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The David Hayes-trained Cahier looks a big chance to complete a hatrick of wins when he lines up in the Rex Gorell Volkswagon Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m) at Geelong today.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The lightly raced five-year-old was solid enough on debut at Mornington on a heavy track before winning his next two outings, both at this course for a combined margin of 6L.
The son of Bel Esprit goes slightly up in trip for this but should get a good run from barrier 5 and stable jockey Chad Schofield stays on board for this.
Cahier has appears to have plenty of upside and recent form rates well on weight adjusted Timeform ratings.
This class is a slight step up on what he faced last start and Override who he beat last start has since gown on to win at Swan Hill so the form line reads pretty well.
The resuming Iriomote from the Peter Snowden stable has an outstanding record when fresh and found herself in tougher company last campaign.
She rates very well here on weight adjusted Timeform ratings and is sure to be in the mix but has failed to win a race in almost a year now.
Likely to settle up on the pace from barrier 6 and she will give Cahier plenty to think about over the concluding stages and looks the most likely if Cahier fails to fire.
Lingo who is dropping back in grade also looms as a danger having returned in good order with a last start third at Flemington and stays at 57kg for this.
The four-year-old gelding generally does his best racing over a bit more ground than what is on offer today but expecting him to be thereabouts as he steps out on the Geelong Synthetic for the first time.
Outside of these there are a handful of each way chances including Street Crier who has run well of late and drops back in class for this.
Freshened since running 8th over 1300m here last start but despite drawing well in barrier 1 is required to carry 61kg and might find that a bit tough against this company.
Tayla Lee and Folk Rock look the best of the rest and would not be surprised to see either of them make their way into the finish.