Office Bearer looks set to continue his rise through the grades this afternoon when he contests the Sportingbet Protest Pay Up Restricted 84 Handicap (1200m) at Mornington.
Peter Moody’s progressive four-year-old resumed in excellent order at Sandown three weeks ago winning a similar race over 1000m, carrying half a kilogram more than what he’s been asked to lug today.
The run netted a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 93 and that’s a number he looks capable of improving on this campaign.
He beat home a decent looking field too, rattling home in 32.52sec over the last 600m.
In second place was the Leon Corstens-trained Hadronica who jumped to Group 3 level last start and finished only three lengths off Samaready.
Hadronica was rock-hard fit at Sandown while Office Bearer hadn’t raced in 163 days, and Moody’s speedster still proved too good.
Undercurrent and Bon Genre have also come out of that race at Sandown and won their next start.
Luke Nolen jumps back on board today and the step up to 1200m should only offer scope for further improvement.
He’s the lightly raced, improving horse in this one, and the one you want to be on.
Force Command is the logical danger, resuming off a 130-day spell.
He’s a bit of an enigma this horse in that he’s twice Group placed, but still a maiden.
And the form around him from his autumn campaign is all rock solid.
He was 5.5L off Ferlax in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).
Just two starts later he went up to Sydney and finished third to Toydini in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes.
His best form this time in will once again come over further than this, but he’s a classy animal who should find this much more suitable.
Take him on at your peril.
Keep an eye on Cahier who’s chasing a fourth-straight win today.
This is his biggest test today but he was impressive in leading all the way at Geelong last start running to a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 92, and looks to have further upside still.
[n]Sir Fernando and [n]Tried and Tired should also run well in an intriguing race.
