Sunshine Coast speedster Rocky King looks poised for his biggest career win tomorrow in the Bat Out Of Hell Quality (900m) at Gold Coast.
Tom Bourke’s four-year-old, who has won three of his last four, is currently $2.50 favourite and rates clear of this lot on weight-adjusted ratings thanks to the presence of resuming top weight Adebisi.
Adebisi carries 59.5kg for this, 3kg more than Rocky King, although Desleigh Forster is considering scratching the horse due to his wide barrier.
That would only trim Rocky King’s price further, probably somewhere close to the odds-on region.
His last win was his best, leading all the way at Doomben over 1020m and just holding out General Exhibit on the line.
Jockey Anthony Allen’s whip broke 100m from home, and General Exhibit came out and won impressively two weeks back so the win looks all the more meritorious in hindsight.
He’s been given four weeks between runs for this, and was kept ticking over nicely with an easy trial win at his home track.
I’d expect he’ll be hassled early out in front with Golden Trinkets and Leealan both capable of taking up the running, so Allen may well opt to sit in behind to save some petrol.
In any event I’d expect at the weights, Rocky King will have too much class for this lot.
Take the $2.50 while it’s available.
The bet of the day comes in the last with Bryan Guy’s Jacquetta at $4.60, getting back to her home track after a pair of solid showings in Listed grade already this campaign.
She was beaten a neck by Lady Echelon in the wet resuming then finished within three lengths of Divine City up to 1350m last start.
Scorpio Queen came through the same race prior to winning the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1625m) on New Year’s Eve.
Jacquetta had excuses in that race too. She was three deep throughout and still hit the front in the straight before peaking 100m from home.
Today she’s back to 1200m, over which she’s won five times in seven starts.
If she’s at her best, I’d expect her to be winning this.
Watch for Lucky Sound, Star Sammy and Mishani Persuader though, all three have solid claims in this one this afternoon.
The lay of the day comes all the way back in race 2 over 1800m, which appears a three-horse race on paper and with the bookies.
Our Zidane, Rudy and Some Call Her Wild are all below the $4 quote, although I think Rudy at $3.80 is far too short.
He is back in grade and back to his home track, which is in his favour, although there’s a major query around his credentials over the trip.
I wouldn’t think the hot weather would be in his favour either - all three of his career wins have come on a wet track.
With the likes of Our Zidane, Some Call Her Wild and Navelina all in good form, I’m prepared to work around Rudy.
BANKER: Race 4 No 2 Rocky King @ $2.50
BET OF THE DAY: Race 8 No 10 Jacquetta @ $4.60
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 2 No 1 Rudy @ $3.80
