3 minute read

Local galloper Constant Force can bring up another win in today's Warrnambool Direct Plaster Tour Of Victoria Handicap (race 6) at Warrnambool.

Prepared on the course by father and son team of Bill and Simon Wilde, Constant Force was a last start winner here in an RB68 but looks more than capable of taking this skinny RB72 against a small field.

Scratchings have reduced the line up to just six runners and that plays into the hands of the on pace runner.

The lightly raced gelding resumed over 1400m at Hamilton and was narrowly beaten then stepped straight up to this journey here and set out at a good clip before fading to finish fifth behind his in form stablemate Full Peal.

Same track and trip next start he ran a better race, sitting just off the pace before lifting strongly to go down narrowly.

Backing up just a few days later over 2040m at Moonee Valley, he drew wide and raced across to share the speed but was spent rounding the bend and faded right out of it.

A fortnight later the gelding went back to Moonee Valley and again drew wide and worked hard early on the speed, before fading to finish fifth.

Last start, though, freshened and returned home, he carried 60kg from the inside gate and led throughout for an easy win.

Winning rider Dean Yendall stays aboard again and he drops in weight by a half kilo on the win as he rises slightly in grade.

The small field suits, the track and trip suits and he is expected to take catching again.

It's worth noting he's been entered for a few races over the next few days but connections have settled on running here.

Another horse prepared on the course, Owners Priority, is overdue for a win and looks to get her chance here in the small line up.

Third up she raced at Hamilton over 1400m and ran on well for a solid second, then stepped out to 1523m at Moonee Valley and did the same, working home well to finish a head second.

Two starts ago, over a mile at Caulfield, she settled back and hooked wide before finishing fifth behind Mayneda Strategy.

The stewards report noted she had a wound on her head and blood coming from nostrils, but she wasn't deemed to have bled.

Last start, over a mile at Ballarat in this class, she crossed from a wide gate and took up the running, kicking strongly in the straight before finishing a half length third.

The mare carries the same weight today and has drawn far better in barrier three, where she will be able to race on the speed.

It's worth noting her last jockey Dean Yendall has decided to stick with Constant Force but on her last start Owners Priority will give a huge sight today.

With the scratching of Zupatwo, who placed behind Constant Force last time, Shelbyville goes into the third slot as a place hope.

The lightly raced gelding resumed over 1400m here and ran on well to score a three-quarter length win.

He then raced at Ballarat over the same trip and after drawing wide was allowed to settle towards the tail but couldn't come on, finishing eighth and beaten 4.5 lengths.

Despite both career wins coming at 1400m he does look suited by the longer trip here and he has a good record at the course.

He has placed here at the trip and with a light weight and a better f=gate today is worth another chance.