Handy galloper Rollem looks poised to return to winning form in today's Coopernbook Hotel Hannam Vale Cup (race 7) at Taree.
The gelding is one of the few runners in this Benchmark 60 over 1250m to be showing any form and with a good record at the course and distance looks the clear top pick.
Prepared at Port Macquarie by Neil Godbolt, the gelding had a long but successful campaign last time in, including two wins and a number of placings.
He finished off the campaign in open company on his home track over 1200m and after turning last ran on well for sixth before a well earned break.
Resuming over 1000m at Grafton he had a big weight and a wide gate and after drifting back to second last hit the line well to finish third, beaten only two lengths after Adrian Nicholls dropped the whip.
Second up, over 1000m at Port Macquarie, he again had a big weight and from the inside gate settled midfield before working home steadily and finishing a 3.3 length third behind Roadakatwo.
Rollem backs up over 1250m today but has a good record at the track and journey with a win and two seconds from four tries.
He carries the same weight in the same grade and has drawn well in barrier two.
Unlike many of his rivals, the gelding is racing well and he also has a good record in soft ground, with four of his six career wins coming in heavy ground.
Today he should be camped off the speed but hard to hold out in the straight.
The soft track and a couple of scratching promotes Subic Bay into the chances and he is expected to improve sharply here.
The gelding, prepared by Alan Stapleford at Gosford, won his maiden second up over 1350m last campaign with a determined fast finishing win then made it two on end over 1150m at Cessnock with another tough win.
His form tapered off on hard tracks at his next two runs before he resumed over 1200m in a Class 2 at home.
There he drifted well back and made steady late ground into a 4.8 length ninth.
Today he drops back to the country and is aided by the claim to offset the bigger weight.
He is fitter, suited in the soft ground and looks set to improve sharply.
Blinkin Swift rates highly but would want every minute to by drying weather today.
Prepared on the course by Ross Stitt, Blinkin Swift is well placed here but has placed only one of four runs in slow to heavy ground.
He has won two of his last four runs, the latest over 1010m at Inverell where he ran on from near last.
In this grade at Grafton last time he struck a slow track and tried hard but could manage only eighth, beaten 4.2 lengths.
The track and trip suit today and the claim helps but the conditions pose his biggest risk.
Carbon Art is likely to need further than this but in the softer ground could sneak into the placings fresh.
