Tail And All goes around at Doomben on Saturday two weeks after he was an absolute moral beaten in a similar race at Eagle Farm.
Up to the 1600m for the first time, Tail And All settled midfield and was held up for almost the entire straight before finally bursting into clear air to be beaten a length by Gotta Be Lucky.
He’s lobbed into a similar looking race today, another no-metro-win handicap over the same trip.
The Robert Heathcote galloper only has six other rivals today and the extra 3kg shouldn’t bother him in what shapes as a much easier race.
Damien Browne is down in Melbourne riding Solzhenitsyn in the Toorak Handicap so Ryan Wiggins jumps back aboard, and that looks a positive sign – he has two wins and four minors from nine starts aboard this horse.
The biggest danger today might just be Elusive Storm who finished 2.4L off Gotta Be Lucky in that race two weeks back.
He meets Tail And All 3kg better off today and on face value that looks enough to turn the tables, but a replay of that race would tell a different tale.
Elusive Storm was responsible for keeping Tail And All locked away in that race a fortnight ago.
He had every possible chance to win the race and wasn’t quite good enough.
Once Tail And All bounded into clear air he left Elusive Storm behind in a single stride. Stick with him today, he’ll be very hard to beat.
Fast forward to race 4 and there’s another galloper who looks ready to win in What About Me.
He’s been solid as a rock in two runs back from a break, finishing 1.2L off Regular resuming then only 1.2L off Magic In Motion two weeks back with a slashing finish out wide.
Now he gets back to Doomben where he’s won twice before, and he’s never missed the top three over this trip.
Plus he won his only other third-up start, and Chris Munce jumps in the saddle.
Black Cash has come up favourite for this after winning a similar race to this resuming two weeks back at Eagle Farm.
He is however winless in three runs second-up and has to carry 58kg which will test him in a tricky looking field.
On weight-adjusted ratings, What About Me rates seven pounds clear of Black Cash when marrying up their performances from two weeks ago. With Munce in the saddle, expect him to be winning this.
The lay of the day comes in a very open Class 6 Handicap, race six on the program.
Volkhere has come up the $3 favourite in a race where almost every runner could win.
He’s fourth-up into this and up to 2030m now which should suit him, but his last-start sixth at Eagle Farm is a little concern.
He was beaten 5.8L in an open mile, and never looked like threatening.
Granted he’s back in grade for this, but his best form is on wet tracks and he doesn’t quite look to be going a well as some of these.
Quick Witted is a progressive mare who has won three of four in her debut campaign. She’s up in grade again today but impossible to overlook on current form down to the minimum.
Special Miss meanwhile rattled home from the back at Eagle Farm two weeks ago and will be hard to hold off today if she reproduces that performance.
The $3 looks a bit short for Volkhere today.
BANKER: Race 2 No 1 Tail And All @ $2.25
PLAY OF THE DAY: Race 4 No 6 What About Me @ $3.20
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 6 No 1 Volkhere @ $3
