3 minute read

Handy galloper Dantalion looks a top each way chance in today's H & H Catering Handicap (race 5) at Wyong.

The lightly raced gelding turned in a nice run fresh and over the extra ground in today's 1350m assignment will prove hard to hold out.

From the Pat Webster yard at Randwick, Dantalion has raced only 10 times for a win and three minors but has rarely been far away.

Last campaign he ran seventh fresh before stepping up to 1300m at Hawkesbury where he sat third throughout before cruising to a 2.5 length win.

He then raced here over 1350m on slow ground and after settling worse than midfield hit the line well to finish fifth.

Again over 1350m at Wyong, he got back and ran on hard, this time finishing a half length third.

Last start before a spell, over 1400m at Newcastle, he drew a wide gate in the small field and was back and wide throughout before finding the line strongly when a neck second.

After a good spell he resumed over 1250m in a no metropolitan winners race at Canterbury.

Racing fourth and facing the breeze three wide, he boxed on well for a 2.3 length fifth behind Arms Length.

The winner has since run well again, finishing runner up in the rich Magic Millions Fillies and Mares Quality on the Gold Coast last weekend.

Dantalion will take a lot of improvement from that run and has a lighter weight here and an ideal gate.

Top jockey Corey Brown goes aboard.

The gelding has run well at both tries at the track and distance and with a fitness edge on some of the main dangers he looks hard to beat.

The Gai Waterhouse trained Tuxedo Royale boasts a strong record from limited starts and looks the biggest danger.

The gelding placed over 1300m at Kembla Grange on debut then placed over 1300m at Hawkesbury.

He then stepped up to a mile at Gosford and proved too tough, crossing from a wide gate with his big weight and leading throughout for a dogged win.

Up to 2100m at Gosford he drew much better and was able to set his own tempo on the speed before running away with an easy win.

Heading to town for the first time over 200m at Rosehill, he led until well into the straight before being run down by Peck, finishing fourth.

The gelding has been wound up with enough trials to go close fresh and is expected to prove hard to beat.

The interesting runner of the race is former Kiwi A Real Prince, prepared by Bjorn Baker, who resumes after finishing fifth in a recent trial.

The gelding boasts four wins and five minors from 11 runs so has plenty of ability and with the claim here today is worth watching fresh.

Ebony Rock is fitter for two runs from a spell and looks hard to hold out.

The David Hayes trained gelding hit the line hard over 1112m at Kyneton fresh then did the same over 1200m at Geelong.

He drops in weight today, looks suited by the longer trip and should be working home strongly.

Baabulu comes out of the same race at Dantalion did fresh.

Baabulu had little luck in that race and can do much better here.