STAR galloper Admiral has the chance to bounce back into the winner’s circle when he tackles the $100,000 Conquering over 1400 metres at Mowbray on Wednesday night.
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The Barry Campbell-trained gelding hasn’t won since emerging triumphant in the Thomas Lyons Stakes in Hobart in February but won the Conquering last year, and according to his trainer, the five-year-old is a better horse this time in.
Admiral is a proven weight-for-age performer with his record in set-weight events better than any of his rivals.
However, he will be without his regular rider Brendon McCoull who has been sidelined with a broken finger forcing connections to look for a suitable replacement.
Tasmanian-born hoop Luke Currie, who has been riding well in his adopted home state of Victoria, is a great replacement.
Currie is a multiple Group One-winning rider who has a great understanding of the Mowbray track.
Even though Admiral has not won for 10 months he is still likely to have plenty of supporters given his game effort to finish third in the Newmarket Handicap behind Tshahitsi last month.
Tshahitsi should also have his share of support despite this being his first attempt at weight-for-age, as is the case with Concentrate, Livermore and last season’s Tasmanian Derby winner Jerilderie Letter.
Jerilderie Letter had a torrid run in the Newmarket but he gets a chance to reignite his campaign.
Hellova Street won two-consecutive Newmarket Handicaps before finishing a game sixth in this year’s edition and he too should appreciate stepping up to the 1400 metres.
The other feature on the eight-race program is the three-year-old cup which has assembled a great field.
Hard Empire won all of his three starts last season and lost no admirers when he was beaten by a narrow margin behind Giselle’s Girl and Chillout at his first start for the season in the three-year-old Vase (1100m) in Hobart just over two weeks ago.
Giselle’s Girl meets Hard Empire and Chillout worse at the weights, which should be a telling factor.
Life on the Wire delivered a brilliant performance to win first-up in Hobart on November 18 in a class-one handicap.
The Scott Brunton-trained filly will go into Wednesday’s race brimming with confidence.