3 minute read
Promising galloper Fat Al can bounce back to winning form in today's Inglis Handicap (race 2) at Canterbury Park.
The gelding steps quickly to the 1900m journey of today's Benchmark 65 but looks suited at the trip and should prove hard to beat.
The son of Al Maher, a three-year-old in the Gai Waterhouse camp, made his debut over 1200m at Kembla Grange last season where he showed some early dash and sat second before fading to finish seventh behind Mahisara.
He was green and then sent for a spell.
Resuming over 1200m at Gosford, he met only a few rivals but did it impressively.
Settling second he drew clear in the run home to score by over two lengths.
From there he stepped straight up to a mile at Warwick Farm in a Benchmark 74.
Drawing an outside gate he settled midfield but edged closer turning and kept coming in the straight, running on into second behind Hendricus.
He looked as though he'd be suited by even further and will be fitter for the 1900m journey today.
Nash Rawiller has the ride form barrier one where he will be closer to the fence and to the speed.
With further improved Fat Al will be hard to beat again.
The Mark Quinn trained Falklands has strong form for this and looks the clear danger.
The son of Viscount just missed fresh over 1200m at Newcastle then returned there over the same journey to win his maiden, sitting second before clearing out with a seven length win.
Up to 1550m here two back he sat second throughout again and tried hard but couldn't match Mountain Dew, finishing runner up.
Last start, in the same race Fat Al finished runner up in last time, he settled midfield and turned there but ran on well to finish third, only a long neck from the winner and a head from Fat Al.
They meet each other on level weight terms and both look top winning hopes on that run but leaning to Fat Al with perhaps a slightly better scope for improvement.
Outside that pair, Duty Bound looks hard to hold out with her light weight.
The Danny Williams-trained filly was a last start Goulburn maiden winner over a mile when proving too classy.
She meets a much tougher grade here but drops 5kg on the run and can only be fitter again.
Chris Waller had three runners engaged in the race but has scratched two leaving Le' Ahi to fly the flag for the stable.
The gelding, a son of Pentire, looks suited by the longer trip after winning over a mile at Gosford last time.
He should be further improved.
Flying Aquila is still a maiden but looks next best.