3 minute read

Handy galloper At The Heads can bring up his second stakes win on end in today's Listed John Dillon Stakes (race 6) at Caulfield.

The five year old entire returned to winning form last start in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes last start at Flemington and form a similar draw today over 1400m at Caulfield should prove hard to hold out again.

Prepared by Danny O'Brien at Flemington, At The Heads put the writing on the wall three starts back when runner up over 1410m at Flemington. There he sat just off the speed and worked home well but just missed.

Next start was over 1400m at Flemington again and he crossed to sit second before battling home wlel in the straight, finishing fifth in a busy finish when only a length from the winner Let's Be Happy.

Last start, again over the 1400m trip at Flemington, jockey James Winks crossed over to settle fourth and was there throughout before running on well and drawing clear with a 1.8 length win over Pied A Terre.

The win broke a 12 month drought for the stallion but he could go on with it now as he's drawn a good barrier again and drops a half kilo in the weights.

He meets some of those he beat worse at the weights but from a good run in transit again should be sprinting quickly and hard to hold out at the finish.

One of those who was beaten by At The Heads in the Manifold last start at Shadowfax, who ran ninth but had little luck.

The Mark Kavanagh trained gelding resumed this campaign on Melbourne Cup day with a fast finishing fourth in Listed grade up the straight.

He was then runner up here over 1400m when beaten in a photo before heading to Sydney for the Group 2 Villiers Stakes at Warwick Farm.

There he drifted well back but never came on, finishing a 10 length 12th behind Monton.

Back to Melbourne and freshened for the Manifold, he was blocked for a run back in the field and finished second last, beaten 4.8 lengths.

He drops 4.5kg on the run and is certainly worth another chance here from a good gate and with a strong record at the course and distance.

With clear running he'll be hard to hold out.

Chasm is a horse that has ability but was seemingly never able to break through, that was until his first run for his new yard when winning the Doveton Stakes last time.

Now with Brendan McCarthy, Chasm resumed here over the 1200m journey in the Listed Doveton and got back in the field as he does but hit the line too well to score.

He can only be fitter and is suited by the extra ground.

He rises a kilo and will find this field tougher but has drawn for a good run in transit and should be winding up strongly.

Another who should be doing just that is Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed, who kicks off her autumn campaign today.

The Lean Mcdonald and Andrew Gluyas trained mare won the Caulfield Cup two back then was fourth in the MacKinnon Stakes when running on from well back.

This journey will be well short of her best but she has won fresh, the trip suits and she is expected to be winding up strongly in this much easier class.

Shout Out Loud comes into this race nicely at the weights after boxing on well for fifth in the Manifold Stakes and with the four kilo drop should give a big sight again.