Talented galloper Perturbo looks a top each-way chance in today's All Victorian Sprint Series Final (race 7) at Flemington.
With almost $1 million in prizemoney on offer Finals Day at Flemington has drawn together a superb winter card including the feature Listed Winter Championship Final over a mile.
But the All Victorian Sprint Series Final, up the straight six furlongs, is a top race with a number of chances and quite a few variables to consider as to how the race pans out.
The main chances look to be Perturbo and Mid Summer Music, both of which possess an excellent turn of foot and will be charging late.
The other main hope is Beyond Pardon, who will be trying to do it cheaply up front in the hope he can outdash them.
But Perturbo looks well placed on his recent efforts and rates a top chance on his recent form.
Last time in, he was tested over further but failed to finish off like he can so trainers Colin and Cindy Alderson decided he will be restricted to sprinting from now on.
Following that decision he was given a short break and returned in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Settling last from an inside gate, he turned at the tail but ran on well to finish fourth behind the star mare Black Caviar, who beat him by 6.5 lengths.
Despite finishing fourth in was a career bets rating and with a Timeform figure of 109 certainly good enough for this grade.
How many of these would get with half a dozen lengths of Black Caviar?
Following that run he was freshened again and raced here at this trip in the Listed Straight Six Stakes.
He settled midfield and was there throughout but ran on hard to finish a nose second behind the then very much in-form Dubleanny.
Next start, back to 1000m here, he drifted back over the shorter journey but sailed home out wide and proved a class above, scoring by a comfortable 1.5 lengths.
Alderson set him for this race and has kept him fresh as he returns to his ideal track for this dash up the straight.
Worth noting that although we are deep into winter today's track will be as good as a winter track gets and Perturbo is at his best on dead ground, according to the stable.
From barrier three jockey Ben Melham will be camped off the speed close to the inside and poised to pounce late.
With even luck it's hard to see him missing the placings.
The Peter Moody stable seem to have a horse in its arsenal for just about every race going around at the moment and has two in this race in the honest Elumino and the exciting Mid Summer Music.
The latter has an amazing turn of foot and has been very strongly supported in pre-post betting to take this out.
The mare, a winner of seven of her 11 starts, has scorched home at her last two to score.
This is her acid test today as she rises in grade, has her first start here, and strike firmer footing with her two recent wins being on softer ground.
But the money suggests she will be going close.
Elumino will be much longer odds but is expected to give a sight.
She'll be parked just off the speed and is a track and distance winner.
Beyond Pardon was sensational last weekend when leading throughout to score by almost five lengths at Moonee Valley.
The Robert Smerdon-trained gelding is racing in great heart and will have the cool hands of Michael Rodd aboard again as he backs up this weekend.
Rodd will be mindful that his dangers will be looking to charge late and will be trying to get some cheap early sectionals and try to pinch it.
Beyond Pardon has raced up the straight only once and was just edged out, and drops in weight this weekend on his last start win as he takes on tougher grade.
Perhaps his biggest hurdle is the draw. According to Smerdon he likes to find the fence and it's unlikely he'll be doing that on the inside.
Maybe he'll have a try for the outside fence and maybe Rodd will make a bee-line up the crown but if he does that it's no easy task to lead throughout as he's challenged either side.
At longer odds Tollesprit is worth including in the multiples.
He's had plenty of problems including a wind operation but has loads of talent and has run some top races here in much tougher grade.
He has a high drawn and if they can get home out widest he'll be charging late at odds.
