Miler faces stern test

PROMISING sprinter-miler White Cliffs faces his toughest test this campaign when he lines up in a strong benchmark 66 handicap in Launceston tonight.

White Cliffs has won at his only two starts this preparation, the latest in a class one handicap over 1400m in Launceston two weeks ago and that followed an equally impressive maiden win two weeks earlier. The gelding’s trainer Angela Brakey is confident the three-year-old can register the hat-trick of wins.

“I couldn’t be happier with White Cliffs since his last win,” Brakey said. “He’s ticked all the boxes since that run and while this is clearly a strong benchmark 66 event, my horse’s work has improved and fitness-wise, he goes into this race the best he’s been this preparation.”

White Cliffs showed above average ability early in his career, but a mishap in the mounting yard towards the end of his last preparation forced him off the scene for about seven months.

Brakey also is upbeat about the winning chances of

White Cliff’s older half-brother White Hawk, which comes off a run at Caulfield last Saturday in which he finished seventh of nine in a 2400m benchmark 80 handicap.

White Hawk won a benchmark 84 handicap over 2100m in Launceston before missing a place in the Launceston Cup last month, but Brakey is adamant he should have finished closer at Caulfield last Saturday.

“The rider got off him at Caulfield and said the horse would have won had he led and been able to roll along and that’s exactly how I asked the horse to be ridden but it never panned out that way. He became cluttered up on the rails in what was an extremely slowly-run race.

“I expect him to be ridden forward and while he doesn’t have to lead, he needs to able to roll along and if that eventuates on Wednesday night, he should be very competitive.”

Last-start winner Our Declaration has been in great form over the 2100m trip with the latest in Launceston 11 days ago in the same grade that she meets tonight.

Brilliant Jet has had two starts this time in from a lengthy spell and should be ready to improve and the likely race leader Kanji also should be competitive as he likes to lead and could get away with some cheap sectionals if able to find the front.

ONE of the better bets on the nine-race program looks to be the Gary White-trained Perfect Words, which has been second at her past two starts against similar company and barrier four should be a big advantage.

Perfect Words lines up in race one and has the services of the state’s leading rider Craig Newitt.