In form galloper Emperor Gaze can bring up a winning hat trick when he tackles today's McDonalds Armidale Handicap (race 8) at Armidale today.
The lightly raced six-year-old, prepared by Mark Mason at Tamworth, has won his last two starts and with the minimum weight in today's 1300m race looks hard to hold out again.
After building up to a win the gelding, a son of Intergaze from the Brocco mare Romanee, broke through on his home course in a Class 3 Handicap over 1200m.
There he sat fourth on the inside and was patiently ridden waiting for the rails run before darting through and winning by a length.
Next was over 1400m at Tamworth where he drew well and took up the running over the longer journey.
He turned there and was tackled a furlong out before battling on well to finish fourth.
Next start was over 1300m here in a Benchmark 60 where he drew wider and had no luck.
Caught deep early on, the rider elected to go back and he settled a clear last before trying to improve form the 600m mark.
But there he struck trouble and copped a severe check and was held up before getting clear only over the final furlong.
He made ground late when the race was over but could only manage to finish sixth.
It was no surprise, then, over 1200m next start at Gunnedah he was able to bounce back.
From an inside drawn he remained out of traffic and ran on well for a three quarter length win.
That was in a Class 2 where he carried 59kg before stepping straight up to open class on his home track, enjoying the weight relief with the 54kg.
Settling fifth on the inside, he saved ground there turning before switching into the clear and running on for a length win.
Today he tackles the same grade and carries the same weight.
Emperor Gaze has drawn well and with his good recent form and the light weight he looks hard to hold out again.
The Craig Martin trained Scarbank was runner up behind Emperor Gaze latest and although meeting him no better at the weights looks a strong chance again.
The gelding has raced exclusively in tougher races this time in.
Fresh up he placed in the Inverell Shorts then was placed in the Country Music Cup at Tamworth.
Third up he disappointed here in the Walcha Cup then was a closing eighth in the Guyra Cup at Tamworth.
Last start was against Emperor Gaze where he settled third and turned there before running on well but he couldn't hold out the winner.
He meets him half a kilo worse here but is suited at this track and trip and should give a bold sight again.
Dusty's Felt is backing up after finishing seventh at Grafton last time but looks an each way chance.
The gelding was beaten 2.2 lengths at Grafton last week after dropping well back in journey from a placing in the Armidale Cup over 1900m.
He has a good record here on his home track an although the trip might be a little short he has drawn well and should be getting home strongly.
Mauled won at Grafton last time and meets Dusty's Felt a couple of kilos worse, but is going very well and should be closing hard at the finish.
