The unbeaten Callanish looks well placed to make it five from five when he contests the Ahern’s At Highways Restricted 82 Handicap (1600m) at Sandown this afternoon.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Mick priced trained galloper has been lightly campaigned to date, as an early four-year-old he has had just the four starts and is yet to put a foot wrong.
Callanish made his debut at Cranbourne last December, with a comfortable maiden win followed by a short break. He returned to the track 88 days later to win well over 1400m here on the Lakeside course in February.
His two wins this time in have also been here on the Lakeside course.
First up he gave weight all around but still proved far too good, powering away to win by a widening 3.5 lengths.
Things weren’t so straight forward last time, struggling to quicken over the 1400m, but he was able to show terrific spirit over the last 50m to get up and win.
In all likelihood he ran to much the same level of form there as he had in his previous outings but the prospect of a firmer surface and the step up to the mile are both factors that point to him stepping up on that form today.
If he is able to make that expected improvement he’s set to take plenty of beating.
The Robert Smerdon stable fields a pair of imported gallopers in the race, Verdant and Arch Fire, both formerly trained in the UK by Sir Michael Stoute.
Both trialled twice back in April, as well as a further two trials in lead up to today, so they have had plenty of time to acclimatise.
Both are expected to find the mile too short but they do have a good deal of upside and Verdant in particular has form in the book that makes for good reading here.
Verdant won four of his eleven starts in the UK and in his latest campaign measured up okay at stakes level.
He was brought down at his latest outing but the start prior he had finished just 3.5 lengths behind Jukebox Jury, a name familiar to Australian race fans, in the listed Fred Archer Stakes.
He was hot on the heels of handy gallopers Afsare and Cavalryman who have both been successful at stakes level this season in the UK.
If bringing that form to the track today he is sure to give a big sight regardless of the journey.
Brian’s Honour probably lacks the upside of a Callanish or a Verdant but his last start effort at Canterbury rates to give this a good shake.
There he was only narrowly beaten off by another import, the Gai Waterhouse trained Glencadam Gold.
He draws an awkward gate but with even luck he should be thereabouts.
No Hoaks and Kukri are others to be considered, No Hoaks coming off good consistent form here at Sandown and Kukri stepping up to the mile having been beaten for speed resuming over 1404m at Echuca.
Kukri showed useful form around the mile last campaign and everything that the Duric/Darley combination touch of late seems to turn to gold.
He can improve sharply today and is a must for the multiples.
