Ollivander has returned several competitive efforts during his current preparation, and he strikes a winnable race at Dubbo this afternoon.
The six-year-old son of Charge Forward certainly hasn’t lived up to his early career expectations, but he has certainly proven to be a good country-grade horse since transferring to the care of Garry Lunn, and he finished a close-up second two and three starts back.
Getting out to 2200m at this point of his preparation looks ideal, and he’ll enjoy some relief in the weights under Reece Jones.
Smooth Esprit takes winning form into Race 4 at Dubbo tonight, and he looks well placed to make it two in a row.
The Bel Esprit gelding has missed placing only once in his last four trips to the races, and a move to Clint Lundholm’s stables paid immediate dividends when he greeted the judge almost four lengths ahead of his rivals at Gunnedah last time.
This is probably a slightly trickier race, but he certainly looks to be up to it, and the $4 we’re getting for him at publish looks slight overs.
Haven has improved for two starts back from a spell, and he is ready to win at Dubbo this afternoon.
The I Am Invincible mare has returned plenty of eye-catching effort since making her debut, and while she clearly needed her first run back this time when well beaten at Orange, there was a lot to like about her late work at Gunnedah last time – she was simply too far back.
Fitter third-up today, she can settle closer to the pace from barrier 6 and finish over the top of her rivals.
This is a decent drop in class for Mr Cruise, and he is over the odds to salute at around the $15 mark.
Mr Cruise has always hinted at ability, but it is fair to say that he has started to realise some of it since transferring to the country stables of Scott Singleton, and he worked though the line really well to finish sixth in a Highway race at Randwick two starts back.
He did go amiss a little at Taree last time which is why we’re getting the price that we are, but I am confident that he can bounce back, and we can have an each-way play at the big price.