3 minute read

Eye Striker will be looking for two wins on the trot when stepping out in the Norm Turner Electrical Santa’s Dash (1000m) at Muswellbrook today.

The Ken Tynan-trained runner followed up some good form with a much deserved win over 1150m at Beaumont last time out and that form measures up very well for this.

Apprentice jockey Jessica Brooks goes on board for the first time and claims a much needed 3kg off the allotted 60kg.

Undefeated from two previous outings at the trip, Eye Striker has also won at the course twice previously and despite now being a nine-year-old his recent form rates well against these today.

From barrier two would expect him to push forward and settle in the lead again here and he certainly looks right up to winning a race like this based on recent form.

Local runner Fireball from the Jan Bowen stable shapes up as the main danger returning from a spell.

Has a good record when fresh previously and he was racing in much tougher company than this last time in.

Has not trialled publicly in preparation for this and will need to be at his best carrying the 60kg today.

The now seven-year-old gelding has not won a race carrying more than 57kg which could be the deciding factor in this.

Fireball will certainly find this a much easier task to what he took on last campaign however and with Grant Buckley on board looks a very big danger.

Keep It Danish has failed to win in a very long time now but she has been far from disgraced in recent times.

Drops back in grade and distance today after running a close fifth at Doomben last time out and would not be surprised to see her somewhere in the finish of this.

Has been freshened since her last start effort and with Robert Thompson on board with only 55.5kg certainly comes into consideration.

Run Cannon Run was pretty well held at Warwick Farm last start and back in grade today Is much better suited.

Form prior to that was very good however and he tends to do his best racing over the 1000m trip.

Had just the one run on his home track which came two outings back when runner up in open company and is worth an each way ticket today.

Myseventeenseventy rounds out the main chances having followed up some decent form with a last start win over the 1100m at Quirindi.

Freshened since that effort and if she can run up to that again today she will certainly be very competitive.