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Progressive galloper Stynes can continue his good form in today's XXXX Gold Handicap (race 7) at Wodonga.
The lightly raced gelding, prepared by Matt Laurie at Mornington, was a strong fresh up winner and can measure up to this stronger BM72 grade over 1300m today.
Stynes, a four-year-old son of Lago Delight, placed on debut then won his maiden second-up over 1300m where he cruised away with a 2.5 length success.
He was spelled and resumed with a sixth over 1400m at Ballarat but went too hard over the longer journey and weakened out of it.
He then had the blinkers removed for the 1450m journey at Kyneton and after settling last hooked wide in the straight and ran on well for a three-quarter length third.
Up to a mile for the first time, in this class at Ballarat, he drew a wide gate and was caught on the limb three deep for the outside.
There throughout, he battled home to finish sixth.
At his last run before a spell, back to Class 1 company over a mile at Werribee, he was again caught wide from the extreme outside gate and so pressed ahead to the lead.
He turned there and kicked strongly but the early effort told and he weakened for a 1.8 length third.
So although he didn't score in his four run campaign, he didn't have a lot of luck and his efforts were sound with excuses.
Resuming this campaign over 1200m at Kyneton, he had a wide gate and 60kg.
Settling just worse than midfield and turning there, he really warmed up late and found enough to score a narrow win.
Today the gelding rises in weight but drops a massive 5.5kg after the claim.
He will be much fitter, has finally drawn a good gate, he is a second up winner and is a winner at the trip.
He looks very well placed here with the weight today and should be hard to hold out.
Another last start winner Our Protocol looks the biggest danger.
The gelding, in the Mark Loft yard, was a second up winner last campaign over 110m at Mornington then was fourth over 1200m at Moe when trying to lead throughout.
At his last run before another spell, over 1200m in this grade at Sale, he again led to the turn but bled when put under pressure and faded for fifth.
After serving the mandatory three month ban, he resumed over 1000m at Bendigo and was caught deep throughout, fading after the tough run for seventh.
He then stepped up to 1300m at Seymour in an RB68 and after taking up the running kicked strongly in the straight and lifted enough for a narrow win.
He will be even fitter for the run and carries the same weight here after the claim for winning rider Omer Ay.
He has drawn wide but will go forward and give a big sight again.
Songspur is worth another chance and should give a sight on his bets form.
The gelding was a winner in this grade two back over 1212m at Echuca before finishing eighth in tougher class over 1300m at Swan Hill.
He drops back in class now and from an ideal gate is worth another chance.
Cosmic Fury found the Listed Wagga Cup too tough last start and can do much better here after a month off and dropping back to a mile.
Hillbilly Dancer has drawn the outside gate but has good speed and with the lighter weight will take running down again.