Hometown star Heroic Action looks set to fend off the challenge of Rockhampton star Hodgie And Mo in the open sprint at Mackay this afternoon.
Both are brilliant north Queensland sprinters and both come into this off back-to-back wins on their home tracks, so it should be a magnificent battle.
Heroic Action, a winner of eight races from 13 starts, just gets the nod though with the lighter weight of 56kg after producing a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 87 in winning at this track and trip last start.
He sat third throughout, moved up in the straight when it counted and finished just under length clear.
That win followed his resuming effort here where he won by the same margin earning a weight-adjusted figure of 85.
Hodgie And Mo has won his last two by a nose at Rockhampton.
He just did enough there two back over 1100m in open grade then finished well up to 1200m and held off a fast-closing El Supremo to go back-to-back.
That second run produced a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 84, two pounds up on his win two runs back.
He’s up to 59.5kg for this one and potentially meets an even stronger field. Hodgie And Mo has also never raced beyond the 1200m, and he did look to be tiring late in that latest effort at Rockhampton.
It should be an excellent battle between two of north Queensland’s finest, but I think the hometown galloper will prevail.
There is a bit of depth in this so if that pair will certainly need to be on their game.
The eight-year-old Craiglea Falcon is chasing a 17th career win and has a handy record up here.
He won a race at Caloundra under 59kg two back producing a weight-adjusted figure of 87 before finishing 3.8L off De Dozen Stars in a Benchmark 90 Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
He’s been given a month to come on since then and claims a handy 3kg in this which knocks him down to 58.5kg. Expect him to be coming with a strong late run.
Third-up Mark Lehmann galloper Moicheia also comes under notice for this after two solid efforts behind Hodgie And Mo since resuming.
He was 1.1L off last start and now meets him 1.5kg better off up to a trip he’s unbeaten over, albeit in just the two starts.
From a handy barrier three he can find a nice spot just off the speed and finish off with plenty of running.
I’d be keeping him safe, he’s had a very strong 12 months.
