Local galloper Geteza returns to his home track today and looks ready to break through in the Tamworth Shopping World Handicap (race 8) at Tamworth.
Prepared on the course by Ray Hartley, Geteza is fitter for two runs form a spell and should prove hard to hold out over 13400m as he tackles a Benchmark 70.
The lightly-raced son of Olympus ran seventh on debut then went out for another spell.
He returned over 1200m in a maiden here and after sitting just off the speed ran away with an effortless win.
He then did what not many horses do and jump from a maiden to a Class 2 and won.
Also here over 1200m, he drew wide and crossed the field before running away to win by almost four lengths.
He was clearly above that grade so next start appeared in town where he struck a slow track over 1200m at Warwick Farm.
There he sat midfield and turned there before running on well for a nose second behind French Rose.
Geteza went for a spell before resuming over 1200m at Grafton.
There he sat midfield and battled home fairly, finishing sixth in a good race but a run somewhat off his best.
He improved last start over 1200m at Quirindi where he sat worse than midfield but ground home strongly to finish a 2.7 length fourth.
Today he meets a slightly tougher grade but drops 3kg in the weights.
The way he found the line last time suggests he might have lost a bit of his dash and may be looking for the longer journey now.
He has leading rider Robert Thompson aboard, has drawn well and looks ready to return to his best so on his home track he can keep his unbeaten record intact.
The Rodney Northam trained Shrewd As drops in weight as he rises in grade but gets his chance to bounce back to winning form.
The gelding ran well resuming over 1200m at Quirindi, coming from last to finish midfield, before a fast finishing third over 1150m at Cessnock where he found the trip a shade short.
Up to 1450m at Muswellbrook he sat last in the small field but hit the line well, coming with a well timed run to score a narrow win.
Last start, in a Benchmark 60 over a mile at Scone, he settled third last and turned there but did find the line well again, finishing a 1.9 length fifth behind Leicester Square.
Today he rises in grade but it's unlikely this is much tougher.
He does drop 3kg though and has drawn the inside gate.
Back to 1400m he'll probably be back off the speed but should enjoy a good run on the rails and with any luck in the straight will be hard to hold out.
Secret Encounter placed behind Shrewd As last start which followed on from a Benchmark 60 win here two back.
With the claim he'll carry no weight today and should be running into the finish.
Liberty Edition should be on the pace throughout and can give a sight, perhaps for the multiples.
