JOHNNY RUNS HOT
FORMER Victorian galloper Johnny Chutzpah has been quietly winning his way through the grades since he joined Gary White’s stable, and the astute trainer is quietly confident the gelding can extend his winning sequence in a benchmark 72 handicap over 1400m at Elwick on Wednesday.
Johnny Chutzpah has won two of his past three starts with the latest in a benchmark 68 handicap over 1430m at Elwick 10 days ago, in which he settled close to the speed from a good draw and that is likely to be the case on Wednesday. “We wanted to ride him closer to the lead last start and Bulent (Muhcu) settled him second and that worked out really well,” White said.
“He has drawn gate one on Wednesday so I would imagine Bulent will have him in a forward spot early, and if that happens, I expect him to be very hard to beat.”
And Beyond is the highest rated (81) horse in the race but he was allocated 63.5kg and even with Chelsea Baker’s two kilogram claim, the gelding would have to improve oink his recent efforts to win carrying 61.5kg.
Coronation Keith is resuming from a spell, and he usually tries to control the speed in his races, although he was ridden off the speed last start at his first run back from a spell, but the plan didn’t pan out as expected.
That was over 1100m, but he is back to his pet distance of 1400m, a trip over which he has won three times.
The Barry Campbelltrained Assaranca hasn’t won for over a year but she lands in a winnable race if it is run to suit.
The mare has started twice this preparation for consecutive fourths with the latest in Devonport in a BM68 won by Clifton Danseur three weeks ago. The mare drops in weight owing to the class rise and the appointment of Brendon McCoull is a plus as he is fresh from a riding treble in Devonport last Friday.
Adam Trinder’s handy three-year-old from last season, Miss Charlie Brown, resumes from a four-month spell and will no doubt need the run and Ethical Dilemma could sneak a place at odds provided she doesn’t get too far back.
Team Wells will be banking on well-bred filly threeyear-old filly Geegees Misty taking out the opening event on the nine-race card, a 3YO maiden over 1100m, on the strength of her first-up second to highly promising filly Fear the Sting at Elwick last week.
While Geegees Misty finished over three lengths from the winner she made up good ground and toughed it out at
the business end to suggest she isn’t far off breaking her maiden status.
The main dangers appear to be Muscle Up, Flying Billie, and Elmajay that won an 800-metre trial convincingly at Elwick last week.
One of the best bets on the card is the Dale Bramichtrained Lion’s Tooth in the benchmark 62 handicap (race seven) over 1400m.
The former Queensland gelding was impressive in winning a similar race at his third start in the state with apprentice Brooke Hanham aboard and she again takes the ride to take four kilograms off his back.