Honest mare Dystopia may prove the value runner in today's Schweppes Handicap (race 4) at Warwick Farm.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The betting on the race, a 1300m handicap, is dominated by Tiger Tees who will no doubt prove hard to beat again.
But Dystopia, prepared by Chris Waller, is racing in arguably career best form and can turn the tables on the top at the longer odds.
Dystopia had an honest campaign last time in, finishing runner up fresh before breaking through for a win.
She then placed at three of her next five starts before another spell.
This campaign, though, she seemingly is racing even better.
The mare resumed with a fast finishing head second over 1100m at Canterbury behind Tonk, then raced on her home track of Rosehill over 1100m where she settled last but flew home to score a neck win over Agister.
Waller then sent her to Melbourne with a month between runs to coincide with the Listed Mumm Stakes up the straight at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
There she drifted back but ran on strongly to finish fourth behind Ortensia, who then went on to win in Group 1 class.
Another month between runs and back home in Sydney Dystopia stepped up to 1200m at Rosehill and after running on hard again was first past the post but lost the race on protest.
She was then given another three weeks between runs and went back to 1100m at Canterbury where she settled midfield and again powered home, this time finishing a half length second behind Tiger Tees.
She meets the winner 1.5kg better this time and has drawn for a good run off the speed close to the inside with Hugh Bowman aboard.
If he can get her into the clear at the right time there's no doubt she'll be hard to hold out again.
Tiger Tees is the one to beat again but now gets right up in the weights and is very cramped odds, so it's a matter of choice whether you stick with him or bet around him this time.
The talented galloper, prepared at this course by Joe Pride, has won six of eight runs and finished runner up at the other two.
He strung together four straight last campaign, culminating with a 1200m Rosehill win last run before another break.
The gelding returned over 1100m at Canterbury Park in heavy ground and after settling second and looming up looked home but was grabbed by Atomic Force right on the line.
Next start, though, he was back to winning form again over 1100m at Canterbury where he sat third early, edged closer to second turning and drew clear with a half length win, holding off Dystopia.
The gelding looks well placed on his home course where he should be able to sit just off likely leader O'Crikey in the run and put himself into the race at the right time.
He rates best and is expected to go close, with the only query being whether he can carry the 59kg, over the 1300m for the first time.
You're being asked to take a short price to find out.
Youthful Jack and O'Crikey fought out the finish of a 1350m Welter at Wyong last time and look likely to fight out the minor money.
O'Crikey tried to lead throughout in that race and was there until the final stages before Youthful Jack arrived in time to score a neck win.
O'Crikey meets the winner a kilo better and is perhaps better suited by the small field where he can bowl along in front and kick for home in the straight.
Youthful Jack, though, has a great record with Robert Thompson aboard and will no doubt be finding the line strongly again.
Sikka, stablemate to Dystopia, looks the knockout as he returns from a spell.
While he struggled to find his best last campaign he was quickly spelled and given a good break.
Missing much of the spring suggests he had a slight issue but is ready to go again now after a trial.
He was won his only start at the course, has a good fresh up record and is unbeaten in three runs at the trip, so must be included in all the multiples at the very least.
