Express to graduate to stakes success in Mornington Cup
Story By by Gary Crispe
Wednesday, 20 February 2008:  | | Barwon Express |
Smerdon won last year's race with Hofmeister, who was racing in similar form but over longer journey, while this year the trainer saddles up Barwon Express, who has continued to step up through a great campaign.
The gelding has raced eight times this time in and has weighed in at each run, his worst result being a fourth but has racked up four wins and three minors along the way.
After finishing runner-up behind Soreadyforspring over 1300m at Sandown Hillside, he won three races on end.
The first was over 1400m at Sandown Lakeside where he enjoyed a nice trail before bursting through and running away to win by over a length from Orchestra Stalls.
Next start, also over 1400m but at Caulfield, he crossed from a wide gate to lead and kept going, scoring by almost two lengths over Cognac Bay.
Next time out, also at Caulfield but up to a mile for the first time, he carried 58kg and sat just off the speed before working home strongly to beat Offenbach by over a length, who has won twice since including the Hobart Cup by a space.
Last start, again tested over further when racing over 1800m at Flemington, he jumped well and went forward but was caught deep for the early part before eventually getting to second.
He raced outside the leader and was quite keen throughout before taking over around the bend but the early effort told and was left a sitting shot for the swoopers.
To his credit, though, he stuck to the task well and fought on for third, beaten less than two lengths behind Poised To Win.
Today is another test for the four-year-old as he tackles not only 2000m for the first time but also stakes grade.
Smerdon is confident he will run the extra journey though, and will utilize the Norton bit to help him have an easier run throughout.
He has also engaged senior rider Damien Oliver, who will jump from a good gate in barrier seven.
Barwon Express meets a field rated almost a length tougher but he carries the same weight as last start despite the apprentice coming off and the senior going on.
He is a progressive type who looks capable of winning in this grade and should prove a leading chance again.
The Terry O'Sullivan-trained Poised To Win, who beat Barwon Express two starts ago, looks the biggest danger.
In that race over 1800m at Flemington he settled off the good pace before running on strongly to score by 1.5 lengths, with another neck to Barwon Express.
Next start, he continued his good form when up to 2000m in the Colac Cup and proved too strong in the run home again, winning by 2.5 lengths over Stay All Day.
Today's race is rated a couple of lengths tougher but he drops 2kg on the run and has drawn for a good run again this time.
He meets Barwon Express 1kg worse at the weights for their meeting but looks suited in today's race, sitting off the pace with the good weight.
He is an easy last start winner at the trip and should be hard to hold out.
Most markets have that pair and Arbitration well clear and that's the way the ratings see it.
The John Wheeler-trained Arbitration has been a model of consistency through the spring and summer and he looks nicely weighted in the race.
Four starts back he was freshened and dropped back to a mile at Moonee Valley and proved too strong, then was beaten less than a length behind Gallopin over 2000m at Flemington in a good form race where the winner went on to win the Bagot.
Back to Flemington over 2000m he was narrowly beaten by King Johannes with 58kg, then ran a luckless second behind Poised To Win last start over 1800m there last start.
He meets the winner 3kg better for that run and looks nicely weighted today.
The query with Arbitration is his form beyond 1700m – he has never won – and the wide gate.
The stable believe he will run the trip but form barrier 12 might need the field to string out and get a good run before hitting the line hard.
As always, there are a host of each-way chances in the race, including Forest Knight, who was runner-up in this third-up last year.
Correct Amoondo was wide throughout in this last year but is racing well this time around and has drawn well, while King Johannes will be getting home late from the wide gate.
Show Barry signaled he is just about ready to run a race and can feature at odds.
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