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Neil Evans
A lightly raced five-year-old is set to return with a bang at big odds in a high-quality sprint at the holiday Canterbury Park meeting today.
Istolea Merc hasn’t raced since running home into a place in the Mudgee Cup over 1400m in early December. But the sparingly raced son of Winning Rupert can grab a fifth win at only his 13th start when he lines up in a strong and very open TAB Benchmark 88 Handicap over 1100m.
On a drying track across a deep program, Istolea Merc will probably go around at double-figure odds for trainer Bjorn Baker and owners in a race with a stack of chances.
Istolea Merc hasn’t won since his BM 72 victory over 1100m at Warwick Farm early last spring.
But he’s never finished further back than second when fresh, has been fitted with two trials, and significantly was scratched from Randwick on Saturday to be saved for this race, importantly on a firming surface.
Istolea Merc opened about $12 in early betting, well behind smart provincial mare Memoria on a wide first line of betting at $6.50 ahead of Crepe Myrtle around $7.50.
The Baker-trained stablemate Snack Bar ($8) was also in early commission, and while a first reserve, is likely to start with Kembla mare Harry’s Bar having raced on Saturday.
The Baker camp will be out to land a big-priced running double to close the meeting when talented four-year-old Pentagon resumes in a BM 72 Handicap over 1250m.
Returning off a similar break and also behind two improving trials, Pentagon was about $5 in the early market behind consistent three-year-old Tuscany, which steps up in grade to shoot for a third win from his last four starts.
The track was yesterday rated a soft 5, but may improve to a good 4 by today.
Supplied by Racing NSW
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