3 minute read
Honest galloper Currency Boy should prove hard to hold out in today's Iluka Motel Handicap (race 6) at Grafton.
The race, a Benchmark 60 over 1200m, is a heat of the Rising Stars Series where Currency Boy looks well placed to continue his good form.
The gelding, prepared by Stephen Lee at Ballina, has raced only seven times and has missed the top three only once.
After placing at his first two runs he turned in a big performance to score his maiden on his home track.
Settling just off the speed but caught deep from his wide gate, he kept finding the line to win by a length.
He went for a well earned break before resuming over 1000m here.
Drawing wide again he covered ground just off the speed before working home steadily to finish third, beaten three quarters of a length in a good form race.
Next start was over 1000m at Coffs Harbour where he yet again drew wide.
He went back from the second outside gate and settled worse than midfield, but hit the line well in the straight to finish a neck second in another good form race.
Next was here at his first try over 1200m but he struck a heavy track.
Perhaps it was the one race where he would have been suited drawing out but jumping from the inside gate he settled off the speed in the slowest going.
After turning midfield he struggled in the ground, finishing 11th and beaten almost 10 lengths.
The soft conditions was his undoing.
After three weeks between runs he headed to the Gold Coast last start over 1100m with firmer ground.
Getting back on the inside, he stormed home in the straight form well back to dead-heat with Shinko's Revenge.
Currency Boy returned to the 1200m at Grafton today over 1200m but will find firmer footing there this time.
He has drawn well for apprentice rider Ashley Butler and should enjoy a good run there in barrier two.
Aside from his wet track flop he has never been out of the finish and he should be running into the money again today.
Extra Exceleration and Ibalance fought out the finish of a similar race here last time and should do the same again.
Ibalance has the turnaround in the weights on him, though, and can turn the tables.
Prepared on the course by John Shelton, Ibalance raced here in a Benchmark 60 three back where he had a big weight and wide gate and after getting back to last ran on well to finish runner-up.
He then tackled a Benchmark 70 and found the class a bit tough over 1300m, racing on the speed but only battling home to finish fourth.
Last start, back to a Benchmark 60 here, he again ran on from last to finish third in a three-way photo, beaten only a head, behind Extra Exceleration.
He meets the winner a kilo better this time and with an excellent record at the course and over the journey will be hard to hold out again.
Extra Exceleration, also prepared on the course, rises to 59kg this time even after the claim but is very honest and will give a sight.
He races on the speed so barrier 14 makes his job tougher but he will give a big sight.
Fourth from that same race last start, Darshan Joh, looks set to run a good race again.
He rises in the weights as a more senior apprentice goes on but has a superb record on his home course and loves the firm ground so is definitely in the mix again.