Al Passem will enjoy good improvement into the first at Flemington on Saturday and is up to winning.
The Ken Keys-trained gelding needed the run when he finished towards the tail of the field first-up at Caulfield but returned a far more eye-catching effort when fifth in the Swan Hill Cup last time out.
Fitter third-up and at his pet trip, I think he’ll be tough to beat.
1 Unit E/W Al Passem
This is the hardest task for which Chequerboard has faced, but she is clearly a filly of ability and can continue her rise through the grades.
The Fastnet Rock filly broke her maiden on debut at Pakenham before beating a decent field over 1400m at Ladbrokes Park, last time out.
She’s drawn a peach in barrier 5 and will get relief in the weights with Teo Nugent’s claim.
2 Units Chequerboard
Great Duchess will take winning form and plenty of improvement into Race 3 at HQ on Saturday and looks up to recording another win.
The four-year-old daughter of Canford Cliffs has been an excellent horse for Greg Eurell throughout her career and capped her last prep with a lovely win over a talented field at Caulfield.
She beat some fitter horses when fresh and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
3 Units Great Duchess
Coolth is yet to run a bad race and can record the third win of his career at Flemington.
The Dundeel gelding stamped himself as a horse to follow with impressive and consecutive wins at Balaklava and Murray Bridge before filling the minors of a similar race to this one a fortnight ago.
Fitter fourth-up, I think he’ll enjoy further improvement from his most-recent effort and will take beating.
2 Units Coolth
This is one of the more open races on Saturday’s Flemington card and there is a case to be made for several runners.
Remastered clearly needed the run when fifth at Mornington first-up, but he is a horse that tends to enjoy good improvement with one under his belt, and he looks a winning chance in this race at around the $10 mark.
At this point of his preparation previously, he has recorded a win and a close-up second placing and it appears as though he’ll have conditions to suit on Saturday.
2 Units E/W Remastered
This looms as one of the better contests at Flemington on Saturday and there is a case to be made for more than half of the thirteen confirmed starters.
Alfarris has stripped fitter for a couple of competitive efforts this time and will relish getting out to the 2500m.
The Linsday Park-trained galloper has worked through the line well to finish fifth in two 2000m here at HQ since resuming and is another horse that will have the benefit of Williams in the saddle.
2 Units E/W Alfarris
King Of Hastings has returned to the races in exceptional form this time and he will take a power of beating in the AR Creswick Stakes.
The three-year-old son of Ilovethiscity has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his career, but has been doing it in open class this time and finished second behind straight-track specialist Prezado here first-up before comfortably winning the Golden Topaz at Swan Hill.
His form down the straight is good and fitter third-up, he is my best bet on the program.
5 Units King Of Hastings
Heptagon was an outstanding winner of the Swan Hill Cup last time and is a fitting favourite for this race.
The Jimmy Choux gelding has always shown above-average ability, but there is no doubt that he has gone to another level throughout the last twelve months and that culminated in his three-length win, last time out.
I don’t think that the drop in trip will be a hindrance and he can make it three in a row.
4 Units Heptagon
This is an outstanding race and a tough way to end the day from a betting perspective, but I simply cannot look past Prezado.
He has always raced well at Flemington but has been simply outstanding this time and has won each of his last three starts, beating home talented fields at each.
The 1000m is probably his best journey, which is why we’re getting $5 for him, but he is rock-hard fit and can go on with the job.
2 Units Prezado