind Vision And Power.
She was only beaten 2.4 lengths and that looks good form for today's race, where she meets a field rated several lengths inferior and returns back up to a more suitable distance.
At the trip she has two wins from three starts. She is a winner in good to dead ground and although unplaced in worse conditions her run on a heavy track last start, although fifth, is strong for this grade.
The small field will suit and she looks as though she will cross easily and on her good form in similar grade should be hard to run down in the opening event.
The Bede Murray trained Vindicating has been a bit hard to follow but a repeat of his last start will see him go close again.
The son of Zabeel had been nearing a win with some solid efforts over a mile before stepping up to 1900m at Canterbury on slow ground where he ran many lengths below his best, finishing at the tail behind Manapouri.
Last start, though, returning to his home track and up to 2000m, he settled off the pace before running away to score by almost four lengths over Yiannina.
He meets a field rated around five lengths tougher but will carry just 51.5kg after the claim, down 1.5kg from his easy last start win.
He looks suited by the extra trip and all his form has been in ground rated dead or worse.
Stablemate to Choose To Dream Europa, was no match for Vindicating last start but may be worth another chance here in a suitable race.
The gelding finished third and beaten almost six lengths behind Vindicating but did work hard up front and did a good job to battle on in the straight.
He meets the winner 4kg better this time, has no weight and a good draw.
He is likely to be in the first few and although yet to win beyond a mile should give a big sight with an easy run in the small field.
Sky Biscuit finished seventh behind Vision And Power last start but didn't have a lot of luck after covering ground when third behind Choose To Dream at the previous run.
The trip suits and on his best form the veteran can feature at odds.
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