3 minute read

Honest mare Means A Lot looks perfectly placed to return to winning form in today's Johno's Diner Handicap (race 5) at Donald.

Fitter for two runs from a spell, the city placed mare looks ideally suited over the longer 1350m journey and has proven up to RB72 class in the past.

Prepared by Darren Weir at Ballarat, the mare resumed last campaign with a maiden win over 1200m at Echuca before recording three city midweek placings on end.

The first was over 1400m at Sandown Hillside when running on hard and failing by a head then she returned there and raced closer to the speed before beijg beaten a nose.

Up to a mile for the first time at Moonee Valley she took up the running from out wide as she was caught deep and sat outside the leader.

Turning narrowly in front but she pegged by after the early work and held third. She was also reportedly injured during the race so had a short let up.

She retuned over 1200m at Ararat and after settling off the speed really knuckled down strongly in the straight, hitting the line hard to score a long neck win.

Up to 1400m and facing her toughest test at Flemington, she settled on the speed early then was shuffled back to midfield and held up approaching the turn.

Buffeted there she did little in the run home and came in at the tail.

Weir gave Means A Lot a long spell of 10 months following that run before she resumed over 1000 at Colac.

Drifting back to midfield in the run, she got off the fence turning and worked home steadily to finish fourth.

Last start, in this class over 1100m at Echuca, she again settled back on the inside and again got out into the clear in the straight before coming home hard and finishing a three quarter length third.

Today she tackles the same grade but meets the boys as well so drops 2.5kg in the weights.

She is fitter now, looking for the extra ground and does looks well placed here on her city form over similar distances last campaign.

From barrier six she'll be camped just off the speed and should prove hard to hold out.

The topweight De Mars was poor in his effort last time but may be worth another chance here.

The Jim Lake trained gelding was a mile winner three back here when leading throughout and scoring by five lengths.

He then raced over 1400m in the Echuca Cup and after settling sixth had no luck at all, being held up for a run and was shuffled back approaching the turn.

He straightened second last and finally got into the clear before making good ground into seventh.

On that effort you'd be happy to follow him here in the easier grade but he instead turned in a poor run last time.

That was at Bendigo over a mile where he led and went too hard before fading and coming in last.

He comes back in journey which suits here and drops in weight after the 4kg claim for Jye McNeil.

He looks the likely leader in the small field and with five wins at the trip he will take catching.

South Australian visitor Tanqueray Lady has won her last two in Victoria and also looks hard to run down.

The mare won an RB58 over 1400m at Hamilton by leading throughout after crossing from the outside gate and scoring by 4.5 lengths.

She then raced here at this trip in an RB62 and again led throughout, this time clinging on for a narrow win.

While she meets tougher grade this time she drops 3kg on the win and should give a big sight again.

Rushing Wild has won his last two and will also appreciate the drop in weights as he tackles tougher grade.

After winning the Balranald Cup by 5.5 lengths he won an RB68 at Kyneton when leading throughout.

He drops in the weights here after the claim and from gate two should be prominent.