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Promising three-year-old The Originator should kick off his latest campaign in winning fashion when contesting the Emsley Lodge Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) at Geelong.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Originator lines up in what is arguably his easiest career assignment to date having raced against metropolitan company during three career outings so far.
A short but sweet campaign earlier this year yielded a maiden win at Moonee Valley in what proved to be a hot form race.
The Street Sense gelding had the measure of talented gallopers such as subsequent stakes winner Planet Voyage and multiple stakes placegetter Saturn Rock who saluted at Morphettville two starts later.
On weight adjusted ratings, The Originator sits clear on top amongst this field and should prevail in the Emsley Lodge Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m).
Expect Stephen Baster to ride the three-year-old like the best horse in the event up near the speed with his strongest rivals likely sitting first and second through in transit.
Mark Kavanagh possesses an imposing strike rate at Geelong this season having saddled up 21 runners for nine winners at 67.6% profit on turnover.
His combination with Stephen Baster during the 2012/13 season also augers well for The Originator as the leading senior hoop has partnered 23 Kavanagh runners and won on five occasions.
Those following the partnership are currently enjoying a 45.7% profit on turnover.
The consistent Sandusky City is the main danger if The Originator isn’t quite near the peak of his game.
Sandusky City has held his form well in five starts this campaign and appears suited dropping back to lesser company after largely contesting metropolitan events.
Jockey Adam McCabe will roll forward as usual on the Elusive City gelding and the pair will give The Originator something to chase down.
His track and distance credentials are each solid although having not won in 920 days does raise some concerns.
Local galloper Tayla Lee could also upstage the favourite on her home track.
The Andrew Dillon mare is working into her latest campaign well and is certainly worth keeping safe.
Still, you shouldn’t lose sight of the fact her master rating is some 20 pounds inferior to that of The Originator’s.
A master Timeform figure of 95 is clearly the highest Timform figure any in the Emsley Lodge Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) have run to in the past twelve months and that rating belongs to The Originator.
The Originator’s win at Moonee Valley two starts ago is the strongest form line in this race by some way and therefore expect Mark Kavanagh’s promising gelding to account for his older rivals at Geelong today.