Maurice To Go Back To Back

Story By Gary Crispe

Friday, 3 September 2010:

Maurice Utrillo

The Pat Shaw trained four-year old is only lightly raced but is beginning to put it all together and looks to have a bright future ahead of him over the longer distanced races.

He has only had the five starts in Singapore since arriving from the UK and despite winning first-up he has taken time to adjust and work his way up in distance but it at the stage now where he is ready to show his true class.

He is yet to be beaten by over three lengths since arriving and in both times out of a place he has had genuine excuses when either caught wide off a slow tempo or held up at a vital stage before grafting away to be beaten narrowly into fourth.

He was able to carry 55kg last time out over the 1900m on the Polytrack and prove too good running away to win by a length and steps up to carry 57 in this assignment but to offset that he will jump up in distance to the 2200m and go to the grass which looks in his favour.

From barrier 4 he will be able to take his time and do no work to find a spot before working his way into the race for Barend Vorster.

This assignment is similar to his latest victory and he is a horse on the up that should be extremely hard to beat in this.

His main danger appears to be the Stephen Gray trained Langstraat who looks well placed in this easier company.

He raced behind the leader last time out in what was a very slow event before being out zipped in the straight finishing a 5 length fifth to Tobias who was able to lead all the way.

Although he is yet to win beyond the mile he raced like a horse looking for the extra trip and had finished a solid second three starts back over the 1800m before finishing fourth behind Hazza over the 2000m.

He gets Duric back on who seems to get the best out of him and gets in with just 55.5kg in this drop in class.

Expect him to race on the pace and figure in the finish.

Next in line appear to be two horses that finished behind Maurice Utrillo at their latest outing with it hard to see either finishing ahead of that runner here.

Kanegura finished third behind Maurice Utrillo last time out after making good late ground so the step up in trip should also be in his favour.

He gets a 2kg pull in the weights this time but is yet to win beyond 1900m but has won at that distance on five occasions so the extra trip shouldn't pose a problem.

He may settle a little close in this field and use his experience over the longer trips to gain an edge on his rivals.

French Irish is the stable mate to Maurice Utrillo that chased hard last time out when finishing second behind him on the Polytrack.

She only gets a half kilo advantage after her latest defeat which doesn't appear much of an advantage over the longer trip.

She draws well and should get a soft trip just behind the pace but she looms as more of a place chance than a winning chance.

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