By Nick Berney
Lightly raced improver La Pittrice is set to make it back-to-back wins at Newcastle on Wednesday when she lines up in the Sharp Office Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).
The Anthony Cummings three-year-old is one of the top contenders for this event, and all key indicators suggest that she can progress again after her impressive win last start at Warwick Farm.
An eight-race card is programmed at Newcastle on Wednesday.Credit: Getty
She savaged the line to score that day, and the clock backed up her late visual dominance.
The filly ran the second-fastest final 200m split of the meeting and clocked a slick overall time as well.
Furthermore, the form has since been confirmed with two subsequent winners and two placegetters.
Though she must step up in grade, her ratings and sectional profile indicate that she can handle the rise in class and will take some beating with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
Super, who presents as a knockout chance, is a main danger and has raced well this campaign.
He tried hard behind Cool Jakey two starts ago, and that runner has since started favourite in a listed Saturday race.
The Paul Perry galloper returns to his home track and maps to stalk the speed.
Good Lieutenant resumes after a break and has trialled well in preparation for the AVID Project Management 3YO Maiden Plate (1200m).
Prior to his last spell, his run was full of merit in a high-rating race, and his finishing positions from his previous campaign don’t do him justice.
He looks to have come back improved and maps perfectly from barrier one. The gelding can settle in a forward position absorbing the anticipated genuine time and, with even luck, he can burst through the gaps and be in the finish.
Surf On Turf is another runner returning as a gelding and has had two solid hitouts at the trials.
First-up last prep, he was brave in defeat, and the three-year-old brings strong metropolitan form lines.
He has multiple winning figures and is wound up for this race. It’s worth noting apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd is in fantastic form, riding 21 winners out of his past 100 rides for a massive 42.7 per cent profit on turnover.
Best bets:
Race 7 (9) La Pittrice
Race 2 (4) Lipscani
Best value:
Race 6 (2) Good Lieutenant
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
