CALIFORNIA STAR

Two weeks ago, this horse delivered a strong performance in a dirt mile race, jumping slowly and settling towards the back of the field. He maintained a steady pace throughout and finished second, beaten by half a length. In a subsequent dirt 1800m trial – his first attempt at this distance – he recorded respectable times. Finishing with a powerful kick from behind, he displayed the most potent finishing speed in the group. Overall assessment places him among the leading contenders; trainer-jockey combination is working well and recent trackwork has been encouraging. However, he will carry two pounds more weight this time and faces unfavorable conditions with a poor barrier draw, but remains a strong winning chance.