Fast 'n' Rocking could hardly call himself the punters pal but he does look well set up for the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Fast 'N' Rocking has earned himself a bit of a reputation over the years. He probably suffers from his own talent. He's very good - which has ensured that he has been racing the top liners since his juvenile season - but he is not good enough to beat the top liners. And he's very consistent - it's just that his consistency leaves him on the heels of those better horses.
Add to the mix the fact that he has a low-percentage racing pattern and his die is cast - he's a thief, a milk-drinker, a pea heart.
But for all of this, a look at his profile shows that he is completely harmless. He has - somewhat remarkably - returned punters every cent that they have bet on him. 0.0% POT over his 40 starts.
It's time for a fresh start for punters and Fast 'n' Rocking, we can all get along, and he can start this new chapter by earning us a dime this weekend in the Bletchingly.
There are a few big positives for Fast 'n' Rocking in the Bletchingly. He's back to 1200m and there is plenty of early speed around so we can expect to get a truly run contest. The rail goes back to the true which can give the field, and in turn him, more room when they balance up, and he draws out which again can allow him to build his momentum when he wants to.
He tops the Timeform ratings for the contest at 117 along with main danger Mahuta.
Mahuta is probably the most interesting runner in the race, having achieved his Timeform rating of 117 in his first preparation. It's hard not to think that there will be more to come from him this season but it could well be a case of Fast 'n' Rocking winning the battle before Mahuta wins the war.
Fast 'n' Rocking holds the higher ground in the Bletchingly, and we mark him a clear favourite and the horse to beat.
Click here for TopBetta's Caulfield markets
In the following race we find an appealing each way play in Prince Of Brooklyn.
After an aborted spring mission Prince Of Brooklyn was given plenty of time but he has come back looking ready to go on with the promise he showed as a late two-year-old.
He ran very well in a strong race first up and then got beaten for speed when they sprinted in a race run at a dawdle early before staying on late in the piece. The plain overall time there was a worry for the form of that race in general, but his was a run of a horse that will be much better suited by a 1400m set up and he gets that today.
The up and coming talent of Wall Street Wolf has most of the early markets attention but we don't think his chance is much better than that of the Prince and at quotes around the $5.50 mark we want to have him on side.
THE MELBOURNE MAIL
Bet Of The Day: Race 7 #3 Fast 'n' Rocking @ $3.60
Each Way Play: Race 8 #2 Prince Of Brooklyn @ $5.50
