3 minute read

Progressive colt Zatopek Lane will appreciate a drop in grade and can claim today's Ivan's Pies Handicap (race 7) at Cranbourne.

The Anthony Freedman trained colt, a son of Castledale, drops in class to this showcase RB62 and over the 2060m will prove tough to beat.

Zatopek Lane placed at his first two starts before a spell, the latter finishing off well over 1500m at Ballarat when showing he might make a handy stayer or middle distance galloper.

Kicking off over 1425m at Geelong he sat close to the speed in third place before working home steadily to finish a length runner up.

Straight to a mile at Bendigo, he met a small field but everyone wanted to be in the lead, where the colt had a testing run before fading late to finish third.

Next start was over 2000m at Mornington where he was able to take a sit on the inside with a good run.

Turning there he quickly loomed up and lifted strongly in the stretch to score a head win over Wet Weapon.

Last start, over 2015m in an RB68 at Seymour, he sat midfield in the run but found trouble right when he needed to be going forward.

Turning third last he ran on strongly in the straight once clear and finished fourth, beaten 3.2 lengths.

There's no doubt he should have finished closer.

Today he drops back a grade but tackles a similar distance with a little more weight.

He will be at his top now, has drawn well and can atone for his last start defeat.

The Mike Moroney trained All Out War was too strong to claim his maiden last time and may go on with it over this longer journey.

The lightly raced gelding, a five year old son of Galileo with just 11 career runs behind him, is an import who arrived in Australia a maiden but with some close run behind him.

His first two runs in this country were over about 1700m during last winter and he was terrible, finishing around 20 lengths away each time before another spell.

Perhaps he was still acclimatizing.

Because he resumed with a much better and somewhat luckless sixth fresh up over 1400m at Ballarat before stepping up to 1750m last time at Pakenham.

There he sat just off the speed before running away with a comprehensive win.

He can only be fitter again and should relish the longer journey.

Obviously this is a harder assignment but has plenty of upside and may be worth following.

Noble Game is another progressive galloper who will be fitter for his last start and should appreciate the longer journey.

The Mick Kent trained gelding was a maiden winner over 2444m at Mornington last winter, cruising away, before being tested in two tougher races in town.

After a spell he resumed over a mile here and ran on strongly to finish midfield.

He will relish the longer trip, is trained on the course and should be closer and tougher to beat.