By Nicholas Berney
Left Reeling has been a model of consistency in her third career preparation, and she is set to break through for her first metropolitan win when contesting the Benchmark 72 handicap (2200m) at Warwick Farm today.
The four-year-old started a solid $2.45 favourite last start at Newcastle in a Class 1 over 1850m, and she saluted in style for punters.
Trainer John Sargent was pleased with her latest effort and believes the rise in distance should pose no issue.
“She’s just clicking on now out to a further distance, and being by Dundeel should suit her, tricky draw, but I’ll leave that to William Pike, who is riding really well at the moment,” Sargent said.
“The distance shouldn’t be an issue. She seems to go through a flat patch and then keeps going through the line, so I’m not worried about that. I would like some speed on and make it into a staying test.”
The mare only last year raced in the group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) but suffered an injury.
Warwick Farm is set to host Left Reeling’s first metropolitan win.Credit:Getty
Sargent is looking to keep building her record and thinks she can progress back to the top level in time.
“She pulled a muscle after that [group 1 Flight Stakes], and I had to put her out for a long time. It was a shame she missed all those good three-year-old races,” he said.
“I just want to step her through the grades, and if she happened to win Monday, we’d probably aim to go down to Melbourne for the Matriarch if she’s up to it.”
She has a strong starting price profile, has multiple winning figures and will undoubtedly be savaging the line.
Import Iowa, who comes through the same race as Left Reeling, represents value and looms as a key danger.
The five-year-old was well beaten, but he posted some fast-closing splits of the race with his final 400m/200m in 25.44/13.04.
The Mark Newnham-trained runner has overseas form lines/figures that line up well for a race like this, and all his best form has been over this distance range.
Best Bet: Race 4 #7 – Left Reeling
Next Best: Race 7 #5 – Shadow Devil
Best Value: Race 8 # 9 – Money From The Sky
Supplied by Racing NSW
