Top weight Alma’s Fury can put a slightly frustrating 2013 behind him and claim back-to-back wins in the Listed Bernborough Handicap at Toowoomba today.
The Paul Murray six-year-old heads a big field of milers chasing the $175,000 prize purse at the historic Toowoomba meeting – the first on turf since 2008.
It looks an ideal race for Alma’s Fury to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since winning the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) all the way back in February.
Since then he’s had 11 starts for three minor placings, but the good news is two of those have come in his last two races.
He ran to a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 105 when third in the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill last month behind classy duo White Sage and Terravista.
Two weeks later he ran third in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1550m) working home gamely in the straight to finish 1.6L off Ninth Legion.
That run earned a weight-adjusted figure of 113 and rated eight pounds higher than the figure he ran to in winning the Bernborough Handicap last year.
It was his second best performance in 41 career starts to date, rating a pound below his 1.8L sixth to Shoot Out in this year’s Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).
One of this horse’s greatest assets is his ability to hold form, and if he can repeat that Villiers run today he’ll likely prove too good for these.
He’s drawn superbly in barrier two today and should take up a spot in the first half of this field under new jockey Glen Colless.
From there he only needs to get a crack at them in the straight and he can bring up a second-straight win in this race.
The battle for minor honours also looks an enthralling one today.
Benny’s Buttons intrigues me out to the mile.
He’s had an interesting campaign – he was beaten a neck by classy sprinter Better Than Ready resuming then disappointed slightly behind Lucky Hussler in the George Moore Stakes beaten 3.4L.
It was later revealed he’d injured a foot in the run after losing a plate.
He bounced back 10 days back to finish a length off Love Rocks in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes and should relish the extra time he gets to let down here.
That run behind Love Rocks earned a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 109, and if he can improve off that which looks possible, he’ll be tough to hold out.
Kelso Wood’s Someday also has to be respected in this one.
He came through a different race after the George Moore where he could only manage a 3.6L ninth behind Lucky Hussler.
Wood decided the time was right to jump to the mile and the move paid dividends with Someday winning the Listed Brisbane Handicap 17 days back. That run earned a weight-adjusted figure of 110.
His immediate challenge today is where he gets to from barrier 19.
Should jockey Chris Munce weave a bit of magic and get Someday into a reasonable spot, he’ll pack a big punch when the whips are cracking in the straight.
He only needs a small gap and he can explode through late on, just like he did to win that Brisbane Handicap.
Black Cash is the other one worth keeping an eye on after finishing third to Someday in that race beaten 1.2L.
He meets him 1.5kg better off here and that might be all he needs to turn the tables.
The Kelly Doughty five-year-old, who won the greys’ race at Flemington on Oaks day this year running to a weight-adjusted figure of 111, might well lead this lot up which would make him tough to reel in under star jockey Michael Cahill.
Down to 54.5kg for this one don’t be shocked to see Black Cash pinch it.
