Half a dozen scratchings have taken a lot of pace out of today's Randwick Equine Centre Handicap (race 3) at Canterbury Park which will aid the chances of the honest Hannah Jane.
The lightly raced filly, prepared by Anthony Cummings at Randwick, has placed at her two runs this time in and looks ready to break through in this non metropolitan winners race over 1100m.
The filly, a daughter of Anabaa, made her debut over this journey Gosford and after taking up the running cleared out for a strong win by almost three lengths.
It was no surprise on the back of that run to see her in town next start and she raced here over 1200m in this grade, settling third and running on well but finishing runner up.
She returned here at the final run of the campaign and this time was ridden cold, settling last and turning there, but she didn't come on as expected and could manage only eighth so went for a break.
This campaign the filly resumed at Kembla Grange in this class and after settling third and turning there worked home well but could manage only a length second.
She then returned here over 1100m but little went right.
After a bump at the start she settled fourth on the inside but was overracing after the early incident. She had to steady to avoid heels before hooking deep on the turn and working home fairly to finish third, beaten five lengths, behind Dee 'N' Gee.
Hannah Jane meets the same grade here but will be fitter again and has drawn a good gate.
Leading rider Hugh Bowman is aboard today and with a good sit just off the speed she should be hard to hold out again.
Canberra filly Not A Dancer returns to town with good form and looks the one to catch.
The filly, prepared by Mathew Dale, has won four of seven starts.
After an effortless Wagga win last spring she headed to Melbourne and wasn't disgraced when fourth in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes.
She then returned to her home track and was way too classy with an effortless win before returning to town and placing in this grade over 1100m at Warwick Farm.
Last start, over 1000m at Canberra, she led throughout then cleared out in the straight for another easy win.
The filly's big weight today is offset by the claim and she has drawn ideally in barrier two.
The trip suits and she will prove hard to run down at her first start at the course.
The Jason Coyle trained Masterstroke would have loved the pace of the race before the scratching but should still be motoring home today at each way odds.
The gelding raced on the speed here over 1200m two back but didn't finish off like he can so was ridden cold last start at Kembla Grange and hit the line well to finish runner up.
He has drawn out today but will be sitting back off them here and with the extra 100m and a lighter weight should prove hard to hold out.
The Greg Bennett trained Kartini has been scratched recently and saved for this and she looks likely to measure up.
The filly has won both her starts to date in easier grade at Muswellbrook but looks a horse on the up.
She has drawn to sit wherever she wants from barrier one and with her light weight looks a serious threat at her toughest test.
