Perfect Neighbour presents midweek gift
PERFECT NEIGHBOUR is back down in class among open allowance runners after spending the mandatory four months in jail since winning the Bonnie Blue Flag Trophy at nine furlongs and 25 yards on March 24.
During the interim, PERFECT NEIGHBOUR was a model inmate in races featuring his stablemates, contesting mid-distance to sprint races, one or two which might have fallen through were it not for his participation.
Late last month, he closed into fourth place behind SHE’S A MANEATER, flying at the end of the Eros Trophy to finish on the tails of MONEY MAGNET and SIEMPRE BUENO, second and third, respectively, both hopelessly outclassed by his stablemate.
Returning to the scene of his March 24 crime, nine furlongs and 25 yards, again carrying topweight, PERFECT NEIGHBOUR is a midweek gift to punters, running against six rivals - including stablemates UNCLE FRANK and DRUMMER BOY.
Anthony Nunes’ ORPHEUS had beaten PERFECT NEIGHBOUR on his 2018 debut, February 28, but DaCosta’s runner was returning off a near seven-month lay-up and venturing in his rival’s mid-distance backyard, seven and a half furlongs, with topweight 126lb.
Though ORPHEUS has been begging for more ground after completing back-to-back victories with his late February win against PERFECT NEIGHBOUR, the fiveyear-old hasn’t done much at exercise since returning from an almost four-month break late June.
Since working five and a half furlongs with KANALOA midJune, ORPHEUS has only trotted in the mornings, even though he ran a storming third and lost in a driving finish at five furlongs straight to CAMPESINO and ARMAGEDDON in his second race back a month later.
With ORPHEUS’ form appearing iffy and DRUMMER BOY having done next to nothing at exercise in preparation for a nine furlong and 25-yard race since competing in the St Leger, two and a half weeks ago, the horse to keep an eye on, as an exacta option, could be JAMAI RAJA.
Trainer Delroy Waugh appears to have got the five-year-old gelding back to semblance of form, considering how he sliced through LUNAR ROCKET three furlongs out and easily beat overnight allowance rivals on July 28.
However, there’s no doubting PERFECT NEIGHBOUR with Omar Walker doing duties. Even at eight years old, DaCosta let him rip six furlongs in 1:14.2 last Thursday morning.