Track specialist Deal For Real should be hard to hold out fresh in today's Osborn Memorial South Muswellbrook Cup (race 4) at Muswellbrook.
The Louise Munce-trained gelding was a last start winner over 1750m but he has been freshened for this race over 1450m on his favourite track.
After an eye-catching run third-up over a mile at Scone, where he had a big weight and wide gate and hit the line hard to place, he stepped up to 1750m here and won well.
Carrying 59kg on the slow ground, he sat midfield before running on for a three-quarter length win.
Next start was over 1850m at Newcastle, where he drew wide and went forward, covering ground in fourth place before eventually getting to second.
He battled away from there and faded late to finish fifth.
Up to 2000m at Kembla Grange, he was on top of the ground and after drifting back early circled the field and battled home to finish eighth.
Returning here nine days later, over 1750m again, he found a soft track and after settling midfield ran on well to score by almost two lengths.
Following that win his record at Muswellbrook reads eight starts for five wins and three seconds.
Munce has given the gelding a month between runs as he drops back on journey today but at his only try at the trip here he scored and easy win. That success was actually his maiden.
Today Deal For Real will relish the soft ground and has drawn okay.
Over the shorter trip you'd expect he'll settle back but will be hard to hold out in the run home.
The Pat Farrell-trained Bottled Up is a local who is yet to win on his home turf but looks well placed as he drops in class today.
Fresh-up, over 1000m at Gosford, he worked home steadily to finish fifth before stepping up to 1200m at Wyong where he covered ground but was again solid, finishing fifth.
Up to 1450m here he raced closer to the speed and turned third, battling on well there to hold the minor placing.
Last start, on the Kensington track at Randwick in a Benchmark 70, he rolled forward to sit second, turning there before plugging away to finish fourth.
Today he meets easier grade and returns home, where he has run four times for three placings.
After four runs from a spell he should be at his top and back home in easier grade he should give a sight.
The topweight Elstrata is also down in grade and should run well.
Prepared by Kris Lees, the gelding placed at his last two runs before a spell at Taree and Cessnock.
He resumed over 1400m at Newcastle in a Benchmark 70 where he sat on the speed and turned second before tiring late to finish fourth.
It was a good return, though, and he'll be fitter for that run now.
He drops in grade and from a good gate will be on the speed throughout and hard to get past.
Sugera gets back and hits the line well. She has a very good record here and drops nicely in grade but the queries are the longer trip and the slow conditions.
