3 minute read
Lightly-raced galloper Zaeem can bounce back to his best form when he returns to the synthetic track in today's Centrebet Get On To Get Out Handicapo (race 9) at Geelong.
The three-year-old, prepared by Daryl Brown at Ballarat, was well held on heavy ground last time so will appreciate the firmer footing today in this RB62 over 1300m.
After placing at his first two form a spell he ran on well at home to finish a close-up fifth.
After a five week let-up he raced here for the first time over 1100m.
Although beaten for early speed and getting well back, he powered home for an impressive 1.8 length win.
Back to the turf over 1100m at Bendigo he was again beaten for speed but motored home late to finish a head second in a top effort.
Zaeem then stepped up to a more suitable 1300m there in tougher grade than this.
Settling last from a wide gate, he turned at the tail and again got home strongly when a neck third in a blanket finish.
Last start, on heavy ground over 1200m in a three-year-old handicap at Caulfield, he drifted back to just worse than midfield on the inside.
There he seemed to struggle in the ground and against the stiff opposition when a 7.5 length ninth behind Curtana, and General Truce, who has since won.
Today he rises in weight but drops sharply in grade.
He will also appreciate the firmer footing and should enjoy a good run from barrier six with Chris Symons aboard.
There looks plenty of pace in the race with some of the chances drawing wide so this gelding should be charging home late again.
The Shay Brown-trained On The Cards is racing well and should be prominent throughout.
The gelding was a close-up fourth five back over 1200m at Ballarat then a month between runs dropped back to 1000m there and finished runner-up.
Returning there for the same trip he was runner-up again, just missing in a photo, before stepping up to 1200m there and finishing runner-up for the third time in a row.
Last start, here over 1300m in maiden grade, he settled just off the speed before fighting on strongly to score a head win.
While he meets a tougher grade here and rises in weight he has drawn for a good sit just off the leaders.
He obviously handles the track and is fit and in-form and should give a sight again.
Kirkson and Fort Chauvel both rate highly for today's race but will need luck form wide gates.
The Mick Price-trained Kirkson battled on soft ground last time but his previous run was sound and he is worth another chance.
But he is an on-pace runner and drawn barrier 14 so will need a few breaks early.
The Russell Cameron-trained Fort Chauvel is in the same boat, being an on-speed type who has drawn only one better.
With a good pace on Del Palio will get his chance to hit the line hard. He has drawn awkwardly but will be camped off them and getting home hard.
Margiela was narrowly beaten last time and won her only try here but is another drawn very wide.