Trainer Ashley Grace is revelling in the form of six-year-old gelding Arachnid who has returned to racing this campaign in brilliant fashion with two consecutive wins.
It’s a far cry from 12-months ago when he was pulling his hair out in frustration wondering when and if he was ever going to breakthrough for an elusive win following a string of minor placings.
He was perilously close on many occasions with four second and three third placings from 10 starts and even when he missed the money he was no further back than three lengths from the winner.
You could never question his honesty and consistency but Grace must surely have been thinking he was destined to be the bridesmaid and never the bride.
Frustration turned to elation and patience was finally rewarded on the final weekend in September when he broke the duck in the Thankyou KBRC Ground Staff Handicap (1200m).
His sense of timing could not have been more impeccable as he waited until the last run of his campaign and the final meeting of the year.
He has since carried that form into the current season with two excellent and authoritative wins and any thoughts that last year’s victory was an aberration have quickly been dismissed.
It’s been wonderful reward for his large group of owners who have displayed loyalty and patience throughout his career and now go to the races expecting a win which is a far cry from desiring victory as they experienced last year.
The transformation can continue in tomorrow’s Goldfields Hotels Handicap (1200m) and if he races to current form he looks hard to beat.
Miss Appropriate looks one of the dangers and will be racing first-up for Merv Dellar since transferring from the stables of Jim Taylor.
She hasn’t raced since a fifth placing to My Atacanta at Pinjarra in early December but her form prior was solid with two minor Ascot placings and she does race well fresh.
And expect improvement from Major Canny who should be nearing his peak following two starts back.
Punters should also keep watch on the Sue Hoppmann and Peter Fernie teams who are flying at present.
Hoppmann had a treble last weekend and should follow up with Two Strong Hearts who is chasing his fourth straight win in the Boutique Laundry & Dry Cleaning Handicap (1616m).
Fernie’s Fer A Cheval should be winning the Devil’s Lair Fifth Leg Handicap (1300m) and keep a watch on Simply Mak who is having his first run for the stable in the Star & Garter Hotel Maiden (1300m).