A rock-hard-fit Rage Against looks perfectly suited lining up in Race 1, the Carlton United - Benchmark 74 Handicap (2100m) at Tamworth on Tuesday.
| | | |
LLLLLLWLLLWW | $5400 | $5470 | +36% ROI
|
The seven-year-old son of Dylan Thomas races best over this distance having won two and placed one from four attempts, while he has also racked up three wins and a 2nd from five starts over 1900m.
He won the Spring Cup (2050m) at Gunnedah three starts back when stacking them up and leading all the way, and he followed that performance with a 4th placing over 2350m before stepping up to 3146m for the first time and trying to lead all the way with 59kg but was overrun late by two horses carrying 55kg.
That 4kg weight swing made all the difference over the gruelling staying test, and it was a mammoth effort by Rage Against to battle away for 3rd.
He now drops back to his pet trip of 2100m and will try and lead all the way with Matthew Paget bringing 55kg to the saddle.
The pace of Tuesday’s event is a big plus for Rage Against as he’s the only on-pace runner in the field, while there is one midfielder and the rest are backmarkers.
I can see Rage Against getting a soft lead here, and with fitness and weight on his side, he’ll prove extremely hard to catch over the shorter trip as he’s sure to be strong through the line.
Three starts back at Gunnedah when he won, he ran his final 600m, 400m and 200m in 35.20, 23.58 and 12.08, and if he can get away with similar early sectionals, I can’t see anything running him down.
The $2.20 favourite, Bajan Gold, does have superior closing speed over similar trips, but he goes up in weight on those performances and will be spotting Rage Against a decent start in the straight.
He’s having his first start for Cody Morgan having come from Chris Waller’s stable, and I’m willing to take him on at the short price.