3 minute read
Punters face a pretty tough task with the final race at Geelong today but the in form Ruling Heart may see them home.
The Michael Templeton trained gelding has won his last two at the course and although up in grade for today's Centrebet Supervic Showcase Handicap (race 9) he will prove hard to hold out again.
The gelding was tested over more ground without a lot of success last campaign, so was sent for a long spell and missed the summer and much of the autumn.
Resuming here over 1300m in an RB58, he settled near last and turned there before running away with a 2.8 length win.
He tackled the same grade and distance here last time but carried 60kg, again getting back and this time settling a clear last before making a sustained run.
He kept coming in the straight and arrived just in time to score another win.
Today the gelding rises to an RB62 but has the same weight, over the same trip and course, and even has the same gate.
Ruling Heart can only be fitter again and looks a great each way chance of running on into the finish again.
The lightly raced L'Esprit is another who goes well at the course and can measure up here despite a wide gate.
The Andrew Homann trained gelding, a six year old son of Bel Esprit, made a belated debut here over 1000m and after settling back came with a strong run to score an impressive two length win.
He then tackled a Class 1 Showcase and after drifting back bided his time on the inside before coming with a fast finishing run into second behind Kidancho's Rogue, beaten a nose.
He looks likely to be further improved for this and also looks well placed at the longer journey.
Lightly raced filly Diamond Lady is yet another all weather track winner and although up in grade is expected to measure up.
The filly, prepared by Clinton McDonald at Caulfield, made her debut with a solid fourth at Sale after covering ground, then was spelled again.
She resumed with another luckless run when covering ground throughout at Warrnambool, no easy task down there during their carnival, and finished fourth again.
She appreciated the firmer footing here last time to claim her maiden when running on hard to score after being blocked for a run.
She has drawn for a good run today and looks suited by stretching out to the longer journey.
This is a tougher assignment but she's a filly on the up and should run well.
Minute By Minute has claims on his last start third here over the same trip and gets a senior rider aboard today, while Comic Ruler also ran well here last time, finishing runner up, and should be hard to hold out again.
