Honest sprinter Earnest Ernest has gained a start in today's Egroup Events Handicap (race 5) at Gosford and will prove hard to hold out.
The lightly raced but very consistent gelding has charged home to finish runner up at his two runs this campaign and gaining a start here as an emergency in this Benchmark 75 over 1000m he gets the chance to break through.
Prepared at Warwick Farm by Joe Pride, Earnest Ernest has two wins and eight minors from just 14 starts.
But most of his runs have been in town and he looks well placed here to score a long overdue success.
Last campaign he raced four times and failed to break through but did run some strong races including a narrow loss in Saturday grade at Rosehill four back.
He made a long run next start at Wyong and kept coming over 1100m into fifth then went for a spell.
Resuming over 1100m at Warwick Farm he drifted back and turned well back, held up for a run before charging home to finish runner up, beaten a nose behind Millenium Ruler.
He then raced over 1100m at Canterbury and settled midfield this time, switching around heels in the straight and again running on hard to finish second.
This time he was beaten a length behind Mecir.
He backs up here a week later and drops a couple of kilos on his last run.
He has drawn for a good run with cover and has placed at his only try here.
He has a win and a second from two starts in heavy ground and with plenty of speed engaged here he will be hard to hold out again.
Taree speedster Floral Insight has a great record on soft ground and amazing stats at the trip.
The gelding has raced 16 times at the journey for seven wins and eight placings.
The only unplaced run was last start before a spell, at Warwick Farm in Saturday class, where he led from a wide gate and endured a tough run before fading right out of it and going for a rest.
He loves soft ground, with six of his seven wins in dead to heavy conditions, and with the claim and a good draw today he should be prominent throughout and expected to be at least in the finish.
The topweight My Vegas resumes from a spell today but with a good fresh up record should be finishing on hard.
The John McNair trained entire struggled in a small field in Saturday grade at his last run then spelled.
He was a winner at Rosehill the start prior though, where he relished the hot pace and hit the line hard.
A similar scenario should play out here and with a good fresh up record he should be motoring home late.
He is comfortable in the ground and this is the easiest assignment he's had in a while.
Esprit Lad is another with a good fresh up record and he will give a big sight at odds.
The gelding led and faded at his last two before a good break but will find this easier.
He goes very well fresh and can give cheek at double figure odds.
