Tough galloper Usain Prince will take running down in today's John Carlton Cup (race 7) at Grafton.
The lightly raced five-year-old, prepared by Sue Grills in Tamworth, is fitter for two runs from a spell and despite an awkward gate will take catching over the 1200m journey now.
Usain Prince, with eight career wins from 23 starts, is a three time winner at the trip but a winery o 1400m so the journey for the speedster is no issue.
Last campaign he won four on end culminating in a win over 1400m in the Inverell Cup before heading to Queensland for a 1500m race at Eagle Farm where he went keenly over the longer journey and faded out of it to finish a well held 13th before a break.
Sitting out the autumn, he resumed over 1200m on his hope track in open class where he set up a big midrace lead, turning the bend five clear, before predictably tiring late.
He had enough in hand to hold on for a narrow win though.
Three weeks later and back to 1100m at Coonamble, he race don the speed and turned in front but couldn't hold out the winner Boomerang, finishing runner up.
He returns to the 1200m journey today but will be fitter for the two runs back and carries the same weight here.
The gelding has drawn much wider but has good early speed and will be prominent early.
Jockey Andrew Gibbons, unbeaten on him from three runs, is back aboard today and he will give a big sight.
Grills also has veteran galloper Ollie Vollie engaged in the race and he rates highly on his best form.
Last time in he was fourth at his last three runs, two in Brisbane including the Listed Keith Noud Stakes and once at Warwick Farm in the Listed Razor Sharp Quality.
That's good form for this class.
He has a decent fresh up record, has the claim and a good draw and must be included in at least the multiples.
Veteran mare Getyourown is racing well and with a superb record at home looks an each way chance here.
The mare, prepared by Paddy Cunningham, hasn't had a spell since last year but races with her runs well spaced.
And she seems to relish the program as she's been a model of consistency.
After finishing runner up three on end she was fourth here two back over 1100m, running on hard and finishing only half a length from the winner.
She then tackles the Murwillumbah Newmarket and after sitting second lifted strongly in the straight to score a long neck win.
She has the same weight here and a good draw, she has five wins at the course, six at the journey and three wins and five seconds at the course and distance.
Hoist had no luck last time from a wide gate at Newcastle and is worth another chance here.
The gelding has the inside draw this time and with an easier run can bounce back to his best.
Montana Flyer drops significantly in class on his recent runs in the Silk Stocking on the Gold Coast when 11th, the Chief De Beers Quality at Doomebn when 11th, and the Gai Waterhouse Quality at Ipswich last time when off the track throughout from a wide gate before finishing 10th.
His run there was good under the circumstances and he looks well placed here in the far easier grade and his first run at his new home track.
He has drawn wide again but should give a big sight.
