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Kurrajong Dragon looks perfectly placed in this afternoon’s Henry Smiles Class 3 Plate (1788m) at Dalby.
The Robert Cole-trained four-year-old has been steadily improving all campaign and appears to have found the right race today against a relatively out of form lot.
He narrowly won a race at Ipswich over 1666m 18 two back then finished 2.6L off at that track in a pretty robust race won by Night Chills.
Night Chills beat home Germayne Lass that day who the run before hadn’t finished too far away from the talented What A Gal.
In any event, this race doesn’t look as strong today and the slightly longer journey should suit Kurrajong Dragon down to the ground.
He settled at the rear to back when winning at Ipswich, winding up down the outside to get their in the final bound, running to a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 71.
Eighteen days ago he was ridden similarly but couldn’t quite bridge the gap. That run earned a weight-adjusted figure of 74.
From gate six he’ll likely settle towards the tail again today, and I’m expecting to finish right over the top of them.
Only a handful of these look to be going well enough to challenge.
Blaktar was runner-up here over 1400m two runs back running to a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 71, then was 2.8L off at Kilcoy over 1500m in tougher than this nine days ago.
The Michael Nolan-trained five-year-old hit the line nicely on that occasion and is another one who looks suited by the extra ground on offer here.
The problem with Blaktar looks to be the 59kg, although this isn’t overly strong so expect him to run another strong race here.
Last-start winner General Kingsman also comes under notice following his last-start win at Kilcoy in Class 2 grade.
He ran to a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 63 on that occasion after enjoying a saloon passage through from the back of the field.
He’s untried over this trip but looked to have a bit in the tank after crossing the line at Kilcoy and warrants consideration today in a race devoid of many chances.
