3 minute read
Colin and Cindy Anderson look to have finally found the right race for their middle-distance four-year-old Danarule, who lines up in the Rettke’s Carrier St Meats Maiden (2046m) at Benalla today.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Still a maiden after 13 starts, the four-year-old gelding is enjoying his best spell of form to date and should find this a bit easier than what he’s been up against this preparation.
The son of Danasinga seemed to enjoy the step up to this trip 17 days ago where he finished behind Padrao last start in tougher at Cranbourne.
He sat last, worked his way into the race around the bend and eventually squeezed through into second spot. Danarule couldn’t quite reel in the winner, but had he found a way through a little earlier it may well have been a different story.
That run netted a weight-adjusted Timeform rating of 71, and followed a fourth placing at Cranbourne in Restricted 58 grade, and an impressive third-placed finish in midweek metro grade at Moonee Valley.
He carries 58.5kg again today which he’s been lugging all campaign, and links up with the talented Jamie Mott for the first time.
His wide barrier shouldn’t be an issue given he tends to settle closer to the rear in most of his races.
He rates well ahead of this field on his best, and with the right run in transit should get his chance to stand in the post-race winner’s stall.
Danarule’s biggest danger was shaping up as By His Design but he’s been scratched.
Super Excited therefore comes right under notice given her impressive effort to run fourth at Pakenham 15 days ago in just her third career start.
That performance earned a weight-adjusted Timeform rating of 64, and the form out of that race has stood up pretty well over the past fortnight.
She drops half a kilogram to 56.5kg today and the extra trip will likely suit her given her usual pattern of dropping back and running on.
The key for her will be to avoid getting caught up in traffic from gate two.
She’s taken improvement with each run, and if that trend continues here she should give plenty of cheek today.
Paul Maher’s four-year-old entire Kachow is also capable of giving plenty of cheek second-up.
He’s untried at this track but resumed off a five-month break as a much improved galloper two weeks ago when second in a Wangaratta maiden, and can improve again today.
He’s been up to 1980m before and hit the line as well as any of them last start. Don’t be surprised to see him rattling home with a big finish.
