Look to Berranca

ANTHONY Nunes’ BERRANCA is nicely in at the handicaps to catch the speedsters in Saturday’s 1200-metre Ahwhofah Sprint.

Drawing a line through last Saturday’s open-allowance form in which CRUCIAL APPEAL (56.5 kilos) beat stablemate CHACE THE GREAT (50.0), clocking 1:05.1 at 1100 metres, BERRANCA, carrying 48.5 kilos in the lower class, getting upwards of eight pounds from the sprinters, should close for the kill inside the final furlong.

Last time out, October 8, BERRANCA closed strongly to finish a clear second behind CRUCIAL APPEAL, leaving third-place TALENTED TONY K four-and-a- quarter lengths behind at 1000 metres round, a race won in 58.3.

In her previous race, September 25, BERRANCA was outsped by CHACE THE GREAT, the lone speed that afternoon, at 1300 metres. Though having to chase the speed, she stayed on well to finish three-and-a-quarter lengths behind CHACE THE GREAT, who clocked 1:18.2.

STABLE EXACTA

CRUCIAL APPEAL and CHACE THE GREAT went up in class last Saturday and completed the stable exacta at 1100 metres, beating the likes of GARY GLITTER and CAMPESINO into third and fourth, respectively.

BERRANCA has three speed horses to stalk at the perfect distance – DREAMLINER (52.5), TALENTED TONY K (52.0), and her own stablemate, ROYAL ASSAULT (54.0).

ROYAL ASSAULT was a winner on June 8, clocking 1:06.2 for 1100 metres. However, the chestnut colt hasn’t raced since, raising suspicions as to his readiness for tomorrow’s race. Though not raced in almost five months, ROYAL ASSAULT is speedy enough to keep DREAMLINER and TALENTED TONY K honest on the lead.

DREAMLINER and TALENTED TONY K will be bent on running each other off the lead. With ROYAL ASSAULT thrown into the mix to ensure neither gets a breather, BERRANCA, running lighter than all three, must be the horse to beat at 1200 metres.