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Promising galloper Akzar gets the chance to break through in today's No Fuss Solutions Cranbourne Classic (race 7) at Cranbourne.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The lightly-raced gelding is fitter for two runs from a spell and is looking for the longer 2025m in today's race.
Prepared by Robert Hickmott, Akzar won two of his first four starts, both over similar journeys to todays.
Second-up last time in he went straight to 2040m at Moonee Valley and crossed form a wide gate, leading throughout to score a comfortable length win.
He then raced over 2000m at Flemington, placing behind Niwot before he came to the end of his campaign with a ninth there before a spell.
This campaign he resumed over a mile at Caulfield and after settling just off the speed worked home well to finish third, beaten just over a length, behind Testascana.
Last start, again over a mile but at Moonee Valley, he drew wide and sat off the speed, working home steadily to finish fifth, less than two lengths form Canero.
He looked as though he needed more ground and gets that today.
Both third-up runs have been good efforts when placing over this journey and today he comes into the race with 53kg, a nice drawn and regular rider Nick Hall.
The gelding is ready to win and should give a big sight.
Another who will appreciate the longer journey now is the Danny O'Brien-trained Cabeza.
The gelding resumed with a solid fourth over 1410m at Flemington then finish fourth over 1523m at Moonee Valley.
He then stepped up to a mile there in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes and didn't have a lot of luck, finishing ninth behind Rekindled Interest in a very strong race.
Last start, over 1700m at Caulfield, he raced on the speed but was one pace in the run home, sticking on well though to finish fourth behind Extra Zero.
He is ready for the 2000m journey now and with a light weight and good draw will also be prominent throughout.
Raffaello faces a huge class drop for this race and should be ready to show his best.
The entire was game in defeat in the Listed Tokyo City Cup over 1800m at Morphettville, running on well to finish a long neck third.
Last start, though, he took on the a-grade in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, finishing ninth behind December Draw who is a short-priced favourite for Saturday's Caulfield Cup.
Raffaello was beaten five lengths and you'd imagine December Draw would be able to win this by that margin.
Raffaello is a winner at the track and goes well at the trip so will prove hard to hold out.
Red Buttons and Olympic Win both looks ready to show improvement.
Red Buttons is fitter for three runs back and is suited by the longer journey, while Olympic Win, fourth in the Adelaide Cup four back, is also fitter now and should start to show his best from here on.