RACE COMMENT

After last Saturday’s washout of races five through ten, all the Sunshine Stars Finals fill this Friday night feast. Completing a hat-trick of victories with his heat win, KIKI MEISTER (1) was first up since July with the PB victory after finding the front from gate 2. Taking them all the way with 7m to spare on the line, he has options and added fitness to capitalise. SITTING ON EIGHT (9) worked to the front in his heat before taking cover on PURE GRUNT which dictated a 60.1 middle half. Taking his shot in the stretch, he had superior speed and claimed a 3m margin in a 26.4 close out. Too gritty for older horses when parked the start prior, he can throw down the challenge. PURE GRUNT (4) ambled to the front in his heat which looked the stronger of the two. With the first three quarters not overly slick, it was a stretch drive showdown which he had no answer to. With early hustle and a stronger tempo, he can be sharper. OPALLANE (8) resumed from the ultimate gear change with victory at the mile when descending on them here three starts back. Placed in both runs since, he held the bronze from three fence behind SITTING ON EIGHT and with another cosy trip can grab minor money.The last of the four DJA heats here over the 2138 where TAYLAD TO USE (1) which was first up in last week’s heat should take plenty of benefit from the run. Attacking that with no public trial and first up since a 3rd to ALDEBARAN ACRUX in the ID Consolation back in July, he was never tested in the stretch after copping traffic. From the gate, he can storm into the final. MUFASA METRO (10) tracked eventual winner ZEALOUS SPUR into the race last week and kept punching to the wire when under 4m from the winner. Beaten a similar margin the start prior around the tight Marburg circuit, the right trip here can see him issue the challenge. KODA DA MODA (3) comes into the second round off a unique approach, being sent around on Tuesday at this trip. Runner-up when 4m from GOLDEN SUNSET in the heats, she scored a strong win on Tuesday and can feature again. HIDE AND SEEK (11) was game in defeat in the opening round when sitting parked over the long trip and fighting on for the bronze behind ZEALOUS SPUR, only 2m away. He will be right in this.