Progressive galloper Take The Oath can continue his good form in today's Mitavite Handicap (race 5) at Canterbury Park.
The lightly raced gelding has returned in good form, including a last start win at Randwick, and can make it two straight in this Benchmark 75 over 1550m.
From the Joe Pride yard, Take The Oath recorded his first career win at his third start, scoring over 1400m on the Kensington track at Randwick just over 12 month ago.
There he sat off the speed but proved a bit classy for a maiden field and scored comfortably.
Next start he returned there at the same trip and after sitting just off the leader throughout he lacked the dash from the previous run, finishing sixth.
It was obviously he was wanting further and he got that next time, stepping up to a mile at Warwick Farm, where he sat back last before edging out wider around the bend and dashed home to score a three-quarter length win.
What was good about the run was that not only it turned out a good form race, but vets revealed he actually had the “thumps” but was able to overcome it.
Rather than press on he was given a long spell and ended up having a year off.
He trialled three times leading up to his return which was over 1300m on the Kensignton track in April.
There he settled midfield but was caught deep throughout before angling out wider turning.
Working home strongly he could only manage third before his conditions gave out over the final furlong.
With the run under his belt though he improved sharply last start, returning to the Kensington track over 1300m in this grade.
There he sat back again but this time loomed up and kept going, scoring a 1.3 length win in what is already a good form race.
He will strip even fitter for today's race and is ideally placed over the longer journey now at 1550m.
From the inside gate he will enjoy a good run and with even luck in the straight will be hard to hold out.
The Graeme Rogerson trained Mossamine is a last start course and distance winner and will prove tough to beat again.
The gelding has worked his way back into fitness, putting the writing on the wall over 1550m on the Kensington track two back when a fast finishing fourth.
He went on with it last time over the same trip here in a Benchmark 70, carrying 60kg.
Settling fourth in the run, he switched around heels in the straight and worked home well for a length win.
The gelding is fitter again and drops a half kilo as he goes up slightly in grade, and this time has a wide gate to overcome.
But he has good stats at the course and distance, is back in form and should be running on hard.
Delzera struggled on the soft ground in tougher class last time but is worth another chance here.
The Guy Walter trained mare won at Wyong three back then placed here in this grade behind Valhussle, leading until the final stages before weakening only close to the line.
Last start though, on slow ground at Randwick, she took on much tougher grade and after sitting on the speed was no match, fading to last.
She strikes firmer footing today and drops a fair bit in grade, so is certainly worth another try.
The claims helps and she will take running down.
River Of Salvation looks next best on his recent form in open grade away from town.
He does have a very good record here, has a nice weight after the claim and races on the speed so will give his backers a good sight at each way odds.
