Under The Wire in the Warrnambool Oaks Day Maiden (1400m) will look to go one better than his last start outing where the four-year-old caught the eye late finishing a close second at the track and trip 17 days ago.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Patrick Payne-trained gelding settled near the rear of the field and rattled home into second last start in a maiden at this course and distance on July 28.
Under The Wire finds himself in a similar contest at Warrnambool where he appears to have stronger claims.
The Niello gelding possesses the equal highest 50 day Timeform figure of this field following his latest outing at the track.
Add to that being fitter third up, being proven on the slow/heavy surface on offer and the addition of in form jockey Craig Robertson for the in form Patrick Payne stable, Under The Wire looks to get a race to suit today at Warrnambool.
Following a disappointing preparation during the autumn, trainer Patrick Payne elected to put blinkers on Under The Wire which appears to have switched the gelding on nicely.
Under The Wire’s peak Timeform figure was a 73 which he ran to during his second career start when third at Ararat.
The son of Niello ran four pounds below that figure last start however third up today should be capable of further improvement.
Two runners stand out as key rivals with Obligation arguably the main danger.
Obligation resumed well, running to 66 when finishing third at Geelong over 1200m. The gelding then ran well below that effort when placing once again at Swan Hill, beaten 6.5 lengths.
The Luke Oliver-trained entire has mixed his results during his short career to date however his best did come when racing over this trip in one outing during the Summer.
Obligation’s 74 he ran to when finishing fourth at Seymour if repeated could easily see him breaking maiden status today.
Countthepineapples could also put himself in the mix on best form however like Obligation, has to recapture it after an eighth at Werribee last start assessed at 47, some 25 pounds below his master rating of 72.
While Under The Wire usually gets back in his races, Obligation and Countthepineapples could be the ones responsible for setting the pace.
If those pair do manage to get away with cheap sectionals up front, Under The Wire may have a tough time reeling them in, although, looking poised to win third up in a race lacking a great deal of speed, jockey Craig Robertson may position the gelding midfield or even closer in the run.
In a race with limited depth, it would come as a surprise if anyone outside of these top three delivered the goods however genuinely believe it will be a case of third time lucky this campaign for Under The Wire.
