Brett Crawford tops the Post Merchants boards

BRETT Crawford’s two runners occupy the top two betting spots in Friday’s Grade 2 Post Merchants over 1 200m at Greyville.

Sunset Eyes tops the Betting World boards at 5-2 with Black Cat Back next best at 15-4.

Black Cat Back’s five wins have been over 1 400m but he has done well in sprints in his last two starts. In February in the Fever Tree Handicap over 1 400m at Scottsville he set a good pace but was mowed down by Sniper Shot, who has since gone on to prove his class.

Blinkers were fitted to Black Cat Back when he ran in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m at Greyville. He wasn’t quickly away and came around them from behind into the straight. He still managed to stay on for a 1.25-length third to Sunset Eyes.

The form was then franked by runner-up Tribal Fusion. Interestingly the blinkers were removed for Black Cat Back’s next start in the Listed In Full Flight Stakes over 1 100m at Scottsville and he was a touch outpaced before running on strongly for a 2.25-length third to Bold Respect, with Sunset Eyes in second.

Bold Respect went on to win the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint. The blinkers remain off Black Cat Back on Friday night and he has a plum draw of four.

His 103 merit rating is near the top of the 100 to 104 band.

There is not much between Sunset Eyes and Black Cat Back as the former beat the latter by 1.75kg in the In Full Flight but is now 2.5kg worse off.

Legislate is next best at 6-1 and he did finish third in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over this course and distance two years ago. He hasn’t raced for over two years and will likely need it, despite putting up a good barrier trial.

Attenborough is an enigmatic sort but proved his ability when winning the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein.

He was dropped out in the Tsogo Sun Sprint and ran on well for fifth. Computaform Sprint rider Richard Fourie is back aboard and he should be staying on strongly. – Gold Circle Betting World’s betting on the Post Merchants:

5-2 Sunset Eyes; 15-4 Black Cat Back; 6-1 Legislate; 7-1 Attenborough; 8-1 Sniper Shot; 12-1 Mombela, Pure Blonde, Wonderwall; 16-1 Wynkelder; 25-1 Our Mate Art, Bishops Bounty, Rock Of Africa, Too Phat To Fly; 40-1 Hoist The Mast