Larry back in town

A bonus for race goers at The Creek this week with Leap To Fame having just his second race start on his home track this season.

Following from his brave second place finish in the Miracle Mile, the two-time Grand Circuit Champion will have one last hit out before heading to New Zealand to contest The Race at Cambridge’s Night of Champions meeting.

It should be an easy hit out for Larry, who looks far superior to his opposition, with the race for the minor money likely to be keenly contested by his five combatants.

Catseye Beach set the tempo last start and ran a huge race when only collared in the closing stages by track record holder, Duke Of Scotland and has drawn favourably in gate one, while Inter Dominion finalist Jimartee will start from gate five.

Drawn the widest gate in the small field, Leap To Fame will be chasing win number 33 at The Creek, which would move him equal with Tip Your Hat for most Albion Park victories.

Second on the list of most wins at Albion Park is Our Overanova, and the former Grant Dixon trained pacer is remembered through the Trotters Marathon, named in his honour, which also features on this week’s card.

Early favourite for the event is Hide And Seek, the Shannon Price trained five-year-old a winner at four of his past five starts, with Adam Sanderson to once again take the reins.

Claiming four successive victories, his run at Menangle last start was a huge performance after making a starting error, despite looking that his chances were over, the gelding rallied and eventually finished under 5m from the winner.

“He is one of the top contenders and he had a good trial Tuesday which will hopefully take that little bit of edge off him,” Sanderson said.

“All going well, manners and everything, he’ll be hard to beat.”

Get Used To It was runner-up to Hide And Seek in the Christmas Cup back in December, the placing ending a three-win streak, with the Darren Weeks trained gelding sent for a spell after the run.

Second-up last week, the lightly raced six-year-old was gallant in defeat after leading them up but unable to fend off the New Zealand bound Not As Promised.

Breaking gait and beating himself in one race, Not As Promised has only been beaten on one other occasion at The Creek in 13 attempts, that defeat coming when runner-up to Golden Sunset, who will start from a 20-metre handicap this week.

The Shawn Grimsey trained mare has been in super form, wining six of her past eight starts and beaten a half-neck on each occasion in those other two outings behind Hide And Seek and Not As Promised respectively.

With the rise to the 3157 metres for the marathon, it can be hard to line up as it is a distance that is not regularly raced over.

“She keeps getting better and obviously keeps winning and she is very exciting to have around,” Grimsey told Mobile Rolling.

“She is definitely strong enough for the 3100, I’m not worried about that at all,” he said.

Golden Sunset

The Lou Cini Memorial is another highlight of the nine-race card, with Dele Row chasing a third consecutive victory for Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen.

Leading throughout last week in a new career PB 1.50.7 mile, the four-year-old made it three wins from four attempts this season and nine career wins.

Turn It Up will start from barrier one, the speedster set to control the race in the early stages with his electric gate speed, with Dele Row likely to be pushing forward looking for a front row seat.

Tims A Trooper has placed at his past three starts but has not been helped with a second line gate, while Luvbite- a strong winner last week- has been super consistent this season but does face a rise in grade.

BEST BETS

Chris Barsby

R5 N5 Air Express – “This guy is now ready, he has had the two runs back this preparation. They’ve both been at the midweeks, he steps back to Saturday night level and they have found the right race for him.”

Darren Clayton

R3 N1 My Rocky Romance – “Barriers have not been kind to this guy in recent outings. Locked away from inside the second line last start, he has been no closer than gate six in the four previous starts. An improved gate, and importantly, opposition that he looks set to handle.”