Grafton trained galloper Reckons returned from a spell last start in the same good form he finished last campaign in and now looks a strong winning hope in the Shamardashing Handicap (1206m) on his home deck today.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Reckons has really found his feet since joining trainer Debbie Trembath, a second change of stable for the now five-year-old, who started his career as a Darley home-bred under the care of Peter Snowden.
Under Trembath Reckons is a winner of four from twenty-two with three of those wins coming in his last five starts.
The last five starts have coincided with an apparent change of tactics. Reckons has been sent forward in each of those runs and the results are there for all to see with the son of Lonhro stepping his form up to a new level.
He showed himself to be back and still on the improve under his new front-running tactics last time, giving a good sight from the front, and sticking on well to put up his highest rated piece of form since his early days with Snowden.
Today’s race looks particularly winnable for him. He rates top on that latest showing and faces a field that contains just one last start winner, Darshan Joh.
That latest success sees Darshan Joh rating as the main danger. He is likely to track across from a wide draw and with even luck should find himself stalking Reckons.
His numbers suggest he can give the race a big shake but he would be best placed with a bit of cut in the track. Cut in the track would be of no concern to Darshan Joh but it would likely be the undoing of Reckons who has a poor record when the rain comes.
Soft going made a mess of the first up run of Tara Hickory and that form is best ignored. He has never run well on rain-affected going and is going to be much improved on firmer going today.
His form at the back of last campaign was good and he might just prove the blowout if the top couple do happen to falter.
Private Express and Punjab Rocket look next best of sound recent form. Both are limited but honest and with even luck from awkward draws have the numbers to be right around the mark.
