Talking points at the Farm

Warwick Farm today plays host to an attractive midweek meeting where 3yos of promise will dominate discussion and, more than likely, turnover.

Continued fine weather, an inch of irrigation, and a 3m rail should best suit those in the running line, although the meeting conducted on 9th December last, in near identical conditions, provided three winners from rails-in-run positions.

Race 2, the two-forty-five, is a salivating clash of promising young sprinters. Chetwood dominated his maiden rivals on debut with sustained speed, in confirmation of his high quality trials. He will again look to make all, this time from an inside draw (less favourable) on a circuit less sympathetic to leaders, but seven filly opponents is an asset.

Dixie Chick debuted in a provincial maiden of no consequence, but astonished onlookers with a turn-of-foot transforming imminent defeat into improbable victory. Locally trained, she carries the tag “red-hot improver”, certainly required to make the leap required today.

To Be Sure deflated her fans with a weakening return. I have a query as to her substance, but to sit in the death in a pressure Saturday event, primes her perfectly for a midweek homecomeing.

Race 5, the four-fifteen, sees the age of focus in a mile test. Speed seems to emanate from the inside, Moher and Falkenberg, and this enhances other possibilities in the map as runners caught wide are forced into decisive action.

The Snowden trained filly pair, both last start Hawkesbury maiden winners in contrasting styles, look to have more scope than Waller’s duo, while Moher is primed but limited.

It may fall to the unheralded local boy, Manhattan Son, back slightly in distance from a highly purposeful effort in a seminal Rosehill event a fortnight back, to thwart the Peter, Paul and Mary ascendancy.

Finally, an observation on Brewery, certain to run favourite in the three-forty-five, apprentices-only.

Devastating from the front on a wide rail at Wyong, he reappears in town with a less than ideal gate and city form reading 12th/12, 7th/9, 6th/8.

Every reason to look elsewhere.