Farm Boy looks well placed to return to the winners circle when he lines up in the J D Events Benchmark 59 at Bathurst today.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The five-year-old gelding has been racing well enough in tougher company of late with this event being his easiest task in 12 starts.
Farm Boy was last seen when running fifth at Warwick Farm behind Diamond Jim over 2400m and despite dropping back to 2000m for this, he has won his only time over the journey.
The Allan Kehoe-trained runner was third in slow going at Newcastle two back so should get through the ground okay and prove hard to hold out.
Rachael Murray who has lost her claim hoes back on board, having missed the placings just once from for rides on the gelding and on what he has produced of late looks the one to beat.
Murray should get a good run off the pace from the inside draw with the only slight query being the fact the horse has been up for a long time now.
The son of Stromberg Carlson has shown no ill effects however and is the one they have to beat, rating clear on weight adjusted Timeform ratings.
Dal Rommel who scored a surprise win at big odds at Hawkesbury last start looms as the main danger in this, but backs up in just five days and form prior to the win was very mixed.
Dal Rommel, has placed his only time over the journey previously and if he can reproduce last starts effort will be fighting out the finish once again.
The now-seven-year-old gelding does go up considerably in weight as well but in a small field like this must be respected.
Regallic also stays under strong notice for this despite mixing his form of late. The Kerry Parker-trained runner drops in grade after being well held at Newcastle last start but has shown glimpses of good form in recent times.
Not having won in 493 days, Regallic steps up to a trip he has a good record at and if he can run up to best form, will certainly give the top two chances something to worry about.
The race certainly does fall away after these three with Vespasian the best of the rest. The eight-year-old gelding has a good record at the trip but has not won in a while now and he also tends to mix his form as well.
Power Shadow is well down in the weights for this but it’s hard to see her winning a race like this and place claims look best.
