Q The Music to finally crack it
TAKING the Computaform assessments into consideration, punters are in for another difficult afternoon at Greyville today and if their reading of the sixth is any evidence then one needs to include the field, or at least as many as finances allow as all 12 runners have an x behind their names.
However, Q The Music has been a victim of his own consistency and the handicappers have been reluctant to drop his rating, and indeed stepped him up a couple of pounds for his second placing behind Kazaar last time out.
But he has a good draw and could well vindicate the handicapper’s assessment.
The regally bred Perfect Air bids for a hat-trick of victories in the seventh and the lightly raced daughter of Dynasty did well to win her last start coming off a break. She is potentially the best horse in the field but may have a hard time pegging back Dinner Date.
Garth Puller is in deadly form at present and although Dinner Date’s form is hardly worth writing home about at first glance, it may bare further scrutiny. She races in blinkers for the first time from a good draw and Mark Khan replaces and apprentice rider.
Final Judgement
Final Judgement was one of the leading lights of her twoyear-old generation winning the Gr2 Golden Slipper, but she has been winless since.
That could all change tomorrow as she is many a punter’s idea of an exotic bet banker in the fourth, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m, but it may not be quite that straight forward.
The form of her generation has not been exemplary and Final Judgement is only rated a pound better than most of her opposition at tomorrow’s weights. She is the obvious choice at first glance but the reality could be a little different. Sorceress and the now blinkered Osprey strike as likely dangers.
A win would have been a better result but Paul Lafferty was not unduly worried about White Lightning’s defeat at Scottsville last Sunday.
“I thought he ran a race.
“I was happy with the run. He’s only had two starts and he should come on a bit now.”
Anton Marcus has stuck with the ride and White Lightning is likely to start a short-odds again when he lines up in the third.
Last Sunday, most of the field were caught out by the tactics employed by Muzi Yeni good on winner Duke Of Spin.
Going to the front at a solid gallop, most maidens will have been expected to compound in the home straight but Duke Of Spin is obviously a touch above your average galloper as he had the opposition off the bit before turning for home and pulled away to win as he liked.
A furlong out, White Lightning looking in danger of missing out for PA punters but he rallied under Marcus and was doing his best work late, running into second.
Stable companion Pot Luck is a likely pacemaker and pole position over the Greyville 1600m on the turf is prime territory so there shouldn’t be any excuses this time around.
If there is to be another upset it could come in the form of the Howells/yeni combination again.
Although drawn wide at 13, Jet Stream has had two barrier trials, one on the Greyville turf, and there was a lot to like about his debut effort.
Howells has admitted his stable was behind where it should be because of his well-document virus, and it now appears to be turning the corner.
Jet Stream will much prefer Sunday’s trip and Marcus, who often rides work for the yard, has had a ‘feel’ on Jet Stream so will know exactly what he is up against.