The consistent Cheeky Babe can continue her consistent form at Mornington on Thursday.
Cheeky Babe was transferred to the Darren Weir stable this spring and the mare has thrived, winning once and finishing second in her other three outings.
The daughter of Bel Esprit was an impressive winner at Moonee Valley two back and then wasn’t beaten far at Ballarat over this trip 25 days ago.
Those runs were each produced in Benchmark 78 contests and Cheeky Babe now drops back to Benchmark 70 company in Thursday’s Bayside Suzuki Handicap.
Cheeky Babe appears well suited in the contest judging by how the race looks set to play out.
There appears to be solid tempo up front and from an inside barrier, Cheeky Babe can settle somewhere off the pace or even as far back as midfield.
Weather The Storm dropped back sharply in grade last start having been outclassed in the Summoned Stakes in her prior outing.
The result was a sharply improved third over 1400m at Sandown in a Fillies and Mares Benchmark 70.
The mare drops back to 1200m here where she possesses a good record and is also yet to run out of the money here at her home track.
Cheeky Babe’s stablemate Equietto profiles as a main danger fresh off making all to win at Warrnambool 13 days ago.
The gelding was ridden more positively than he had been in prior outings and the decision reaped dividends.
Connections may endeavour to do the same here.
Devils Punch shapes as the other obvious player first up off a winter campaign where he continued to progress through the grades.
The son of Equiano is unbeaten from three prior first up outings, is well drawn and gets in well after the 2kg claim of Ben Thompson.
Colin Little has readied the gelding with a pair of trials in readiness and must be a chance of maintaining his perfect first up record.
Nitro Nick shapes as a value player following his first up win over 1100m at Wodonga.
The entire is unbeaten from two prior starts on his home track and will strip fitter second run from a spell.
Overall though it is Cheeky Babe who looks best placed to take out the final event of the program at Mornington on Thursday.
