3 minute read
Lightly raced galloper Midnight Express can continue his good form in today's IASBET.com Tour Of Victoria Handicap (race 6) at Seymour.
The gelding, prepared by John Salanitri at Caulfield, was an impressive fresh up winner and can make it two on end in this Showcase RB78 over 1109m.
Midnight Express, a four-year-old by Street Cry, won two of his first three runs over 975m on debut then two starts later over 1200m.
He followed that win with a second carrying a big weight over 1200m at Mildura, then was third over 1300m at Swan Hill.
He headed to town over 1400m at Betfair Park Hillside and after racing on the speed lifted strongly in the heavy conditions to finish third.
Last start before a spell was his sole disappointment of his short career and that was in the Listed Silver Bowl Final over a mile at Flemington.
There he drifted back to midfield but faded right out of it in the straight and came in at the tail.
I suspect he just didn't run the trip and was also at the end of the campaign, so just did nothing over the last furlong.
After a good spell he resumed over 1000m at Pakenham where he carried 59kg and had gate 12.
But it mattered not, as he settled midfield before cruising into the race on the turn and running away with a soft win by almost three lengths.
He is fitter and suited by the slightly longer trip, and will also appreciate carrying 3.5kg less.
While in tougher grade, there's little doubt he's up to city class so with just 55.5kg and a good gate here he should go close again.
Agrippa is a talented galloper who ran well fresh and will be hard to hold out again.
The John Sadler-trained gelding resumed in much tougher grade at Bendigo and after getting back to near last hit the line well to finish a narrow second.
He tackles the same trip here but in easier class and should be storming home again.
Dazza is racing well and is another who will be getting home hard.
The gelding was a Tatura winner this trip two back before finishing hard for third at Bendigo last time.
He meets the same class here so looks a top each way chance again.
Private Jeune had no luck at Moonee Valley last time and can improve sharply, while Side Splitter has a good fresh up record and should give a sight form the inside draw.