A big drop in class for handy galloper Johnnydrama should see him go close in today's Dempsey Galvin Murray Mondays Winter Sprint (race 7) at Echuca.
The son of Lonhro, prepared by Leon Corstens at Kyneton, ran a big race in Listed grade at Flemington last start so will appreciate dropping back in class to this second heat of the Winter Sprint Series – an RB72 over 1200m.
Johnnydrama finished his last campaign at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day in the Schweppes Tonic, showing good early speed before fading to finish seventh behind Stirling Grove.
After a good break he resumed over 1000m at Betfair Park Hillside in heavy ground.
Settling off the pace, he worked home steadily to finish a three length fifth behind Braided General.
He then tackled the same trip and conditions at Ballarat in this class, settling worse than midfield before running on hard for a three-quarter length win.
Next start was on the all weather track at Geelong, striding forward from an awkward gate to sit fourth.
He turned there and battled away well for a 2.5 length third.
Last start he took on far superior grade in the Listed Creswick Strakes at Flemington.
With a high draw, he settled out the outside division and well back, but did make good ground to finish seventh, beaten 2.5 lengths, behind Liveandletdie.
The runner-up form that race, Spurcific, then came out and won at Flemington on Saturday just gone.
That form augers very well for this class and Corstens has been happy to stick with apprentice Ashley Thompson, who was aboard last time, but cannot claim in this race.
The gelding has drawn well and without a lot of pace in this race should be prominent throughout.
He rates clearly on top on his last start figure and will go close here if repeating the run.
Lightly-raced mare Chats Gal is well placed on the minimum and should be hard to hold out.
The mare, prepared by Alicia Macpherson at Kilmore, was an impressive heavy track winner five back to take her maiden.
She then finished a solid fifth at Wangaratta before a spell.
Resuming over 1100m at Kilmore she found a bit of traffic but got to the line strongly to finish fourth, before racing here in an RB62 where she went back to last from the wide gate.
She turned there but charged home to score a narrow win.
Last start, in a showcase race at Ballarat, she settled midfield and raced there throughout, finishing sixth behind Orchard Street.
Today she meets tougher grade but drops nicely in the weights to the minimum and has drawn the inside.
From there she'll enjoy a good run and will be warming up late.
Mr Crane is on the quick back-up and will give a big sight.
The gelding raced at Geelong on Friday where he faded late to finish eighth in a heat of the Winter Challenge.
He drops in weight here and should give a sight.
Crown Seal and El Supreme are both resuming and both go well fresh.
Crown Seal seems to be at his best straight from a spell and loves soft ground.
El Supreme has drawn for the run of the race and has won two of his three wins in soft ground.
