Local quartet look goods again
Story By by Gary Crispe
Friday, 11 August 2006:  | | La Ventana |
At the last meeting on the Acton track at the course, Kiss My Fuji, Jester’s Red, La Ventana and Written Habit were the first four over the line in the Riverdene Open Handicap over 1080m.
That same four looks ready to do battle again over today’s 1206m open handicap on the Acton track although the order could be somewhat different.
La Ventana, who finished third, looks ready to show her best after two runs from a spell.
Fresh-up the Norm Gardner-trained mare came from last on the Kensington track at Randwick and finished runner-up, before again closing late here last start.
She carries the same weight today but will be better suited by the longer trip and should be fitter for the two runs. She has also drawn much better and it’s worth noting she stepped up to the same trip third-up last campaign and ran really well in a much tougher race at Randwick.
She will prove hard to hold out again.
Another local galloper, Jester’s Red, can figure in the finish again after drawing much better this time.
Prepared by Keith Dryden at the course, Jester’s Red finished sixth at Rosehill fresh-up after coming from well back then finished in the same place at Randwick next start on heavy ground.
He then raced in the 1080m race here a fortnight ago and was wide throughout but battled on well to the line, only to miss out in a photo finish.
He carries the same weight this time and not only should be at his peak after the three runs back but will appreciate the longer trip.
Most importantly he has drawn for a much easier run this time and with even luck in running and a repeat of his latest effort should go close.
Kiss My Fuji, the winner of the race, actually drops in weight on the win but his biggest hurdle today will be the wide gate.
The locally trained gelding, to be ridden by 2kg apprentice Patrick Murphy, drops a half kilo on his last start win but has drawn barrier 15 and will need some luck in running from there.
He is fitter for two runs from a spell and is even better placed over this trip, where he has two wins and five minors from 10 starts.
The five-year-old covered ground last start when a narrow winner over Jester’s Red but from barrier 15 it seems likely he will have to do it tough again.
He is a tough galloper though and if he gets the breaks should be in the finish of today’s race.
Written Habit could be the knockout to those three despite meeting the trio worse at the weights this time.
The consistent gelding, prepared on the course by Libby Snowden, was a 1280m winner here three back before finishing fourth over the same trip two starts ago.
Last start he sat back off the speed and covered ground before working home well at the finish for fourth, but only two lengths from Kiss My Fuji.
He was ridden by apprentice Peter Wells in that race and carried 54kg but today rises to 55kg.
The gelding has drawn a shade wide but importantly today will appreciate getting back up to the longer journey.
He might be much closer in the run this time as there should be less early pace but on his best form certainly has the ratings to win.
Of the quartet he is likely to be the best odds but certainly looks a good each-way chance again.
In a very good race the talented Gilded Youth, Sunset Run and Diamonds And Chalk could also feature in the finish at odds.
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