A Gratz Vella-trained four-year-old did the job for us at good odds last start when we took on a short-priced favourite and we have given him the giant slayer role again.
KANERUPT (Race 6 No 9)
The Norm Gardner-trained Atom Eve is the $2.10 early favourite for the Oztal Architects Benchmark 69 Handicap (1200m) and whilst she is a promising mare winning four from nine, she has been asked to shoulder 59.5kg for the first time.
56.5kg is the most weight Atom Eve has carried in a race finishing third at Hawkesbury on April 30 with 55.5kg the highest weight she has carried to victory winning a Highway Handicap at Canterbury on December 31.
Atom Eve is in new territory from a weight perspective and $2.10 is way too short to find out if she is up to the task.
Kanerupt was backed from $10 to $7.50 over 1000m at Canberra last start and arrived on the line to nail our lay, Exaggerate.
Reckon Kanerupt will be the giant slayer again.
CRITICAL TOUCH (Race 3 No 5)
The Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones-trained Critical Touch is drawn to get all the favours in the Skyview Windows Benchmark 69 Handicap (1400m) launching from the inside barrier.
Critical Touch was well beaten at Canterbury last start but his win two runs back over the track and distance is a strong pointer to his chances on Friday.
Critical Touch lumped 56kg after the claim for Patrick Scorse to win a benchmark 60 handicap and looks well treated in a benchmark 69 carrying 53.5kg with connections opting to stick with Scorse, and why not the young jockey has a 100 percent winning record on the five-year-old winning twice.
It looks a case of first out first home for Critical Touch.
