Paul Iannello Hcp (C3)

With the rail in the True position, the inside is the shortest route home. This provides a distinct advantage to horses drawn low who possess the tactical speed to hold their position, such as #8 Something Royal, #10 Three Grand, and #13 Classic Ruler. Conversely, it places horses drawn wide at a disadvantage, as they must either burn energy early to cross the field or risk covering extra ground throughout the race.

As a synthetic Fibre Sand track, the surface is all-weather and the "Good 3" rating is a standard classification. It will not be affected by rain and will play as a consistent, fast surface. The primary factor is not moisture but kickback, which can be a significant negative for horses that get too far back in the running. Horses with proven form on synthetic surfaces, like #6 Global Trip (a recent winner on this track), hold an advantage. The strong tempo will be a true test of conditioning on the demanding surface.

The Bunbury Fibre Sand is a synthetic Polytrack surface, which typically provides a fair racing surface where on-pace runners can be advantaged if the kickback is severe. The 1275m start allows a reasonable run to the first turn, giving horses drawn wide a chance to cross. However, the predicted strong pace means any horse caught wide without cover will be doing significant work and will likely be vulnerable in the home straight. The race shape will favour horses that can sustain a strong gallop on this surface.

This is a Class 3 Handicap, bringing together a field with varied form and at different stages of their preparations. The weight spread, from 60.0kg down to 54.0kg, will be a factor. The top weights like #1 Chino La Diva and #3 Top Of The Walk will find it challenging to carry the weight if the pace is as strong as predicted, especially if they are forced to do any extra work from their barriers.