Racing: Talented young sprinters to settle to pecking order

Latest form suggests there is little between Al Qurhah and Geeza.

Tomorrow's $85,000 Windsor Park Stud Breeders Stakes should help sort that out - and where the pecking order is among the 3-year-old sprinters.

There is a stack of emerging talent among those facing Al Qurhah and Geeza.

On March 7 at Ellerslie, Geeza beat Al Qurhah by three-quarters of a length when in receipt of 1kg.

The weight can negate the margin and this time they meet on level weights, which, with even luck, should at least create an even contest.

They will also have the likes of Bankside Belle, Santangelo, Glam Slam and Dinka chasing them.

Lance Noble, who trains Geeza, and Al Qurhah's Peter McKay say they'll be happy with a top-three finish.

"If my bloke finishes in the three it will make a strong case to take him to Brisbane for the Queensland Guineas," said Noble.

"It's a pretty nice race, but my bloke has done very well. He's the sort of horse that does only what he has to.

"If a horse comes alongside he'll find another half a length, but he's never going to run away and blitz them.

"He's kept stepping up to the mark and there are some very good formlines around him.

Peter McKay has had an interrupted season with Al Qurhah mainly through jarring up because of immaturity.

"He's won four races despite it so he's done a good job. I'd love to see him go out for a winter spell with a strong performance here."

The only time Santangelo has been beaten in four starts was when she struck an off track at Awapuni in her second run after a dashing debut victory.

She has both class and guts and looks a formidable force here.