Albany trainer Paul Hunter will return his exciting bay gelding Dream Lifter ($2.70 fav) to Ascot this weekend to contest the Peter Kerr’s 40th Birthday BM78+ HCP 1400m.
Formally with prominent local trainer Jim Taylor, Hunter acquired the Danehill Express 5yo late start year and following the ironing out of a few issues – has his classy conveyance back to its best.
Returning to racing after 4 ½ months in the paddock, Dream Lifter won a soft trial in Albany before heading to the Fitzpatrick Plate where it obliterated a talented lineup by 5 ¼ lengths in what was nothing short of a massacre.
Back to summer racing headquarters tomorrow, the challengers are aplenty with Temporise ($3.20) on the second line of betting, while Tower Of Lonhro ($6.50) and Carry The Nation ($7.00) are the others in single figures.
Premiership hoop William Pike takes the ride, and gets the perfect passage from gate three.
In other races, the showdown between the sizzling Sheidel ($2.30 fav) for David Harrison and the resuming Rebel King ($3.00) for Darren McAuliffe in the last is an absolute cracker.
Winner of its last five outings in devastating fashion, Pat Carbery shouldn’t be too concerned about drawing widest (barrier 11) with Sheidel and is likely to push forward as per, while Pike has again had fortune with the draw (barrier 2) for Rebel King – his talented mount boasting the record of being the last horse to beat Sheidel – albeit by only a short half head.
Earlier in the program, the fifth over 1600m will have punters guessing with five of the eight runners opening at $6.00 or less on the fixed odds market.
Muskets At Dawn ($3.80 fav) for Simon Miller leads the way – closely followed by second elect Lunar Eclipse ($4.00), Properantes ($4.40) together with Tiger Red ($4.40), and Liberty Rise ($6.00).
So who will win this raffle ? – Properantes for mine in a close one…
