3 minute read
Handy galloper Mr Consolidator looks a great each way chance in today's final race at Betfair Park Hillside – the Ahern's At Highways After The Last Handicap (race 7).
The Leon Corstens-trained gelding has been eased up in journey in his two runs this time in and now to 1800m looks hard to hold out in this RB72.
Last campaign, the gelding was a debut winner over 1200m but really showed his best over much further.
He stepped from 1400m at his third run straight to 2000m at Mornington and after sitting just off the lead ran away with an effortless win.
Mr Consolidator then raced here on the Lakeside track over 2100m and had little luck buried back in the field but flew home from last to finish third.
He was then tested in far tougher grade in the Group 2 Alister Clarke Stakes, where he drifted back from the inside to late but didn't come on and went for a spell.
Resuming over 1223m at Mornington he drew wide and went back to a clear last but warmed up late in the race to finish ninth.
He then stepped up to a mile at Ballarat and put the writing on the wall a win is on the horizon.
Drawing wide and settling midfield, he got home late to finish runner up behind Dolbamache in a decent form race.
The gelding looks well placed over the longer journey today and the big track with its long straight, which should see him go through his gears and run into the finish late.
The in-form Coll And Tiree comes into the race in good form and certainly looks up to midweek city class.
The Kathryn Durden-trained gelding resumed over 1400m at Seymour and after getting well back got home strongly to finish fourth.
He then stayed at 1400m in this grade at Horsham and again got back but ran on well, this time finishing a neck third.
Last start, over a mile at Bendigo, he had a big weight and got back to third last but was too strong in the run to the line when a 1.3 length winner.
He looks even better placed over the 1800m journey today and should be hard to hold out again.
The query runner is Elms, who is resuming from a spell.
Like all the horses prepared at Mount Macedon by Robert Hickmott, it's impossible to know if they are fit and ready to win fresh or need more racing to bring to their top.
Elms, a lightly raced son of Zabeel, has won three of his seven runs and is certainly up to this grade.
His first win was over 1500m at his second start then he went straight to 2200m and dead heated for first with Flying Hula at Ballarat.
He was then seventh over 2300m and 2400m at his next two before a spell.
Last campaign he raced just twice, kicking off over a mile at Swan Hill and winning by three lengths before finishing eighth in Adelaide then was spelled again.
If forward enough he can certainly win but betting may be the only guide.
Others to include in the multiples are Bianmick who will find this much easier than a last stat eighth in Listed grade at Flemington on Oaks day, and Slippery Satin, who is a horse on the up and ready to win.
