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Peal Of Bells should get conditions to suit when he lines up in the $100,000 Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on Monday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Gwenda Markwell-trained five-year-old strolled away to win the Stayers Cup (3200m) by seven lengths last start.
It yielded Peal Of Bells a Timeform figure of 102, a figure he has run to on three previous occasions and 12 pounds shy of his master rating achieved during the 2012 Sydney Cup.
Peal Of Bells now drops back to 2400m which isn’t quite his pet trip however a rain affected track will swing things in favour of the Clangalang gelding.
The 2400m will become that extra bit more testing on a heavy surface and with queries already surrounding the favourite’s ability [Destiny’s Kiss] over the trip which he is untried at, Peal Of Bells is the logical danger.
Markwell’s latest stakes winner is also the beneficiary of compressed weights as less than half the field sit within the handicap.
With experienced rider Robert Thompson again in the saddle, expect the pair to box seat as was the case in the Stayer’s Cup.
Peal Of Bells should be rock hard fit at this stage of his preparation and that will no doubt prove telling in the straight.
While capable of winning, a strong case can be made for Destiny’s Kiss being the lay of the day.
While he was a good winner over 2000m here a fortnight ago, Destiny’s Kiss now rises in class and is untried over 2400m.
On a heavy surface, the 2400m is going to become a genuine slog and against more seasoned rivals with strong wet track credentials such as Peal Of Bells, Fiumicino and Fibrillation, those interested in the Power Of Destiny gelding should proceed with caution.
Fiumicino is another who gets conditions to suit in today’s Winter Cup (2400m).
Team Hawkes’ stable stalwart returns to Sydney after not quite measuring up in the Brisbane Cup behind Moriarty.
The run prior though, Fiumicino wound back the clock when posting a three length win in the McKell Cup at Randwick.
Fiumicino has an excellent record on rain affected ground and the old timer may just have one more win left in him.
Another proven mudlark is Fibrillation who runs here after a respectable fifth in the Tatt’s Cup at Eagle Farm.
The performance was assessed at 104 and a figure around that mark should put her in the mix here.
Currently third favourite is the Gai Waterhouse-trained Reuben Percival.
There is no question over the six-year-olds ability to stay however with just one run under his belt over 1400m so far this campaign, fitness must be a huge query.
On a tough day of racing at Rosehill though, the strongest case can arguably made for Peal Of Bells in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m).