Jupiter Symphony is drawn in the widest stall of all but has run well in his last two starts and if 4kg-claiming apprentice Heavelon van der Hoven allows him to bowl along in front, tactics used in his last run, he could be hard to catch.
That was in the Friendly City Stakes over 1800m at Arlington and he still had a length in hand over his nearest rival at the 400m marker. However, he was swamped late and finished fourth, 2.25 lengths behind Spellcaster.
Placido (seventh – 1.5kg better off) was more than two lengths further behind and should not turn the tables, even though he will be reequipped with blinkers.
In his penultimate start, Jupiter Symphony stayed on strongly for second, 3.25 lengths behind Two Gun Kid over 1800m at this track. Three of the horses who finished behind him in that race have won subsequently, so the form has been well franked.
Royal Terrace might be Jupiter Symphony’s biggest threat. The Yvette Bremner-trained eight-year-old looked ready for retirement but showed some of his old sparkle in a 1400m race at Arlington last time out, when finishing a 0.80-length third behind Priceless Gem.
Mike Bass-trained Peregrine Power was only a head further back and there should not be much separating them again, although Royal Terrace has won three times over this distance, while his rival’s best recent runs have come over shorter.
No horse that S’manga Khumalo is throwing a leg over at the moment can be ignored and Khetha could make his presence felt. The Gavin Smith-trained gelding finished a six-length third behind Two Gun Kid over 1600m at Arlington in his penultimate start and, getting 7kg from Jupiter Symphony, should not be far away from the Wiese runner.
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