Ryan Hill doesn’t believe weight will impact the momentum of progressive gelding Let’s Lighten Up who will be out to maintain his impressive strike rate in the Westspeed 3YO Handicap (1300m) at Belmont on Wednesday.
Let’s Lighten Up, prepared by Vern Brockman, has been ultra consistent since debuting at Bunbury earlier in January and has yet to finish out of the money with three wins and four placings from his first seven appearances.
It included a dominant last-start win at Belmont on May 30, his first at city level, when freshened after a seven week spell, he ran on strongly from the back of the field before overhauling Big Clint in comfortable fashion.
The son of Conatus will jump from barrier seven and will carry 59.5kg with the claim of leading apprentice Ryan Hill.
“He is the best horse in the race and that’s why he has got the weight,” said Hill.
“I thought his win the other day was impressive and as long as he can handle the track he will go very close again.”
Hill has picked up the mount on Tiger Down Under who has drawn barrier two in the twitter.com/perthracing Handicap (1000m) and believes the Neville Parker-trained four-year-old has claims on his last-start fifth to Lovetherain at Northam.
“He was only beaten half-a-length,” said Hill.
“From the gate we should get a good run and the stable think he is a solid each way chance.”
It has been nearly four years since Now Red last saluted but with his record at the trip and on rain affected surfaces, Hill believes the eight-year-old is not without claims in the PR Punters Club Handicap (1700m).
“He has had one start over 1700m at Belmont and won,” said Hill.
“He should be nearing peak fitness after six runs this campaign.
“Robert Smith likes to give his horses a couple of conditioning runs but when they are ready to go they are rock-hard fit.”
Cliff Smith has Jest On Time working in great order and the Real Jester mare didn’t disappoint when she flashed home for a narrow second to Jim Taylor’s New Time at Northam last fortnight.
The margin was only a long neck and Hill believes if she can pull out a similar performance in the perthracing.com.au Handicap (1200m), Jest On Time will be right in the mix.
“It’s always hard to beat Jimmy’s horses when they go to the provincials,” said Taylor.
“She did great to run her down to a neck.
“She has been very consistent this time in and has only missed the money once.
“If she can reproduce that form she will be right with them.”
Hill was aboard Wildwood when she finally broke through to score her first win in 26 outings by the narrowest of margins at Belmont on May 23.
It was a deserving win for the Stan Bates-trained mare who was placed at her previous seven appearances.
The Ihtiram daughter should appreciate the step up to the 2100m of the facebook.com/perthracing handicap.
“She hit the line real well and Tiffany Yellow who ran third has since gone on and won,” said Hill.
Hill will round out his programme with Petticoat Lane who was a good winner at Northam two starts back before running on from 12th on the corner to be placed eighth and just over two lengths from Ebony Buzz at Belmont on May 30.
The Trade Fair mare has drawn gate 12 in the Barry Harris 70th Birthday Handicap (1400m).
“I don’t think the wide draw will be any concern because by this stage at the meeting you wou
ld think the fence might be a bit chopped up,” said Hill.
“She hit the line real well at Northam.
“We’ll go back and hopefully finish the race off well.”