3 minute read

Honest galloper Zedlion can bounce back to his best form in today's Newcastle Herald Jungle Juice Cup (race 7) at Cessnock.

The Sydney trained gelding, prepared by Jason Coyle at Warwick Farm, has had a long but very successful campaign including four wins and three minors.

Following a win over 1580m at Canterbury, he was runner up there over 1550m then returned there for a 1900m race but ran well below his best so was given a month off.

He returned over 1500m at Rosehill in a Benchmark 80 and after sitting second tried hard in the straight but couldn't stick with the early leader and eventual winner Under The Sun, fading to finish fifth.

A fortnight later he headed to the country for the Nowra Cup over a mile.

Jumping well and sitting second, he loomed up at the top of the straight and lifted strongly, scoring a long neck win over Ilringya.

Last start, returning to town over 1400m at Rosehill, he again raced in Benchmark 80 grade and sat fourth throughout before running up onto heels but only battling home in the straight, finishing ninth.

That was in Saturday grade and he was only beaten 3.6 lengths so looks well placed today over 1350m in this class.

He drops in weight on his last run and from a middle draw is expected to be close to the action throughout.

Zedlion rates strongly on his city form and Nowra Cup win and should give a bold sight here at each way odds.

The Port Macquarie trained Never Doubt Me has good form for this and looks the biggest danger from an ideal gate.

The Neil Godbolt trained filly went through a purple patch of form through the autumn, wining four of five runs, the last two at Grafton in a Benchmark 75 before winning in open class at Coffs Harbour.

She then ran in the $200,000 Dark Jewel at Scone and was certainly not disgraced when enduring a wide run from gate 13 before boxing on well for a close up fifth.

Next start she dropped back to 1100m at Grafton and was beaten for speed, settling last and turning there, before running on hard to finish a 1.5 length fifth in a good form race behind Hoist.

Last start, in the Wauchope Cup over 1500m on her home track, she raced on the speed in the heavy ground and boxed on strongly, finishing runner-up behind Kinetics.

The sixth placed horse form that race, Juggah Hill, backed up and won with ease at Newcastle at his following start.

Never Doubt Me has a big weight in today's race but the trip suits, she relishes soft ground and has leader rider Grey Ryan aboard.

General's Sniper has been racing honestly lately and looks a strong each way hope from gate two.

The mare won at Wyong fresh then wasn't disgraced but was no match in the far tougher Dark Jewel, finishing 13th.

She then went to a mile at Wyong and ran a close up fourth before finishing third over 1550m at Canterbury.

Last start, over 1400m at Warwick Farm, she boxed on strongly to finish third.

Today she has a nice weight, a good gate and with leading rider Robert Thompson aboard looks a strong hope.

Universal Belief has had a great campaign with five wins from nine runs including the Tamworth Cup four back when coming from last off a wide gate to score.

Last start he didn't have a lot of luck when fifth in the Wauchope Cup, copping a check and running into traffic at the top of the straight.

He meets Never Doubt Me 3.5kg better here and has a superb record at the journey with five wins form six runs.