Game Of Shadows can build off a last-start at Corowa this afternoon in the Aurora Linen Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) at Wangaratta.
Brett Cavanough’s four-year-old has found career-best form this campaign and reeled them in impressively from well back over this trip at Corowa 15 days ago.
The run netted a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 76, and a repeat performance here would make him very hard to beat today.
It came after a half-length second at Wagga where he ran to 71, which followed a narrow second placing over this trip at Albury where he earned a figure of 73.
His only other run at this track also netted a victory, under jockey Linda Meech who jumps back in the saddle today.
That was over 1300m at his second run this campaign against Restricted 58 opposition, and netted a weight-adjusted rating of 69.
This son of Reset looks to have further upside again today and looks ideally placed in a race which lacks any real depth.
If he’s on his game again today I don’t expect any of these to hold him out.
There are a couple capable of upstaging Game Of Shadows though.
Little Pablo has improved with each run this campaign, and produced a weight-adjusted figure of 73 when runner-up in similar here over 1590m 11 days ago.
He carries the same weight again today in a similar looking race and should also be coming with a strong run.
His problem though is he’s not out to seven years old and looks to have found his level, while Game Of Shadows is still on the upward spiral.
In any event, on current form, Little Pablo should not be taken lightly.
The John and Chris Ledger-trained Gypsy Lover might well be the one with most upside here after clocking a four-length win on debut at Towong 17 days ago.
The run only produced a weight-adjusted figure of 60, but she looked to have plenty left in the tank and I’d suspect she’s capable of a much better rating then that.
This is clearly a tougher race, but don’t be surprised if she gives Game Of Shadows a bit to think about.
The other last-start winner in this field is Dashing Stars who was too good in easier grade over 1400m at Echuca two weeks back.
He carries the same weight today and gets back up to the mile over which he’s won three times in the past.
He’s another one who’s reached his level in life, and he will need to improve off that latest showing which earned a weight-adjusted figure of 68.
Don’t be surprised if he does though, which should put him somewhere in the mix today.
