Handy mare Spring Command will appreciate the drops in class and can bounce back to her best in today's final race at Port Macquarie – the TAB.com.au Handicap (race 8).
The mare, in the Robert Davies yard at Cessnock, has been racing in seemingly tougher races at the provincials and looks nicely placed here over 1200m in this Benchmark 65.
Resuming this campaign Spring Command was hampered at the start and found herself back at the tail throughout, before making steady ground to finish a 3.8 length 10th at Scone.
She returned home for a Benchmark 55 and this time, for Robert Thompson, got a good break and was ridden up to hold her position in the lead.
She didn't have a lot of peace there but kicked strongly enough in the straight to lead throughout for a dogged win.
Next start was over 1200m at Wyong in a non metropolitan winners race and after again taking up the running she was hassled in front throughout.
Turning there the midrace effort told and she faded to finish fourth, beaten two lengths in what has become a very good form race behind Sugera.
Two starts back she tackled a slow track at Newcastle in a Benchmark 60 and after copping a bump at the start mustered speed to cross and lead.
She again turned there but struggled over the 11300m journey in the conditions and faded to finish eighth.
Last start, again at Newcastle in a Benchmark 60, she settled off the speed after being caught three deep for the trip and fought on well given a tough run, finishing sixth.
Today the mare is reunited with winning rider Robert Thompson and she drops in weight to the minimum of 54kg.
She has drawn okay and in this company she is expected to give a big sight on the speed.
The Coffs Harbour trained Moneysaver should be ready to show her best after two runs back from a spell.
The mare, prepared by Gordon Yorke, resumed here over 1200m in tougher grade and after settling off the speed boxed on fairly to finish 11th.
She then race din a Benchmark 60 over 1200m at Grafton and after settling midfield found the line strongly with a long neck third.
She drops nicely in the weights here after the claim and fitter for two runs back should be hard to hold out.
Calais Lion led throughout to score last time and should give a big sight again.
The gelding took a few to come to hand this time in but put the writing on the wall here over 1000m two back with an on pace third, beaten a length, after trying to lead throughout.
Over 1100m at Grafton he appreciated the firmer footing and sat second throughout before forging clear late and scoring a half length win.
That was in open class and he drops in grade for this but is up in weight. The 59kg is offset by the claim and from the inside draw he will take catching again.
Rollem is down in the weights for this race and with a good record on home turf can improve sharply here.
