3 minute read

Lightly raced mare Sassy Bay will appreciate dropping in grade for today's Cardinia Club Handicap (race 7) at Pakenham.

The lightly-raced mare has been racing in tougher grade of late and heading back to the country today she looks hard beat in RB72 class over 1770m.

Prepared at Narbethong by Chris Clavarino, the mare has raced only 13 times for three wins but has spent much of her career taking on tougher grade in town.

Four starts back Sassy Bay broke through over 1400m at Betfair Park Lakeside, where she drew wide and sat midfield before running on well to score a neck win over Our Pride And Joy.

She returned there next start over a mile in an RB82 and sat sixth in the run before again running on well, this time finishing a close-up fourth behind Sister Norma.

Again at Sandown, but over 1500m, she drew the outside of 13 and slid across to sit just off the leaders, battling on well in the straight to finish fourth behind Invincible You.

Last start, in the Listed Ladies Day Vase over a mile at Caulfield, she again drew an outside gate and after settling midfield battled away well in the run home, finishing ninth and beaten four lengths behind Hi Belle.

Today she rises 2kg but drops significantly in grade.

The mare is at her top, is suited at the trip and has finally drawn a gate in barrier one.

From there she'll be parked just off the lead and looks hard to beat on her recent efforts.

The lightly-raced St James Lane will be well fancied to bring up three straight wins and looks the main danger.

The five-year-old gelding has started only eight times for four wins and has to dater had four one start campaigns so obviously has had his share of issues.

But trainer Jason Warren might have him right now as he's won both runs this time in.

Fresh-up was over 1469m at Kyneton where he had a big weight and led throughout for a narrow win over Pelikaan Street.

He improved with the run under his belt last time, though, stepping up to 1700m at Geelong in an RB68 and leading throughout again to score a length win.

He meets a tougher grade again here, although it's arguably whether the opposition is any tougher.

He carries the same weight and drawn well, and in the small field will take catching again.

Scenic Scene is a veteran who drops in class for this and can improve sharply.

The gelding was a close-up fourth two back in the Quam Cup at Swan Hill before heading to town and finishing eighth over a mile at Moonee Valley.

There he had a tough run and faded out of it to finish a long way from Cosmic Causeway.

He is fitter for three runs from a let-up and can do far better this class.

Scenic Find was sound over 2000m at Caulfield last time when fifth behind Cosmonaut.

He drops in grade and has a top record here, with three wins from four starts at the track and distance.

He does prefer it softer though.