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Chow Meow running second on resuming can go one better at Warrnambool on Monday in The Standard Maiden Plate (1200m).
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Tale Of The Cat gelding was arguably given a bit too much to do last start when second at Stony Creek.
Chow Meow from worse than midfield was forced to peel deep around the home turn and while he ran on well, couldn’t catch the winner Momentary who led throughout.
His performance was assessed at 69 and the three-year-old is expected to post a winning improvement on that figure in The Standard Maiden Plate (1200m) at Warrnambool this afternoon.
Also accepted for an 1100m Set Weights Maiden at Bendigo on Sunday, trainer Robbie Griffiths has gone for the 1200m option at Warrnambool.
Chow Meow’s first up effort came in six pounds below his peak Timeform rating of 75 achieved on debut at Wangaratta.
A host of factors at Warrnambool on Monday suggest the Cranbourne-based gelding should run somewhere around that mark.
The three-year-old will no doubt be fitter second up and the rise in distance appears ideal.
While he settled worse than midfield last start, expect Chow Meow to be ridden more aggressively from barrier 2.
He is also the beneficiary of a positive rider change with Ryan Maloney taking the reigns.
Maloney is currently one of the form hoops in country and Robbie Griffiths has similar claims throughout the trainer ranks.
Together the pair are a formidable duo at present which creates another reason for Chow Meow to be respected.
The obvious danger is the OTI-raced Inigo.
Inigo’s maiden campaign produced mixed results but his better ones rated well.
The One Cool Cat gelding possesses a master rating of 82, achieved at his second career outing when runner up at Cranbourne.
Even his lesser rated efforts sit close to Chow Meow’s master Timeform rating and is definitely capable of playing a role in the finish.
The main concern surrounding Inigo is whether he possesses the dash necessary to salute over 1200m.
Tiger Tales resumes for a new stable here and a market watch is strongly advised.
Now under the guidance of Vincent Malady, it will be interesting to see what the Tale Of The Cat gelding can produce.
Malady’s recent stable acquisition predominantly delivered runs assessed around the 67 mark for his prior stable.
The small Geelong based stable is enjoying a successful season to date and Tiger Tales should be considered for the place at the very least.
San Sabarto will be looking to build upon a solid fourth on debut at Seymour.
The Ciaron Maher-trained filly held her ground on that occasion behind smart winner Ajeen who has since gone on to salute in midweek city company.
San Sabarto will have to lift noticeably however improving into a minor spot would come as no surprise.
Overall though, Chow Meow looks the three-year-old most likely to begin his progression through the grades at Wangaratta in The Standard Maiden Plate.