Budding stayer Doctor Hush will appreciate the big drop in class in today's Chifley Hotel & Apartments Geelong Handicap on the all weather track at Geelong today.
The lightly raced gelding, a son of Hold That Tiger and prepared by leading trainer Peter Moody, has been racing in city grade at his last couple of runs but is expected to improve sharply in today's RB62 over 2000m.
Doctor Hush placed two of his first three starts but it wasn't until his fourth run, over 1512m here on the turf course, that he broke through for his maiden win with a fast finishing success.
After a good spell he resumed without a trial and over 1400m, a clear sign Moody was going to work him into fitness and over much further this time in.
He performed well enough fresh at Ballarat, making late ground into sixth, before a much improved run over a mile at Stawell when hitting the line hard from the tail to finish runner up.
He went straight from that run, in this class, to open three-year-old grade over 2000m at Caulfield.
There he settled well back from a wide gate and went keenly before checking off heels.
He got going again and circled a little wider on the bend before battling on fairly to finish seventh in the straight behind Zabeelionaire.
That has proven a sensational form race with four subsequent winners.
Last start, Doctor Hush tackled 2000m again in three-year-old open class but at Flemington.
Drawing wide and settling last, he turned at the tail before hooking widest in the straight and running on but could manage only eighth in the slow conditions, beaten almost a dozen lengths.
He has been given three weeks to get over the run and today he tackles the same journey but drops a lot in grade.
He has drawn wide again but will be winding up strongly here and looks hard to hold out on his close up second the last time he raced in this grade.
The Robbie Griffiths trained Deeming was a little disappointing here last time but comes back a grade and is worth another chance.
The lightly raced filly was a 1500m winner on her home track of Cranbourne three back before a disappointing run at Sale two starts back.
She stepped up to 1900m here last time and after settling outside the leader and turning there couldn't match Dixie Doll and was beaten off, fading to fourth.
She will be fitter for that run and drops a grade for today's race.
She has drawn alongside Doctor Hush but will roll forward and should give a sight at each way odds.
Fastnet Prince, in the Mick Price, is in the same boat as Doctor Hush in that he'll appreciate the easier grade.
The gelding won over 1900m three back to take his maiden by eight lengths then was eighth in far tougher class at Caulfield before finishing seventh over a mile at Sandown Hillside.
He will find this much easier and from gate 10 is expected to go forward and give a big sight.
Maldives is a lightly raced galloper who is going up in grade but is at least heading in the right direction.
The son of Zabeel scored his maiden win over a mile last time at Bendigo and looks suited by the longer journey here.
He is weighted to his best but will be even fitter and looks capable of measuring up.
