3 minute read
Lightly raced mare Light Express gets the chance to return to winning form in today's Tour Of Victoria Handicap (race 6) at Seymour.
The mare has managed to find a very small field after scratching for this 1400m heat of the series which is an RB72.
Prepared by Michael Hibbs at Cranbourne, the mare hasn't won since her maiden success on the all weather at Geelong fresh up last campaign.
She had three more runs that campaign, finishing a narrow second at Geelong again before placing at Flemington and finishing a solid fifth at Caulfield.
After a spell she resumed over 1100m in a showcase race at Ballarat and after settling third boxed on well to hold that position to the line.
Next start was back to 1000m up the straight at Flemington where she had a high draw and little luck in the run home, finishing sixth but beaten 4.5 lengths.
Next start was back at Caulfield in an RB89 for mares.
Settling fourth, she turned there and boxed on well to finish sixth again.
Last start, up to 1400m and back in grade to a showcase RB72 like today, she sat outside the lead after gathering pace.
Turning in the lead she fought on well and finished a neck third in a photo finish behind Lucario and Chamandi.
Light Express meets the same grade and distance today, and carries the same weight.
Danny Nikolic is aboard again and in the small field he should be able to sit off the leaders and prove hard to beat.
Midnight Express is going better than his last couple suggest and should be hard to hold out.
The John Salanitri trained gelding resumed with a fast finishing 1000m win at Pakenham before stepping up to an RB78 here, running on again and finishing a narrow fourth.
Heading to town over 1200m at Moonee Valley he sat just off the pace and worked home steadily to finish fourth again, before drawing off the track last start at Mornington.
In the big field there he went back and was caught wide before battling home to finish 10th, beaten 5.6 lengths in a run worth forgetting.
Today he tackles the same grade but has drawn much better in barrier five and drops nicely in the weights after the 4kg claim.
On his previous three runs he'd be hard to beat here.
Delago Sun was also well beaten at Mornington last start but is worth another chance.
The gelding drifted back and in what was a dash home could only manage to finish fifth.
Prior to that, though, he had won over 1200m at Cranbourne before placing over 1300m at Bendigo.
Although it's a small field with a bit of pace on up front he should be motoring home late.
Zachary Quack saves his best for the all weather at Geelong but in this small field will give a big sight in front.