Senior Queensland rider Jason “Stubby” Holder joins with handy galloper Blackett Street for today's Westlawn Finance Grafton Cup Prelude (race 5) at Grafton.
Originally from Adelaide but now based on the Gold Coast, Holder is hoping to make his presence felt early on at the Grafton Cup carnival and looks a strong chance on Blackett Street in this 2108m race.
Prepared at Gosford by Fred Cowell, Blackett Street looks well placed here from the inside gate and should give a big sight.
After finishing third over a mile on heavy ground at Gosford he stepped up to 1850m at Newcastle where he carried 57kg after the claim for Jake Hull.
Rolling forward from an outside gate, he led throughout to score a two length win in what was a career best figure.
He then tackled a 1900m race at Canterbury. He had won there before at his previous career high figure but could manage only seventh this time.
He drew wide again and covered some ground in third place before battling home in the straight.
Last start, after a five week let-up, he dropped back to a mile at Gosford in slow ground and settled off the early pace.
Turning fourth he held his ground to finish sixth, beaten only a couple of lengths.
He will be fitter for that run and is suited out in journey again now.
Carrying much bigger weights recently even after the 2kg claim for Hull, he drops 3kg for this race and the senior goes on in Holder.
From gate one he will be either leading on right on the speed and he should give a big sight.
The Joanna Methven-trained King Of The Nile will appreciate the big drop in class and is expected to improve sharply.
The gelding finished his three-year-old season in the 2007 Group 1 Queensland Derby coming from near last to finish fifth, beaten only a length.
That rating would win this by a furlong.
After a spell he resumed over a mile here and carried 60kg to a fast finishing win, before returning to Eagle Farm where he raced over 1500m in a Class 6.
Settling near last on the inside he was in trouble stuck in traffic but got clear and ran on strongly to score another win.
Following that race, though, he was injured and off the scene for just shy of three and a half years.
He switched stable and joined Methven at Ballina where he made his return over a mile on the Sunshine Coast and battled away for a fourth on slow ground.
A fair enough return after such a long break.
He then stepped straight back into stakes grade for the Listed Tatts Mile at Eagle Farm.
There he drew an outside gate in the big field and after getting back to last made late ground to finish 14th, beaten seven lengths behind Frozone.
He will strip far fitter again and drops significantly in grade here.
The longer journey suits and he will appreciate the firm conditions, with his best form on good to dead tracks.
Although now trained at Ballina, he is unbeaten here in three runs and he should be winding up strongly in today's race.
Long Journey Home is fitter for four runs from a spell and should be an improver over the longer trip.
He finished fourth over 1370m last time but is crying out for the longer trip and gets it here.
He won this race last year, crossing from the outside gate and leading throughout.
Circle Of Fame steps up sharply in journey after a last start 1450m win at Muswellbrook but is a winner to 2000m and three runs back placed over 2050m at Gunnedah where he carried 60kg.
He has 55.5kg today and has the top rider Robert Thompson aboard again.
