Classy galloper King Lionheart looks the one they have to get past in today's Blackwoods 3M Festival Stakes (race 6) at Rosehill.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The lightly-raced gelding is returning from a short break but looks well placed to return in winning form in today's Listed feature over 1500m.
Last autumn, the Gai Waterhouse-trained gelding was in sparkling form early in his campaign and won up to 2200m before finishing 12th in the Group 3 Queens Cup over 2000m here.
He was then spelled and returned in the early spring over today's track and distance, where he carried the same weight as today and ran on well to score a half length win.
He then stepped up to the Group 2 Shannon Stakes, also here over 1500m, and after crossing and sitting second ran on strongly for a length win over Fast Clip.
Last start was his toughest test to date in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick.
There he again drew awkwardly and crossed over to sit second but faded badly and finished 15th.
All wasn't well so he was again spelled.
King Lionheart resumes here on the back of a good trial and the track and trip suits.
He has carried this weight to success before and he's more than up to the class, as he showed two starts back.
From barrier four Nash Rawiller should be able to enjoy a good run close to the speed and he looks a top chance fresh.
His biggest danger may well be the stablemate Kontiki Park if he can overcome the wide gate.
The talented gelding was out of the placings fresh up last campaign but followed that with three consecutive seconds.
He then stepped up to 2000m here but after racing just off the pace faded badly to finish 11th so went for a spell.
After two trials he resumed in the November Handicap over 1400m at Warwick Farm and after sitting off the speed chimed in with his run and hit the line hard, scoring a three-quarter length win over Kimberly Kid.
He meets that galloper 3kg better today.
Kontiki Park has raced four times second up for two wins and two minors and has a nice weight again this time.
He is fitter and aside from the wide gate looks a strong winning chance.
Over this longer journey he will probably press forward and should give a big sight again.
Lightinthenite and Circle Of Power fought out the finish last start here and both look strong chances again today.
Lightinthenight, prepared by John O'Shea, hit the line hard over 1350m here two back to place before stepping up to 1500m last time.
Settling off the speed, he ran on well and just edged out Circle Of Power.
He drops a half kilo in the tougher grade today but with a good run in transit should be hard to hold out again.
Circle Of Power was only beaten a neck in that race but meets the winner much better at the weights this time so can clearly turn the tables.
He's much longer odds too and also has a light weight and a good draw.
He is ready to show his best after the two runs back and at the odds looks a top each way chance to score his biggest win.
Fibrillation is second up from a spell and after hitting the line hard when third behind Kontiki Park fresh looks a strong chance of running into the finish here.
The mare might want further still but with her light weight will be charging home late.
Leading trainer Chris Waller has three entries in the race but the best looks to be Tromso, who closed late to finish sixth behind Kontiki Park.
He won his only try at the track and trip and will spot a start but should be running into it late.
