Talented Tony K to lead all the way

JOINT track record holder TALENTED TONY K should complete a hat-trick of wins in this afternoon's 1000-metre straight Reggae Trophy, carrying a light impost of 50.0 kilos with front-running jockey Wesley Henry aboard.

The speedy six-year-old skipped a class to conquer Grade 1 in May's Lotto Sprint, going all the way to beat CAMPESINO and CHACE THE GREAT at 1100 metres. He dropped back in class to Open Allowance a week-and-a-half later, June 7, and made all with topweight 56.0 kilos at 1000 metres straight.

Returning to Grade 1 with 50.0 kilos, the exact weight with which he had won the Lotto Sprint, TALENTED TONY K does so as a winner without penalty, especially sitting level with KING D, who he had beaten by four lengths, carrying 56.0 kilos, on June 7.

CAMPESINO renews rivalry at 52.5 kilos, a 10lb swing for a length-and-a-quarter loss to TALENTED TONY K in the Lotto Sprint - eased six pounds by the handicapper plus apprentice Javaniel Patterson's four-pound claim.

However, the seven-year-old gelding is not a tearaway speed horse and tends to take a while to gather himself in races of late. Last time out, he ran into traffic at 1400 metres and could not get back to HOUDINI'S MAGIC.

HARD TO CATCH

At 1000 metres straight, going up against a super-fit and light TALENTED TONY K, CAMPESINO will find it hard to catch his younger rival, who is, undoubtedly, the quickest in the five-horse line-up.

SEEKING MY DREAM has topweight 57.0 kilos and arguably the best draw, widest, but has not lifted a straw at exercise since allowing weight all around and losing to CAMPESINO and GARY GLITTER in the April 1 Lady Geeta Trophy at 1200 metres.

The Horse of the Year and two-time Diamond Mile winner only started cantering at the beginning of this month, but the handicappers' hands are bound by his Grade One exploits, albeit at longer distances, hence him being top-rated with 57.0 kilos.

GARY GLITTER is a renowned run-on sprinter, who is most comfortable sitting off the pace and pouncing in the latter half of races. However, that's a luxury he can't afford at 1000 metres straight with no matching speed to test TALENTED TONY K.

TALENTED TONY K is drawn at post-position two, but with only five horses in the line-up, it should be no problem for him to claim mid-track from very early in the race. It's no coincidence why he shares the track record of 56.1 with MUSICAL MAESTRO and MINISTEROFJUSTICE.