Progressive galloper Best As Zariz can earn a shot in town with another win in today's Custom Security Services Handicap (race 5) in Canberra.
Photo by Press Photo
The local prepared gelding is aiming for his fourth straight win as he steps into this Benchmark 63 today but another success could see him try his luck in the city.
On debut, the John Nisbet trained gelding showed inexperience but ran a solid race here over 1000m when a fading fourth, before taking up the running here over 1200m and again fading over the final stages but holding third.
He went for a break and since then has been unbeaten in his three runs this time in.
Fresh up was over 900m at Queanbeyan where he raced just off the lead before lifting strongly in the straight to score a narrow win right on the line.
He then stepped up to 1100m in a Benchmark 50 on slow ground and after settling off the speed worked to the line well, this time getting a three-quarter length margin on his nearest rival Miss Fascination.
Last start, over 1200m in a Class 3 at Goulburn, he drew wide so Kayla Nisbet pressed forward to take up the running.
Best As Zariz turned there and lifted strongly to score a head win over Tanya Jean in what has proven quite a strong form race already.
Today he rises in grade and also in weight, carrying 55kg afte the claim for regular rider Nusbet.
From gate six in the small field you would expect he'll be leading or close to it and back to his home track looks a top chance of making it four straight.
The Gary Colvin trained Jesse's Miss made a good debut for her new stable and looks the biggest danger.
The lightly raced mare had eight runs in Victoria for a win and four minors, the win on debut over 1200m.
After some sound runs in tougher grade than this last campaign she was spelled and resumed for her new yard over 1000m at Wagga where she carried 59.5kg.
Drifting back in the run, she found the line well and finished runner up behind Tahbronte.
This is a tougher assignment but she drops in the weights and has drawn well.
The extra ground is ideal and she should be hard to hold out.
Poetic Justice is dropping sharply in grade today and is worth another chance.
The locally trained gelding was placed in similar grade to this two back when running on well over this journey before stepping up to 1400m at Warwick Farm last time.
There he drew wide and had a tough run before failing to make any impact to finish 13th.
He has a top record at the track and distance at home and can definitely bounce back.
The topweight Thereheiz turned in a top effort form a very wide gate to finish fifth last start and with a perfect draw here can't be underestimated.
Can definitely get home into the multiples.
