Starlight should be ready to shine in Challenge Cup
– Progressive sprinter Starlight returns to the city course this week for his third run this season and the Dennis Yip-trained galloper should take all the beating in Race 6, the Citi Sprint Challenge Cup.
This son of Red Element justified his short price when winning over 1200m last start by comfortably beating subsequent winner Smart Boy. The form has been franked, but a major part of that victory was enjoying a good run from a decent barrier. In the past he has been plagued with bad gates and it had proven costly.
As far as his winning performance
Hong Kong
was concerned, it rated well and providing he can attain a decent position for Zac Purton then he looks a standout Win bet and can be used as a banker in the Exacta.
The main threat should come from Brave Knight who returned with a highly impressive win this month when winning with a swooping run from back in the field. He clocked the second fastest final 400m (22.51sec) at the meeting and a similar effort should see him figure in the finish. And David Ferraris’ Breeders’’ Star is another who makes appeal for the Exacta. He has good stats over the course and distance, should strip fitter with one run under the belt and might get the race run to suit.
In the seventh event, the Verbena Handicap, David Ferraris and Karis Teetan combine with Kiram who looks a sound chance to turn the tables on Thunder Stomp (Joao Moreira) on their clash earlier this month. Kiram has been a model of consistency for a number of recent starts but more importantly he meets Thunder Stomp 4kg better off for the three-length defeat. On that occasion, Kiram was held-up at critical stages but still worked home stylishly and looks a great Eachway chance.
Ferraris also has a firm chance to win the Cassia Handicap (Race 2) with Massive Millennium who takes a drop in grade.
He should enjoy the run of the race from a low barrier and has won first-up in the past. A number of his efforts over the 1200m at the city course rate well enough to beat a rather moderate field and he appeals as a win bet.
The fourth event appeals as a good race to invest in the Quartet with some value potentially sneaking in to the frame but the two main chances are Victory Follow Me and Born To Race.
The former was sound in defeat on his resuming run when runner-up over the Valley 1600m to subsequent winner Speedy Wally.
And Born To Race also comes from a reasonable form race with the winner Curling Luxury backing-up within a week and scoring again.
These two only have to run to that sort of form and we could have Zac Purton and Joao Moreira fighting this one out. No Laughing Matter, Spicy Double and Golden Partners (Millard/ Schofield) should all be included as chances to hit the frame.