Racing returns to Flemington and, after a week of uncomfortably hot weather, the track is expected to be firm and fast. Hedged headlines the feature following his Boxing Day victory in the Christmas Stakes and, while he looks well placed again, I’ve no appetite to be parting ways with mine around 5/2.
The runner of real interest on the program is Trapalanda, who is presently second favourite behind the well-spruiked Touchdown, who will become a non-runner in the near future due to the fires in the state’s north-east. With Touchdown out, Trapalanda shapes as a compelling betting proposition, a lightly raced Irish import in his second preparation under the care of Annabel and Rob Archibald.
Trapalanda made his debut at the Curragh, where he was narrowly beaten by Siege Of Troy. That horse happens to be the half-brother of Middle Earth and Buckaroo. Does it mean anything? Absolutely not, but it’s an interesting footnote nonetheless.
Since returning from a spell, Trapalanda has been advancing in the right direction. He was narrowly beaten at Ballarat in a race that has since produced good form, finishing in the race’s fastest concluding 400 metres. Last start, he was restrained from the widest of five barriers, conceding lengths at their cheapest in what eventuated into an honestly run nine furlong race. Accounting for the fierce pace, he finished well, staying on strongly into second. Leading into the third run of his preparation, it’s entirely reasonable to expect him to improve once again, advancing to ten furlongs.
Flemington’s expansive track will be to his betterment and, from barrier five, Ryan Houston, who has been significantly exceeding the market’s demanding expectations over the past 12 months, can position Trapalanda prominent to the pace. With Touchdown eventually declared a non-runner, Trapalanda will be a brilliant favourite, and certainly one worth gambling.
