Miss Varlicious can go in again
PAUL Gadsby fought a long and hard battle with the handicappers to reduce the merit rating of Miss Varlicious to a more competitive mark and it took over two years to come down from what Gadsby claimed was a ridiculous rating from the outset. From a career high of 103 she needed to drop 31 pounds to a 72 for her to finally win another race - that a narrow neck victory on the Greyville poly earlier this month.
With all ratings increased by six points from the start of the month, and an extra four for her recent victory, Miss Varlicious starts off a rating of 80 today but with apprentice Khanya Sakayi claiming 4kg she can go in again in the fifth at Greyville.
Miss Varlicious has always been honest and game, a trait that makes any reduction in rating a long and arduous process – ask Gadsby and any number of his trainer colleagues – so another win today will probably herald a trip to the greener pastures of a stud farm.
Victory Trip could pose a threat after her three-length romp last time out but the opposition was not much to write home about and she is on the drift in the market. Spring In Seattle has improved in blinkers and can feature while Flamenco Dancer has shown some fair form to stronger and could be the pick of the Bosch runners in spite of current odds of around 7-1.
With the sale of Monks Hood to Hong Kong interests almost finalised, it will be back to bread-and-butter for Alistair Gordon but the show must go on. Hometown Hero lines up in a qualified maiden in the seventh and made a smart comeback after a break when runner-up to Captain Cobalt.
The gelding showed good pace that day and from a tidy draw should feature again although Shantytown and De Lago’s Future could make things difficult.
Shantytown has his third run after a break but after trying 1600m last time out it’s back to a sprint this afternoon. Anthony Delpech’s agent, Dees Dayanand, seldom misses a trick so you leave Garth Puller’s runner out of your bets at your peril.De Lago’s Future is a bit of a misnomer given that Shane Humby’s charge is a gelding, but the stable is starting to turn after a torrid time with a virus and De Lago’s Future, blinkers back on and Anton Marcus in the irons, could well oblige at decent ante-post odds of 4-1.
This is not a card for the feint-hearted and the fourth is a case in point where Star Of Caesour is a weak 4-1 chance in the ante-post market with Track & Ball although the presences of Delpech in the saddle may have a lot to do with that price in what is really something of a handicap lottery.
Sean Tarry’s filly has not won for close on a year although she has shown signs of life at recent outings, finishing runner-up at her penultimate start behind Lady Li Lay before disappointing when six lengths behind the same filly last time out.Expresso Martini has shown up well in recent outings for the in-form Gadsby yard but could be hard-pressed to turn the tables on her recent conqueror Burnberry.
Duncan Howells took the brave decision to turn off his taps for a fortnight while he battled a virus in his yard but the wheel appears to have turned with a winner and two second places on Sunday.
He sends out Sitia who showed good pace over course and distance last time out before fading late but was re ported to be coughing post-race.
There are a host of others in with chances and having a dip on the nose will be a risky bet.