Lightly-raced galloper Perfect Pecs looks the hardest to beat as he returns to his right trip in today's Book Your Christmas Party Handicap (race 6) at Bendigo.
Perfect Pecs, prepared by Rick Hore-Lacy at Caulfield, is rising 800m to this 2200m RB72 showcase race but is going very well and is the horse to beat.
Five starts ago he raced over 1300m at Betfair Park Lakeside and worked home well for a close-up third, before stepping up to 1700m at Flemington and after drawing an outside gate raced across to the speed.
There he sat second throughout and battled on gamely for a length third behind Sidecar.
Coming back in ground to the provincials, he found a 2015m showcase at Seymour which was ideal but for the heavy track.
After settling fifth he struggled in the ground, fading right out of it to come in at the tail.
Back on top of the ground over 2000m at Geelong on the all weather, he took up the running and cruised around the turn, running away with an effortless six length win.
That was in a showcase RB78 and he was simply too good for that class.
Last start, perhaps unable to find a suitable race to keep him ticking over, Hore-Lacy dropped Perfect Pecs back to 1400m at Ballarat in this class.
Despite the distance drop he was still able to show enough dash to lead, turning in front before boxing on well for a 1.3 length second behind Sea Galleon.
Today he gets back out in journey and steps back up to 2200m for the first time since he was a three-year-old.
At his only run at this trip he won the Listed Geelong Classic on his way to the Derby but the 2500m race at Flemington was too soft for his liking and he was well held.
Perfect Pecs looks to have a bit on these class wise and despite a wide gate should easily be able to find a spot close to the speed.
As long as the track remains dead or better, he looms as the horse to beat.
West Australian galloper Train Crusher is going well and looks a strong each-way hope.
Ascot trainer Shane Edwards has brought the lightly-raced gelding over to Victoria to see what he can do in the distance races.
He kicked off on the all-weather at Geelong over 1300m and ran a terrific race when a close-up sixth, before stepping up to 1875m at Kyneton.
There he had a big weight and wide gate and after settling last and turning there ran on well for fifth.
Last start, out to 2200m at Hamilton, he raced on the speed and after turning in front kicked strongly to score a narrow win.
The gelding will be fitter again and drops a few kilos here as he rises in grade.
Edwards is trying to improve his rating as the richer races come along and he gets another chance to do that today.
Another progressive stayer is the Mike Moroney-trained Surface Tension, who is going well this campaign.
He was a second-up winner over a mile at Ballarat then was a luckless third over this trip there last time.
He drops to 54kg today and is fitter again so looks a solid each-way chance.
Canyon De Chelley was a strong on-pace winner at a similar trip last time and with the claim should give a bold sight again.
