Stars And Stripes is a standout in the $25,000 Four-year-old Championship at Forbury Park tonight.
He's the best performed horse in the field with 11 wins and is off level marks with more loosely assessed horses in the Dunedin Casino sponsored event.
Winner of the New Zealand, New South Wales and Victoria Derbies and Sires' Stakes Final last season, Stars And Stripes returned to winning form at Addington a fortnight ago, winning from 35m in a c5 discretionary handicap. He unwound the sharp final sprint that has characterised his wins.
His task has been made easier this time with three scratchings cutting the field to eight.
"He is on song and I don't think he would have to improve on his last start win," John Lischner, his Ashburton trainer said last night.
"But when you are top dog everybody is driving against you. He will need a good passage and there are some good horses in the field."
Three years ago Burnham trainer Bruce Negus launched Courage Under Fire with a win in a two-year-old race at Forbury Park and the horse went on to compile a record 24-race winning streak.
Negus has Sir Layla, Smooth Force, Easy Bromac and Em Be in the corresponding race tonight.
Sir Layla has in common with Courage Under Fire the fact he is a colt owned by Greg Brodie. The first-crop son of well performed Ginger Man is having his first start. The other three Negus juveniles are fillies.
Ginger Man was also owned by Brodie and trained for his first win, a heat of the Sires' Stakes at Forbury Park, by Negus.
"Sir Layla has won a workout since he qualified at Motukarara (January 23). He has a ton of gate speed and I would expect him to lead," Negus said.
- NZPA
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