Five weeks ago, over this same distance, the horse performed well despite a slow start, settling back in the field before finishing with a strong two-section pace. He was beaten by one length and finished fifth. This time he needs to carry four pounds more, has proven form over this course, and recorded the fastest section times amongst his competition. The plan is again to settle back and rely on a strong finishing kick, which is a key strength compared to others in the field. Overall shape looks good, and appears to have a notable advantage in ability compared to rivals; horse, jockey, and trainer are well-matched. He’s been undergoing gate work recently, and his condition is improving.