The kiwis have had a big spring on this side of the Tasman landing several valuable prizes with the likes of Ocean Park, It’s A Dundeel and Silent Achiever. Today they descend on Hamilton for the Centrebet Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1400m with the lightly raced Excuseable shaping as the horse to beat.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Excuseable runs for trainer Kevin Myers who has his small team in Victoria absolutely flying at present.
Since coming across the ditch this spring Myers has trained eight winners from thirteen runners, including the Hamilton Cup.
Excuseable is a last start winner at Awapuni where he powered away to win by a widening 5 lengths over the same trip he tackles today, 1400m.
It’s been 51 days since but that is of little concern, not only because the stable is turning out winner after winner, but also because this horse has a very good record kept fresh.
A winner of 5 of his 20 starts he still looks to have good upside and lines up today in what looks a very winnable race for him.
Peter Moody leads the home defence with the lightly raced Beckon.
The son of Charge Forward has perhaps not lived up to the early promise that he showed but his latest effort at Horsham was solid and his best pieces of form do make for good reading in this small line up.
He should be at the peak of his powers third up and take plenty of beating.
Dartook has been given a short spell since we last saw her.
She raced well through last campaign without winning but worth noting she has a terrific record when fresh and a forward showing can be expected.
Smarty Mac is a useful type racing consistently well this preparation.
The step to 1400m now is a plus and he is a winner at the track. He can keep them honest.
