Promising galloper Dead End can continue his good form in today's Malau Racing Gold Nugget (race 5) at Ballarat.
The Mike Moroney-trained gelding has had just a handful of starts but is going well and looks hard to beat in this $50,000 handicap over a mile.
The grey, a son of High Chaparral, made his debut over 1100m on slow ground at Moe where he sat just off the speed before running away with a comfortable win.
He then stepped up to 1400m at Flemington in the all greys race on Oaks day.
Settling third, he loomed up and was just edged out behind King Cobweb. That race mightn't be the highlight of the spring carnival but it is always full of tough and seasoned galloper so his effort at just his second career start was good.
Moroney sent the gelding for a spell before he resumed over 1400m at Sandown on the Hillside course.
Drawing off the track, he went back to the tail and was there throughout before running on strongly to finish a three length fifth.
Returning to Sandown on the Lakeside course, he drew better and jumped well, settling second.
Turning there he loomed up in the straight and forged ahead right on the line, scoring a neck win over Le Bonsir.
Today Dead End steps up in grade to open class but is compensated with the light weight, dropping 2kg to just 53kg.
He looks well placed over the mile and has drawn well in barrier seven.
The conditions suit and unlike many of his rivals comes into the race in top form.
He should go close again.
The Peter Moody stable has two runners in the race in Elusive King and Almodovar, both of which looks improvers.
Elusive King, in particular, can improve sharply today over the longer journey.
The lightly-raced gelding was very honest last campaign, winning second-up over 1400m before placing at his next three, including the Group 2 Autumn Classic over 1800m.
He followed that run was a third over 2000m at Caulfield before finishing off his three-year-old season with a fourth over 2000m at Flemington.
This campaign, he resumed over 1400m at Betfair Park Sandown on the Lakeside track.
While Dead End had a good run up the front from a good gate, Elusive King had drawn the second outside and went back to the tail.
He wound up well in the straight to finish ninth, beaten just over four lengths from Dead End.
It was a solid return and he looks poised to improve sharply today.
He meets the winner 3kg better as he drops 5kg for today's run and will be suited by the longer trip.
He won his only second-up run and could well be the value runner of the pair.
Stablemate Almodovar was 14th in the same race last time and while the extra ground suits he is likely to appreciate even further.
Time Matters finds it hard to win but generally races in tougher grade than this.
He has a very honest record with nine wins and 20 minors from 48 starts and has two wins and six minors form 10 tries at the trip.
He is six weeks between runs into this race but has the class to be in the finish from a good gate.
