3 minute read
Canberra galloper Vilakazi Street will appreciate the light weight and prove hard to hold out in today's rich Enpower Solutions City Handicap (race 6) at Albury.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Prepared by Keith Dryden, Vilakazi Street is well placed here with the minimum weight and will be charging home late in this 1400m open handicap.
He resumed in a Benchmark 70 at Wagga and had little luck but really knuckled down strongly in the straight and ran on into a close up second in a top form race.
He then race din a Benchmark 75 over 1200m at Moruya and after being slowly away and settled at the tail but came with a barnstorming run to score in another good form race.
Dryden sent him to town next over 1100m at Rosehill in a Benchmark 80, and there he settled last on the inside before making some ground around the bend.
He was held up for much of the straight but again knuckled down strongly when clear and ran in to second, beaten only a neck and the traffic certainly costing him victory.
After a month between runs he raced at home in the Burley Griffin Sprint and after settling just worse than midfield hit the line hard down the middle of the track to score a neck win.
Last start, in the Camarena Quality over 1000m at home, he was run off his legs over the shorter journey and turned last but again flew home, finishing runner up behind Girls Go Racing.
Today he drops in weight to the minimum and has drawn for a cosy run along the fence in barrier one.
He has placed at his only run at the course, which was at the trip, and although yet to win at the journey he has placed at both tries.
With a soft run and the light weight the gelding looks hard to hold out again today.
Fellow Canberra sprinter Onthelookout looks the biggest danger despite the big weight.
The gelding, prepared by Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones, made a fair return when sixth over 1100m in town, before finishing runner up over 1250m at Canterbury.
To a more suitable 1300m at Warwick Farm he settled midfield but hit the line well to score a half length win.
Last start, in the National Sprint at Canberra over 1400m he settled well back before improving out wider and ran on strongly to finish runner up behind Hood.
This grade is easier hence the bigger weight but the trip suits and he has drawn for a good run.
The gelding has been runner up at both runs at the course and is yet to miss a place from six tries at the trip.
He looks hard to hold out as well.
Lockmar is a veteran campaigner who is worth another chance here.
The gelding pulled up lame after his last run at Canberra but prior to that was fourth in strong grade over 1500m at Rosehill.
That effort had come on the back of a hat trick of wins, two of which were in open class at Wagga.
The gelding has been freshened for today's run and despite a wide gate looks an each way chance.
Murdoch's Joy looks next best.
The gelding is resuming and suited here at the trip fresh with a good draw and light weight.