By Nick Berney
The Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championship qualifying series kicks off on Thursday at Kembla Grange with a capacity field headlined by group 1 placegetter Strait Acer.
The Edward Cummings-trained galloper dominates early betting in the feature event over 1400m, and he profiles well under the race conditions.
Strait Acer trainer James Cummings (right).Credit: Getty
Last preparation, he went to a new level, progressing from a benchmark 72 win to placing in high-quality races such as the Silver Eagle (1300m) and the group 1 Sir Rupert Clark Stakes (1400m).
The four-year-old resumed at Randwick 12 days ago over an unsuitable distance in the group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m), and he was honest, running on to finish fifth.
Further, he got too far back in the high-pressure event, but his late sectionals suggested he would only improve from the performance, and a rise in distance would be ideal.
He has a favourable set-up leading into this assignment, and the big Kembla Grange track allows him to build momentum and hit the line.
In addition, his key attribute is his closing speed, so the anticipated genuine tempo will allow him to run over the top of his rivals.
Willaidow looms as a key danger, and he is an on-pace type who has won four races in a row.
He rises in grade, but he produced a career-peak figure last start at Rosehill in midway grade and repeating that effort can put him near the finish.
The gelding did it on both ends, leading throughout at a fast pace and kept responding under pressure to score.
The break between runs is his usual pattern, and he is proven over 1400m. He will roll forward and give a big sight.
The Supernova Financial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) is an intriguing race and lightly raced galloper Negotiations will look to make it back-to-back wins.
He was impressive, winning first-up at Wyong, and he did it in style.
The gelding raced fresh throughout, got into an awkward spot before the turn, but once balancing up in the straight, he accelerated hard and savaged the line to run the fastest final 400m-200m splits of the meeting.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
