3 minute read

They say change is as good as a holiday and Cheeky Devil fits this criteria ideally in her first campaign with Nick Olive.

Cheeky Devil commenced her career at the Gold Coast and during that time recorded three wins through 23 starts.

The Grey Swallow mare arrived at Nick Olive’s Canberra stable off a 15 start campaign through last season where she recorded two wins and five minor placings.

Following a short spell, Cheeky Devil hit the ground running for her new stable with a three-quarter length success first up over 1400m at Wagga.

The mare settled outside of the early lead before claiming it in the straight before holding off a number of closing over the closing stages.

Her first up display was awarded a Timeform rating of 71, just one pound shy of a master rating achieved last campaign.

Second run from a spell and out to a mile, Cheeky Devil can build upon the display in the Hyland Race Colours Benchmark 60 Handicap at Queanbeyan on Monday.

The race is short on depth with only two thirds of the field sitting inside of the handicap.

Cheeky Devil already rates highly amongst this field on what she produced last start and of the main chances in Race 6 at Queanbeyan, is clearly the one who possesses the most upside heading into the contest.

Expect her to again be prominent, perhaps slotting in behind the early speed.

At the end of what should be a genuinely run mile, watch for her overpowering rivals through the closing stages.

While most disappointing on his home track over 2000m last start, watch for the Luke Pepper-trained Changing Notes to be bouncing back sharply.

The gelding had previously been holding form well in similar races to this and actually made all at this course four starts ago over 1460m.

He could take some catching.

Butterfly Sky ventures down to Queanbeyan off a last start win at Bathurst.

The mare is holding form well of late and can again be thereabouts at the finish.

Old timer Jayko contests the sixth race on the program off a sound third at Goulburn.

He is another who shapes as a value chance.

None of Changing Notes, Butterfly Sky or Jayko possess the upside Cheeky Devil does in the Hyland Race Colours Benchmark 60 Handicap.

With natural improvement second up, the daughter of Grey Swallow can commence her time with Nick Olive by recording two wins from as many starts.