Robbie Laing’s brilliant run looks set to continue this afternoon when he saddles up Hannaford in the Ballarat Spring Cup (2000m).
The Cranbourne trainer has had a spring to remember, the highlight of which came earlier this month when Polanski took out the Group $1.5m Victoria Derby.
He was in the Flemington winner’s circle again on Saturday when Boomwaa claimed the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate and can collect another handsome cheque today in the $80,000 Cup at Ballarat.
The Cup is run as a Benchmark 78 Handicap and Hannaford has tuned up nicely for this, beaten less than half a length at Moonee Valley last start over 2040m.
That run produced a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 92, an improvement of a pound from his fourth placing at Caulfield behind Backbone over this trip two starts back.
It’s that performance which makes Hannaford’s form leap off the page today.
Second in that race, beaten a nose by backbone, was English galloper Ruscello.
He went on to win the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) at his next start before failing in the Melbourne Cup last Tuesday.
Before the Caulfield run Hannaford strung a couple of wins together in a row at Mornington, the third and fourth of his career which spans 12 starts.
He’s a progressing type who still looks to have plenty of upside, and Dwayne Dunn goes back aboard. Dunn has ridden Hannaford to three of his four wins.
Barrier 11 is slightly awkward but he’s a versatile horse who can be ridden forwards or backwards.
With a bit of luck he’ll be very hard to hold out here.
Darren Weir’s Bia Diamond shapes as a big danger after finishing just 1.5L off Queenstown at Moonee Valley last start in open fillies and mares grade.
She found the line well enough running to a weight-adjusted figure of 90 which puts her not too far off Hannaford.
Queenstown went on to be beaten a nose in the Group 2 Momentum Energy Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday so that looks another strong formline.
The 59kg on Bia Diamond is a query, although she has won under 60kg before albeit in restricted grade at Cranbourne.
She should find a nice spot from the inside gate, and has to be kept safe.
Smarty Mac comes up a solid chance after finishing a narrow second in that Moonee Valley race that Hannaford came through.
He meets Hannaford on the same terms here but has drawn even worse in barrier 14.
His form prior wasn’t as good which also concerns me a little, but he’s well in the mix on that last run.
Umatic is a curious one dropping back in trip after failing in the Bendigo Cup (2400m) two weeks back beaten 9.2L by Sertorius.
Prior to that he won a couple in a row showing a superb turn of foot, and back to this trip he’s capable of bouncing back.
