By Nick Berney
One of the more intriguing races at Kembla Grange on Thursday is The Dapto Leagues Club Maiden Handicap (1300m) as lightly raced four-year-old Furious makes his awaited return.
The Hawkes-trained galloper resumes off a 155-day break after an impressive debut last preparation at Newcastle.
Leading trainer Wayne Hawkes.Credit: Racing Photos
After getting too far back that day, his run was full of merit and he was forced to race wide, albeit with cover.
Further, he made a long-sustained sprint, clocking some of the meeting’s fastest closing splits as he charged into second.
He gave the impression he would only benefit from that experience and the race rated highly relative to the day, with it producing three subsequent winners.
Key indicators suggested he would return a more mature horse after spelling, and he has had two quiet jump-outs at Flemington leading into this assignment.
He must contend with a tricky draw, but the gelding has the ability to overcome it.
The Richard Collett-trained mare, Struff, looms as a main danger, and punters quickly snapped up the early odds about her.
She brings the all-important fitness edge and has a positive race set-up.
Moreover, she has raced well this campaign in time/sectional merit races and is ready to peak third-up.
Manhattan’s will look to make it back-to-back wins in the Shoalhaven Ex Services Group Class 1 Handicap (1500m) after saluting impressively to break through for her maiden last start at Hawkesbury.
The Brad Widdup-trained three-year-old stalked a farcical tempo but built through her gears strongly and savaged the line to score, running the fastest last 200m split of the meeting.
She is on an upwards ratings spiral, and her sectional profile suggests she can bounce off that effort, and the big Kembla track over more ground is ideal.
Multiple runners are lining up for trainer Chris Waller in this event, and three-year-old Snowman is a leading chance.
The colt has raced well this campaign while starting hard in the market on both occasions and expect him to run a career-peak figure with an aggressive ride early, and he’ll take some catching.
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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