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The Peter Snowden-trained Knoydart looks well placed against the older horses today when he resumes from a spell in the Sharp Benchmark 75 Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Three-year-old colt has raced only against his own age in six starts to date but has the ability and form on the board to be winning at the midweeks.
Knoydart has finished in the money both previous first up efforts and trialled well twice in preparation for this, the most recent behind Your Song at Randwick who has since gone on to win in Group 1 company.
Whilst he has only managed the one win in six starts, his form last preparation was very good, winning by 5L when second up at the midweeks before three good runs in Saturday metropolitan company.
He was only beaten 1.7L behind Zin Zan Eddie at Warwick Farm before stepping up to Group 2 company where he finished fourth in the Autumn Stakes over 1400m, returning at peak Timeform rating of 100.
On that occasion he was only narrowly beaten by Super Cool who went on to win the Australian Cup and less than 2L away from Fiveandahalfstar who took out the BMW later that preparation.
Despite taking on the older horses today, these form lines appear to be very strong and he rates highest in the field on 12 month weights adjusted Timeform ratings.
Peter Snowden has applied the winkers for the first time today and from barrier 11 he should be able to settle around midfield and despite looking for a bit further later on this preparation should be forward enough to be hitting the line very strong.
He looks well placed back in grade and if he runs up to his form should prove too strong against these.
Carmine King also resumes form a spell and drops back in grade after a midfield finish behind Whisperossa at the Gold Coast in a Class 6 before being sent for a break.
The John O’Shea-trained runner has placed in two of his three previous first up efforts and with a 3kg claim for apprentice jockey Jenny Duggan looks the danger to Knoydart.
Goes well fresh and also trialled well enough twice in preparation for this. Rarely too far away at the finish and is likely to be right in the finish on best form.
Despite not having won in over a year, Oakfield Commands also stays under notice and rates well on recent form.
The son of Commands returned a Timeform figure of 94 when third two starts back at this course and that sort of figure brings him right into this.
The five-year-old has finished out of the placings just three times from 15 starts and has not finished out of the money all five runs at this course.
Well up in the weights with 60.5kg but apprentice jockey John Kissick goes on board and claims 3kg. Does his best racing over this trip and stays under strong notice in this company.
One of the most interesting runners of the field is Nothing Like Luca who resumes off a long spell for a new yard.
Formerly with the Con Karakatsanis stable, Nothin Like Luca will step out for John O’Shea on the back of two strong trial efforts, winning his most recent at Randwick.
He races well fresh, winning two of four but has failed to win a race in 671 days. The five-year-old has a peak Timeform rating of 88 and despite needing this run after a long spell can make his way into the placings.
The other each way chances in the race are Inventive despite a poor resuming run last start at Warwick Farm and Cindarockinrella who has been quite consistent this preparation and rates well on weight adjusted Timeform figures.
Cindarockinrella will more than likely push forward from barrier 10 and settle up on the speed and despite only having a moderate record at the trip will be in this for a long way.
Knoydart is no doubt the most progressive runner in this field and although bred to run over a lot more ground has shown ability over the shorter trip and on what he has produced to date looks destined for bigger things.