All things being equal you would think a last start metropolitan second would be a good thing in a race at Leeton.
A horse with exactly that formline is the standout bet at Leeton on Monday whilst a trainer who boasts a 33 percent winning strike rate at the track in recent years is providing our remaining two specials.
NEYLA'S GIRL (Race 5 No 2)
Trainer George Dimitropoulos thought enough of Neyla's Girl to test her at Canterbury resuming last start and the four-year-old mare didn't disappoint finishing second to Cocoexcel in a fillies and mares benchmark 70 handicap.
Neyla's Girl raced on the speed before taking over at the 250m mark but was unable to withstand the finishing burst of the winner.
Whilst the mare was run down late it was an exceptional form reference for a class 2 country handicap.
Dimitropoulos has kept Neyla's Girl fresh with 26-days between runs and the mare is drawn to get all the favours in the run from barrier two.
Neyla's Girl is clearly the horse to beat in the Southern Central Engineering Class 2 Handicap (1150m).
GENTLEMAN CHARLIE (Race 2 No 5)
With only a handful of meetings at Leeton each year we are working off limited data but four winners from 12 starters at the track since January 2013 would suggest Jerilderie trainer Phil Sweeney knows what it takes to win a race at the Southern Districts track.
Gentleman Charlie represents the stable in the Guilfords General Transport Benchmark 57 Handicap having his first run back from a 211-day break.
Whilst we don't have a trial to guide us Gentleman Charlie has pulled out a big run first-up in his last two preparations winning his maiden at Albury fresh two preparations back and finishing a close second in a set-weight class two at Wagga when resuming last time in.
A class three winner at Corowa before a spell, Gentleman Charlie looks well placed in a benchmark 57 handicap with 56.5kg after the claim for 2kg apprentice Stacey Metcalfe.
BEAUJEEN (Race 4 No 6)
There is a race somewhere for every horse and surely Sweeney has found it for Beaujeen in the Peter Clancy RNSW Achievement Award Maiden Plate (1150m).
A 15-start maiden with seven placings Beaujeen has been tested up to 1400m but her record suggests she is better over a short course and the statistics back up that assertion with the daughter of Mossman finishing in the placings at each of her four runs in the 1100m to 1200m distance range.
A last start placing at Echuca is a strong form reference for a Leeton maiden and the race is there for the taking.
