3 minute read
Talented miler Mighty Warrior can make it back to back wins when he lines up in Singapore on Sunday night.
The ever-consistent gelding takes on a competitive field in race nine, an open benchmark 83 over 1600 metres.
Mighty Warrior is an each-way punter’s dream as he has yet to miss a place in nine career runs.
Four of those have resulted in wins and his latest was one of his more impressive when saluting over this distance on November 1.
On that occasion he settled in behind the speed and looked in trouble when the leaders sprinted early in the straight.
Given time to balance up he lengthened stride strongly and put his rivals away in impressive fashion, jockey Corey Brown giving him an easy time on the line.
Mighty Warrior scored by a three quarters of a length on that occasion and given that he was only third up that day it is fair to assume he would have more improvement to come.
His form reads well this campaign with placings at his first two runs back and he may have found his niche at the 1600 metre journey where has two wins and a third from three attempts.
The rails draw affords Mighty Warrior a soft run in transit bit could pose a threat if he finds a wall of horses in the straight but Brown knows the horse well, having been aboard in all nine of his runs.
Mighty Warrior has a slight edge on the field on Timeform adjusted ratings this season and is still on the rise so may be capable of figures beyond the reach of his rivals.
One possible stumbling block for Mighty Warrior is the fact that this will be his first experience on the all weather surface, all nine of his previous runs coming on the turf.
Should the all weather present a problem Best Tothelign could be the one to capitalise.
He loves the all weather with four wins and two placings from seven attempts.
Best Tothelign didn’t enjoy the best of runs last start and that took its toll late in the race where he was weakening on the line.
His previous form was solid with top three finishes at three successive runs including a 1200 metre victory in August.
The mile remains a query with the five-year-old yet to race beyond 1400 metres.
The return to the all weather track can change the fortunes of Power Play.
His last two runs make for ordinary reading but it must be noted both have been on the turf and he just hasn’t let down well enough on the surface.
He has made two appearances on the all weather for a win and a placing so he can turn things around here.
Although having raced from 1200 to 2000 metres, both of his career victories have been at 1800m so there is a question whether he has enough dash for this though he is sure to be strong at the business end.
Ideal Guide has found a patch of consistency with placings at his last three appearances.
He has been mixing his distances with his run two starts back being over 1800 metres so there are no concerns about him running out a strong mile.
He lumped 59.5kg when beaten three quarters of a length over 1600 metres last time and while this is no easy assignment the drop back to 57.5kg will work in his favour.
Like Mighty Warrior he remains a query on the all weather track having missed a place in his only attempt at the surface.