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Locally-trained galloper Big Buddie will relish the return to the synthetic track at Geelong when he contests the Geelong Cup Packages 22/10, a Benchmark 84 Handicap (1200m) today.
The metropolitan meeting, transferred from Sandown, sees the five-year-old aiming for his third win from his last four starts.
Big Buddie, a five-year-old son of Lago Delight, was successful in a Benchmark 78 over the same course and distance on May 23 before venturing to Sandown-Lakeside when he led throughout ins coring a three-quarter length victory in a Benchmark 90 over 1200m.
Trainer Andrew Sawden then stepped the gelding up further in class by taking him to Flemington where he contested an open handicap up the straight 1100m at Flemington, where he finished a 5.4 length sixth of eight runners behind The Thief under apprentice Jackie Beriman.
The young rider again takes the ride on the Geelong Synthetic track today with her 2kg claim bringing the five-year-old in with 56.5kg.
Big Buddie’s victory three starts back saw him earn a weight adjusted Timeform figure of 90 which increased to 95 with his Sandown success.
While his figure dropped at Flemington last start I would expect him to bounce back in the small field on the Geelong Synthetic track today.
An interesting runner in today’s line-up is the former Singapore galloper Merchant who is lining-up for his first run since October 2012.
The son of Fubu was a six-time winner in Singapore from 25 starts for Cliff Brown and is now under the care of Jamie Edwards at nearby Freshwater Creek.
Merchant raced in the top bracket before injury forced him out of Singapore and can count a two-length second behind Rocket Man on the Polytrack in November 2011 as one of his better performances.
The Leon Corstens-trained Supreme Warrior returned a 12 month high Timeform figure of 93 when winning a Benchmark 78 over 1200m at Sandown-Lakeside on June 11.
The son of Golan is making his debut on the synthetic surface today but should get a good run from his inside draw and be hard to stop at the finish.
The Colin Little-trained Sir Fernando has an excellent record on the Geelong Synthetic track having scored in a Benchmark 70 at his last start on June 13.
Along with that victory he has a further two placings to his credit from three starts at the track and with the 3kg claim for Jordan Childs has a weight drop of 7.5kg on his last start success.
