New Zealand import Georgey Aeroplane impressed on Melbourne Cup day in his Australian debut, and looks well placed to grab a second-straight win this afternoon.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The promising stayer lines up in the De Bortoli Wines Benchmark 75 Handicap (2100m), eyeing back-to-back wins following a gutsy salute at Rosehill on Melbourne Cup day.
He had every right to get beaten that day under the watchful tutelage of Chris Waller for the first time - he was stirred up before the race and fractious in the barriers.
Once they did jump the five-year-old settled just behind the speed but found himself held up at the turn. By the 300m he wound up into some clear running room, and motored home to just stick his nose in front at the winning post.
The run netted a Timeform rating of 80, which matched up exactly with his last start in New Zealand – a narrow fourth placing over the mile at Matamata.
He benefited from the jump to 1900m at his Australian debut last start and the extra furlong today should suit him to a tee.
He seems to have settled in pretty well at Waller’s powerful Rosehill base, and gets ear muffs and a tongue tie on for the first time today just to try and relax him around the barrier stalls.
The handicapper has been kind also, bumping him just half a kilogram off that last-start win which takes him to 54.5kg.
Ideally he’ll settle just off the speed again and give himself every chance to wind up in the straight. And after another fortnight with Waller, hopefully he’s improved his barrier manners which would only enhance today’s performance.
Against this lot he’ll likely prove pretty tough to hold out.
Sweet Talkin Woman is the logical danger having bumped into Georgey Aeroplane in that same race at Rosehill on Melbourne Cup day.
She ran third on that occasion, only finishing a long head behind the winner in a tight finish. The Kris Lees mare lost a bit of ground mid-race but flew home late and only just missed in a run that netted a Timeform figure of 81.
Today she meets Waller’s galloper 1.5kg better off at the weights and should find a nice position from gate six.
The only query is the trip – she’s never run beyond 1900m but the way she finished off last start suggested she still had plenty to give.
She looks set for another duelling finish with Georgey Aeroplane.
Trojan Destiny comes through a different formline from Cup week having won at Hawkesbury on Oaks day over 2250m.
He’ll be pushing forward and can give them plenty to think about in this.
David Payne’s Diamond Jim is another one coming through the race on Cup day at Rosehill. He ran second on that occasion and won’t have any trouble with the trip given he’s run up to 2800m before.
Looks one worth keeping safe but he hasn’t won now for 425 days.
