The promising Miles Of Krishan will aim to get her second campaign off to a winning start at Pakenham this afternoon.
The Greg Eurell-trained mare returns in the Racing.com Benchmark 64 Handicap over 1200 metres.
She then stepped up to city Saturday grade when a narrow second over 1400m at Caulfield before finishing her campaign with a one-length fourth to the smart Lahqa at Sandown.
Miles Of Krishan can be expected to improve this time around with the benefit of maturity and although drawn a touch wide that shouldn’t present a problem given her get-back style of racing.Miles Of Krishan improved her Timeform rating with each outing last campaign and if she can pick up where she left off she looks good enough to beat these.
Two of her main dangers are also resuming from a spell in Drill Master and Ballybrit.Drill Master is also lightly-raced but has been gelded since his last appearance and that could see an improved horse this time around.
He began his career with Peter Moody but raced under the Team Hawkes banner last campaign, which was highlighted by a Ballarat maiden win at this distance where he beat subsequent Australian Guineas winner Palentino.That performance was a clear best Timeform rating for him but the figure he returned on that occasion would see him competitive and he did finish runner-up when resuming last campaign.
The form of Ballybrit last campaign may not look appealing on first glance but a closer looks shows she competed in stakes races and while not up to that she did finish fifth in a Group 3 Alexandra Stakes at Moonee Valley.She hails from the shrewd Hayes-Dabernig yard so their decision to target black type races shows the opinion they hold of her and it was prompted by back-to-back city wins.
Those were both over a mile but she placed at her only attempt this distance and freshness gives her the chance to sprint well today.Burning Mountain is another resuming but he has won fresh in the past and produced some good form last campaign, highlighted by a Sandown placing and a Geelong win before heading to the spelling paddock.
He has yet to finish top three in his three attempts at 1200m but did run a close-up third at his only previous attempt on a synthetic surface.