Last start Kempsey Cup placegetter Capital Raising looks a strong prospect in this afternoon's Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1614m at Taree.
The lightly raced Wayne Wilkes-trained mare has been in great form since resuming from a spell four starts back.
A convincing winner second up from a spell over 1300m at Coffs Harbour, she had little luck two starts back in the Muswellbrook Cup over 1500m when starting a well backed 7/2 favourite.
On that occasion she settled midfield but soon ran into trouble encountering traffic problems at a vital stage. She eventually finished seventh and the run is best overlooked in assessing her chances this afternoon.
Then last start in the Kempsey Cup over 1450m she had a much better run finishing third beaten just over a length by Cuban Dancer.
Leading rider Peter Graham who was aboard the mare that day retains the ride and she does look attractively placed in the small field.
The hardest for her to beat look to be Cuban Dancer and Island Dane.
Now a spritely eight-year-old, Cuban Dancer continues to be a threat in races like this.
He resumed two starts back with an eye catching fourth in the open sprint over an unsuitable 1200m trip at Port Macquarie running on well from midfield beaten three lengths without ever looking likely to reel in the leaders.
But last start he got to a more favourable distance of 1450m in the Kempsey Cup running out a strong winner on the line.
A winner to 1800m, Cuban Dancer will have no trouble with the increase in distance today but he does meet Capital Raising substantially worse at the weights in this class.
Capital Raising will meet Cuban Dancer three and a half kilos better for just over a length defeat, a factor that could be significant in the closing stages.
The locally trained Island Dane to be ridden by Allison Threadwell is a six timer at his home track and he does bring good enough form into the race today to give him winning claims.
This gelding is also early into his current campaign having raced just three times since resuming.
Island Dance was a comfortable winner second up at Port Macquarie over 1200m in benchmark 60 grade before stepping straight into the tougher Kempsey Cup where he ran well enough for a handy fifth.A return to regular rider Threadwell is a positive as is the step up in distance.
However if Capital Raising continues to improve as she should and gets back to her form last campaign that saw her defeat Saturday Rosehill winner Single over 1600m at Newcastle in class 2 company then she should deal with her opposition here quite comfortably.
Enjoy the race.
