Racing: Conditions should favour Kawi

Red Striker appeals at the weights for the Concorde Handicap, despite meeting a strong field, at Ellerslie today. The each-way odds should be sweet.

Money speaks all languages on a racecourse.

Take Kawi (No 4, R8). When the Kiwi topliner showed up for a race in Perth two weeks ago - one that wasn't impossible for him to win, but which didn't suit him - he went out at $21. And finished sixth.

For today's A$1 million Kingston Town Classic in Perth, Kawi is at $5 in early betting and is close to vying for favouritism.

That sixth was a much better effort than it sounds. At no stage of the run home could Michael Walker find clear air for the New Zealander and he finished just a couple of lengths from the winner.

However, luck aside, the biggest pointer to today is the weight conditions.

Two weeks ago, in a handicap, Kawi was giving away huge amounts of weight to the main chances, but this time under the weight-for-age scale he meets the winner of that race, Scales Of Justice (No 10), 2.5kg better. Second-placed Good Project (No 1), trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Hugh Bowman, is 3.5kg worse off today and Perfect Reflection (No 16), who finished third, is 1.5kg worse. Scales Of Justice will again be ridden by topflight Hong Kong jockey Douglas Whyte.

Perfect Reflection, ridden again by Perth's best William Pike, has come up as the $4 favourite.

Kawi has drawn perfectly at No 4 and the great byproduct of the race two weeks ago is the Kawi did not have a gut-busting run in the extreme heat of Perth.

"He's done extremely well lately," is all you need to know from Allan Sharrock. The $5 each-way looks good value.

At Ellerslie this afternoon - another 3pm start - there is some good racing that will provide handy indications to the major summer meetings coming up.

One is the $70,000 J.A.Russell Concorde, a lead-up to the major upcoming sprints. Red Striker (No 8, R6) looks a great prospect with just 53kg.

She turned in a close fifth at Pukekohe recently, missing the jump and tearing home well to be a close fifth.

She has drawn awkwardly this time, but if she gets a reasonable passage, she will figure. Ryan Mark (No 1) and Fire Jet (No 10) are strong multiple chances.

Marciano (No 6, R1) is stepping up to 2200m, but his latest races suggest that's a good move. He can find the line strongly and each-way he looks the go in the first. El Luchador (No 9) is in the right form.

Night's Watch (No 3, R2) has been impressive at the trials. He has got back in those early and has stormed home. He needs only to keep the others in touch to be difficult to hold out on debut. The small field will help. Doubtless Bay (No 7) has to be considered.

Race 3 is not easy, but Chequered Flag (No 9) deserves a winning turn.

Opie Bosson should be able to provide a sweet passage from the No 2 gate. Joe Cargo (No 7) has looked very good coming from maidens with two straight victories.

Romancer (No 5, R4) is a real up-and-comer, but has been thrown a tough task here with the No 13 barrier at the 1300m. If he wins from out there he might be even better than he's shown in two starts.

There are a host of chances, among them Chambon (No 9).

Symphonic (No 2, R5) has also come up with a tricky gate, No 11, at the 2200m. If Mark Du Plessis can secure her a decent passage, she should go close to end her run of seconds.

Polar Secret (No 9) has an even worse barrier, but if luck shine on her she can be in the call and Fiamette (No 1), better drawn, rates highly.

Race 7, the Dunstan Feeds Rising Stars Championship Qualifier is well named - there are any number of improvers. Selfie (No 7) is one of them and so are All Torn Up (No 4), Playboy Prince (No 2), Serious Satire (No 11) and Scarlet's Secret (No 14). Tough race, but the trifecta and First4, should be value.

Bamurra (No 6, R8) had no luck at all at Pukekohe last start.

He has drawn really well here and if he gets a late passage he could be finishing over the top of them. Cochise (No 8) can run a big race fresh.

At Trentham, Mr Luigi (No 3) looks the goods in the opener.

He had no luck at Ellerslie last week.