Terravista should continue his rise through the grades when contesting the Time Thief @ Darley Benchmark 85 Handicap at Randwick on Saturday.
The Joe Pride-trained gelding has proceeded to work through his grades well this campaign and last start was most impressive when saluting at the track over 1200m.
His winning margin probably doesn’t reflect the strength of the win as the four-year-old did tire late but the way he loomed and strode past main rivals was most impressive.
Terravista steps up in grade again on his last start success but all signs point to him delivering the improvement required.
The Captain Rio four-year-old ran to a new peak figure last start with his win yielding a Timeform rating of 93.
He will take further fitness from the run and looking through his siblings, most have proven capable over the longer sprint journey including stablemate Tiger Tees and star Singapore galloper Super Easy.
Leading Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman is reunited with Terravista who last partnered the gelding during his first up success at this course.
Bowman on that occasion was full of praise for Terravista, declaring him the best horse he had ridden at a midweeker for a long time.
From barrier 11, expect the pair to roll forward and be prominent throughout.
There does not look to be a great deal of speed in the race so despite a wide barrier, he should enjoy a comfortable run in transit.
Randwick possesses a number of each way chances so hopefully Sydney Specials this week won’t zig when we should zag.
The Play Of The Day we have settled on out of them however is Skip Town in the TAB Iphone App Hanidcap (1150m).
Regardless of the fact scratchings are still yet to come out, seeing him currently quoted at $10 is a big surprise after a huge first up showing at Randwick last start.
The Tim Martin-trained five-year-old settled back and wide yet was attacking the line with plenty of gusto behind Tahitian Black.
Skip Town should have taken improvement from the outing and could take some holding out in the final event at Randwick on Saturday.
He rises in class on that effort but in turn, drops noticeably in weight.
A three kilo claim of Yusuke Ichikawa sees him carry just 52.5kg and minimal deadweight with the apprentice riding at 50kg.
Skip Town’s second up and distance credentials are each sound and while he rattled home from near last on resuming, the Gonski gelding has shown in the past he is a tractable sort.
His last campaign culminated with a career best win at Rosehill where he settled fourth and ran on strongly in a Benchmark 75.
From barrier 4, Ichikawa does have options aboard Skip Town but regardless of where he settles should be right in the thick of things late.
Any Day Will Do profiles a very promising mare on the way up however looks under the odds in the Buy Your Racehorse @ Inglis Benchmark 85 Handicap (1550m).
The Guy Walter-trained mare is chasing a third straight win after making all at this track over a mile last start.
She has come up as a $3.50 second elect though in early betting but losing sight of the fact she only won a Benchmark 70 last start would be unwise.
Any Day Will Do now steps up to a Benchmark 85 and sits outside of the handicap.
It is an open race where strong cases can be made for a number of horses, namely Index Linked, Capital Commander and Solemn.
Any Day Will Do should take up a forward position just outside of Capital Commander however the final 100m might prove telling against more seasoned, better performed horses.
The four-year-old is also down to contest the Goulburn Cup on Sunday and faces the similar issue of sitting noticeably outside of the handicap.
A new career peak will be required by the mare if she is to salute in either of these contests.
Taking those short odds doesn’t particularly appeal at this point and employing the wait and see approach with her for now might be advisable.
Sydney Specials
Banker: Race 5, #7 Terravista @ $2.30
Play Of The Day: Race 8, #9 Skip Town @ $10
Lay Of The Day: Race 6, #11 Any Day Will Do @ $3.50
