The success by Victorian stayer Sea Galleon in the Listed Christmas Cup a fortnight back looks to be the catalyst for another border hopper Full Peal who tackles this afternoon's G3 Summer Cup over 2400m.
The feature staying race for the Australian Turf Club's Summer meeting has assembled an even line up headed in the weights by kiwi stayer Mr Tipsy, but no runner brings better form to the race than Full Peal who has won his last five starts in succession on Victorian racetracks.
Trained by Bill and Symon Wilde, Full Peal's winning run started at Warrnambool over 1300m back in October and progressed in distance and class all the way to the city with wins at Sandown and Flemington at his last two runs.
It was perhaps his last win at Flemington that was his most impressive. Certainly it was his highest rating effort in a brief career of just 14 starts.
Tackling the 2000m staying trip for the first time, Full Peal settled just off the pace mid race and travelled sweetly throughout until produced at the 400m to challenge.
Once into the clear, Full Peal under 57.5kgs raced clear of his rivals in Rst89 class to win as he liked with more in hand.
In fact all his past five victories have been achieved with something to spare at the post, a clear indication he still has improvement to come.
This afternoon's G3 event is the toughest assignment for the talented young galloper yet. Not only does he face another class rise but also steps up to 2400m for the first time.
However his current upward ratings profile is too strong to ignore and I can see him figuring strongly again this afternoon.
In form rider Glyn Schofield takes the mount and he will make sure Full Peal has every chance.
Nextanix has been a model of consistency in recent runs and stakes a solid claim for victory based on his excellent second behind Sea Galleon in the recent Listed Christmas Cup over this track and distance.
The Christmas Cup is the major lead up for the Summer Cup and although Nextanix is yet to win over a staying distance, a repeat of his last run and rating brings him right into contention.
At his start prior, Nextanix had no luck over 2000m at Rosehill in benchmark 80 grade when runner up to Revolt after covering a lot of additional ground in the race.
Jeff Penza retains the mount and from his inside barrier should get a cosy run.
A horse that has not won for a long time, 583 days in fact, is well worth considering. I speak of Scouting Wide who is trained on the track by Tim Martin.
This fellow showed great staying potential earlier in his career winning the 2010 McKell Cup and running second in a G2 Brisbane Cup both over 2400m. He also won the 2009 Christmas Cup.
A return to that form and ratings would see him take a bold hand in proceedings.
Scouting Wide has raced four times this campaign and each time shown a glimpse of returning to something like his old form.
Last start under 61.5kgs he raced with the speed in benchmark 80 class over 2200m at Warwick Farm and battled on strongly for second behind Permit.
Today he rises in class but tumbles five kilos and will have the services of Jimmy Cassidy, all positive signs for another top effort.
The kiwi pair Solid Billing and Mr Tipsy loom as definite chances, purely on staying ability alone.
Both are Group performing stayers in New Zealand and that fact alone gives them a class edge in this line up.
Mr Tipsy failed last start at Te Rapa but prior had just gone down over 2100m while Solid Billing has been here for a few starts since coming over for the Sydney Cup earlier this year, a race he ran third in behind Stand To Gain.
While Solid Billing's last win was at Ellerslie over 2200m in March where he defeated Titch, his recent three runs this time in have him close to peak fitness.
Last time out he was not far away at Canterbury in the Listed Underwood Cup over 1900m behind Zara Dancer after covering additional ground.
The enigma of the race is the Peter Snowden-trained Yulalona who has been mixing his form of late.
Sent out heavily backed last start at 7/2 in the Christmas Cup, Yulalona failed to finish the race off after turning for home in a good position.
That followed a great second behind Zara Dancer in the Listed Underwood Cup over 1900m around Canterbury.
If he was to run to that rating, he would be right in this. It is also worth remembering that Yulalona finished fourth in the G1 Queensland Derby behind Shootoff earlier this year.
Kerrin McEvoy, a whizz on stayers who has only recently returned from suspension takes the ride and that could be enough to coax him back to best form.
Enjoy the race.
