3 minute read
A tough card on paper this Saturday at Randwick. However, the in-form DISNECK in Race 7 looks set to carry on his winning ways.
As a juvenile, this son of Trapeze Artist was tested in a handful of black-type races but never measured up. A disappointing three-year-old season followed, but this time in work as a more mature galloper he has really hit his straps, particularly in the last couple of runs when he has been ridden cold.
On Ingham day at Randwick, he came from last in the early and middle stages to win a Benchmark 78 in the last bound. A fortnight later, he turned in an even better performance when he quickened impressively to put away Invader Zim by more than two lengths in a similar race at headquarters.
Bjorn Baker has now decided it is time to test the four-year-old in a better race, again over the Randwick six-furlong course.
One of his chief rivals, In Flight, defeated Disneck by a long neck when they clashed last winter. On Saturday he meets the mare 4.5kgs better off for that narrow defeat, and he is travelling a lot better now.
The other main threat is the up-and-comer Amazing Eagle who is already a stakes winner in the Brian Crowley Stakes over 1200m at Randwick. Whether he is seasoned enough to tackle the older sprinters at just his sixth start remains to be seen.
The race fit Disneck, on a seven-day back-up, maps beautifully sitting off a strong tempo set up by Much Much Better and he can finish over the top again to chalk up the hat trick.
The value play comes up in Race 2, the Mark Minervini-trained DEHORNED UNICORN.
Three starts ago this fellow returned a strong figure when a close fourth in a Benchmark 78 over today's trip at Canterbury. Since then, he has raced without luck, failing to gain clear passage at Canterbury two runs ago then racing wide without cover last Saturday at Randwick.
This time he drops back to a Benchmark 72 which is probably his right grade now. From gate one Kerrin McEvoy will enjoy a perfect trail in either the box-seat or three back the fence. It will be then a matter of getting a run at the right time, and if it comes this son of Star Witness has the quality to put away this field. At double-figure odds he is certainly worth the gamble.
SYDNEY SPECIALS
Best Bet: Race 7 No. 7 DISNECK
Each-way special: Race 2 No. 5 DEHORNED UNICORN.
