3 minute read
Chief Of The Clan looks very hard to go past when lining up in the Granite Transformations Flying (1000m) at Canberra today.
The Nick Olive-trained runner takes on a small field here and on what he has produced in recent times will be hard to hold out.
Eight of his nine runs to date have come at this C/D, winning three of them and placing on a further four occasions.
Chief Of The Clan resumed well when running a narrow second two back before leading all the way to win with ease at this C/D last time out.
Richard Bensley sticks with him here today and if he runs up to his recent form he should prove too good once again.
Bring A Rings from the Matthew Dale stable drops back in grade after resuming with a sixth at Canterbury last time out in what was her first start for new yard.
Formerly with the Tony McEvoy stable, the four-year-old mare will find this much easier to what she has been racing against and is certainly worth keeping safe.
Brendan Ward takes the ride for the first time and despite not having won a race in well over a year should be very competitive against these.
Has won 2/5 at the trip previously and has shown enough to suggest she must be respected in this.
Stablemate Tiger Eyes rounds out the main chances having finished last campaign with four wins from five starts.
Generally takes a run or two to get going and is yet to win over the 1000m dash but has plenty of ability and is right up to featuring in the finish of this.
There appears to be plenty of speed with Chief Of The Clan to go forward along with Tiger Eyes and Living On A Prayer will be handy from the inside draw.
Well up in the weights for this, the six-year-old gelding who steps out for a new yard will need plenty to go his way but is dropping back in grade on what he was up against last time in and possesses a very good record at the 1000m trip.
Won four of eight, placing on the other four occasions and would not be surprised to see him in the finish here.
One Direction has been well held in both outings this campaign and was beaten 22.3L at Randwick last start.
Drops well back in grade today and Jay Ford takes the ride but he will need to show improvement on what he has produced in two runs this campaign.
