Lightly-raced galloper Bold Dazzler can bounce back to his best form in today's Adapt Australia Handicap (race 7) at Geelong.
The gelding, prepared by Mick Price at Caulfield, struggled on the heavy ground at Ballarat last time but on the synthetic track today can return to his bets in this RB82 over 2000m.
Five starts back, when second-up over 1900m, he led throughout from a wide gate and scored a seven length win at Traralgon.
He then raced over 2000m at Mornington and after leading to the turn ran well below his best and dropped right out.
He pulled up with poor recovery and went for a spell.
After a good spell he resumed over 1400m at Ballarat and again drew wide so went back before running on strongly to finish a 1.5 length second behind Ransom Willy.
Up to 1527m at Mornington, on slow ground, he was able to settle second in the run from a better gate and was there throughout.
But he took over on the turn and went on to score a three-quarter length win over Chosen King.
Bold Dazzler then raced in the very heavy conditions at Ballarat over a mile.
Carrying a big weight from a wide gate he worked up to sit third and turned second but had had enough on the turn and dropped right out.
The effort was nothing like his usual form and given the run in the very soft ground it's no surprise he turns up here for the good ground of the synthetic track.
He is fitter for the three runs back so is ready for the 2000m journey and he drops nicely in the weights, down 4kg on his last run.
He has drawn well, has Craig Newitt engaged, and even the scratching have aided his cause, as he looks the sole leader and should be hard to run down.
If he can put his last run behind him he'll go close here.
The Jamie Edwards and Bruce Elkington-trained De Arias has been thereabouts and should be hard to hold out on his last run in town.
His first couple of runs have been fair as he's stepped up in journey and returned to fitness then stepped up to 2040m at Moonee Valley where he ran midfield behind The Tiger after getting well back and working home late.
Next start not a lot went his way over 2000m at Caulfield after drawing wide and settling last before working home to finish seventh.
Last start, over 2000m at Flemington, he drew well and settled sixth on the inside, turning there before working home well at odds to finish third behind Module.
This is a big class drop and although up in weight here he looks well placed in this class.
From a good draw he should be camped just off the speed and if he runs up to his latest rating he'll be hard to beat.
Cougat King ran below his best last time but has a great record here and should prove a top each-way chance again.
After working his way back into fitness he returned here two back and scored over 2000m in easier grade but with 59kg.
He then tackled a small field here and after settling fourth in the field of five worked home into third.
Given he was odds-on it was obviously a disappointing result but his record here stands now at seven starts for four wins and three minors.
Today he's drawn the inside and with a lighter weight is expected to go well again.
Mycolada has been placed at his last three and can feature in the multiples again.
