Spotting Specials

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday December 24, 2005

with CHRIS ROOTS

WARWICK FARM

FOR those not caught up in last-minute shopping, today's Warwick Farm meeting can provide a little bit of cheer in the form of Resistor in the Merry Christmas AJC Members Handicap (1400m).

The five-year-old has been around the mark, finishing as a runner-up at his past couple of starts in welters, but gets his chance to break through today.

He has run into a couple of smart ones in Radetzky March and Impaler after scoring at Rosehill in October and with a touch of luck he will return to the winner's circle today.

Resistor won his only start at 1400m and will race on the speed, which is always an advantage at Warwick Farm.

Resistor can be backed on both totes and should be coupled in quinellas with Cool Front and Striking Victory.

Tippu Tip steps up to metropolitan class in the Santa's On His Way Class 3 Handicap (1200m) today after two impressive wins at Gosford.

The Tim Martin-trained four-year-old started his career with a third in Brisbane before his wins at Gosford.

The jump in class isn't that large and if Tippu Tip can reproduce his final section from his win at Gosford last week, he'll prove hard to beat.

Danny Beasley had no luck on Rocarena at Rosehill two weeks ago and will be out to set the record straight in the Christmas Eve Class 3 Handicap (1400m) at the Farm today.

The four-year-old got right out of his ground in a slowly run race at Rosehill before weaving a passage through the field to run fifth, beaten 13/4 lengths behind Geigerson.

Rocarena has won third up before and Beasley should have the gelding a bit closer to the speed this afternoon.

Rocarena looks the best bet of the day.

DOOMBEN

North Queensland sprinter Bikini Bottom loves the short course and should prove it in today's City Pacific Finance Handicap (1020m) at Doomben.

The six-year-old gelding has an outstanding first-up record, winning three from five and being placed on the other two occasions.

He scored first up at Doomben last preparation and will once again be primed for a first-up win by trainer Drew Couch.

Mackay rider Clayton Schumacher will travel down to Brisbane to take the reins on Bikini Bottom and from barrier 11 he will be aiming to lead all the way on the speedster.

Emit Time will carry 60kg in the City Pacific Finance Class 6 Handicap but has the class to overcome the impost and his rivals today.

The classy three-year-old is preparing for the Magic Millions Trophy next month and showed he was back to his best with an easy win at Eagle Farm last month.

The Gilded Time colt should have won the Magic Millions Classic but threw away victory with his waywardness before heading to Sydney for an unsuccessful campaign.

Emit Time is a class act and should be winning again.

BOXING DAY

Command Decision is weighted to win the Group Three Summer Cup (2400m) on Monday.

The Joe Pride-trained four-year-old scored at the end of November over 1800m at Randwick before working to the line well last week behind Verb in a slowly run 2000m staying test.

With a bit more speed in the Summer Cup he should be better suited and at each-way odds Command Decision is great value.

Meantime, in Melbourne, Butten Shaw should make it two in a row in the Listed Lord Stakes (1720m) at Flemington.

The Lee Freedman-trained five-year-old didn't have much luck in his two runs before he scored easily at Sandown from Landloper two weeks ago.

Butten Shaw can give you some spending money for the sales.

© 2005 Illawarra Mercury

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