Rembrandt looming large Top sprinter hard to beat on quality Red Centre card
A NEAR Carnival quality contest, headed by nine-race winner Rembrandt, headlines an excellent five-race card at Ladbrokes Pioneer Park in Alice Springs today.
The feature XXXX Gold Handicap, for Benchmark 76 performers over 1000m, has attracted a terrific off-season line-up with a mountain of form and a competitive affair almost assured.
Rembrandt, the winner of $135,000 in stakes and twice a winner from seven starts on the track and over the distance, has been burdened with topweight of 60.5kg, but with Lorelle Crow’s 2kg apprentice allowance, the six-year-old son of Manhattan Rain will carry just 58.5kg.
A last-start winner in the same grade over 1200m on 8 October, when carrying 57kg, Rembrandt, trained by Will Savage, is one of the best sprinters in the Territory, and even though the trip may be a little on the short side for him nowadays, he seems sure to take a power of beating again.
He will not have it all his own way, however, with laststart winner Hot Demand, the consistent Du Bois, enigmatic Tequila Red, speedy Pyxis and the lightweights Gamora, Engine Fifty Five, Nordic Eclipse and Luna Meteor all definite chances. It promises to be the highlight of a pre-Melbourne Cup Day card of racing in the Red Centre.
The supporting events are all even fields, which should attract attention from punters.
The opener, the James Boag’s 0-64 Handicap, is a tough nut to crack but the Leanne Gillett-trained stablemates Heart Of Red and That’s Justified make plenty of appeal. Both are in solid form and should figure in the finish, along with Chima, the consist- ent Kentucky Fireball, Bonsai Boy and Parting Shot. Urban Bourbon, on his best form, would be competitive as well.
The Ladbrokes Maiden over 1100m gives former Darwin-trained galloper Destiny of Steel a chance to break through, although Pausini, Sorry I Am Razor and Shanarich should also be included in multiples.
Lisa Whittle’s consistent pair of Shining Mane and Mitochondria seem certain to be at the forefront of calculations in the Crown Plaza Alice Springs BM54 Handicap, while the last event on the program, the Gem Cave Handicap (1400m), is perhaps the toughest race of the day to work out.
Ash Grey should be suited by the trip, Contact Front has looked good winning his last two starts, while Shoot ‘n’ Scoot never goes a bad race and is deserving of a winning turn. The field is completed by Grab For Power, Catchtherainbow and Ruby For Henry.