held up in rear, eased when no chance final furlong
held up in touch, weakened over 1f out
held up and behind, good headway when not clear run over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong
always behind
slowly away, soon in touch, effort chased winner inside final furlong, no impression
in touch, effort on wide outside and driven over 1f out, soon beaten
chased leader to over 1f out, weakened final furlong
led until headed 1f out, faded towards finish
chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, hard ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, headway to track leader over 1f out, led 1f out, ran on well
always outpaced in rear
The selection in the claimer is Waterline Blue, with Waterside and Illusive possibly proving best of the others. Running through the field. Arctic Burst has gone backwards since a promising debut victory over Cape Royal at Pontefract last May. Illusive, Kilmeena Star and Bells Beach are the three course and distance winners in the line-up, with the first-named possibly holding the best chance of the three. Waterside wasn't beaten far over today's course and distance in December, and a repeat of that effort would give him claims here. Indeed, official ratings - which are not always to be trusted in these types of races - give him a very good chance, but suggest that most of the others need to improve to score. That said, Aintnecessarilyso, continues to knock at the door, Aguila Loco can still blaze a trail and Bahama Trail reverts to six furlongs for the first time since finishing second to the high-class Carrizo Creek at Brighton as a juvenile. However, Waterline Blue is one to consider more seriously. A winning juvenile at today's trip, he ran respectably on his seasonal return when fifth behind Kelseas Kolby, a race in which he was sent off as favourite. With that run under his belt, he looks set to step up and, as such, gets our vote.
