True Chance (Simone Altieri) bounds past its competitors. Photos: Greg Symes.
The opening event of an eight race twilight programme at the Esperance Bay Turf Club this afternoon, the $30,000 TABtouch Road To The Esperance Cup Handicap over 2000 metres at 1.46pm, presents an intriguing puzzle for punters.
The contest is the last local lead up race to the $100,000 Freight Lines Group Esperance Cup over the same distance on Sunday, March 2.
The seven horse field features the first clash of the two most promising unbeaten conveyances of the current EBTC season, Uncompromised for local trainer Helen Harding and the rapidly improving True Chance.
Uncompromised will lump the top weight of 61.5kgs in the race but has carried significant imposts before in winning with regular rider Tash Faithfull aboard.
Faithfull has partnered the six-year-old Xtravagant gelding to six previous victories including the $30,000 Goldfields Tattersalls Club Cup (1600m) at the KBRC carrying 60kgs last year.
Uncompromised has carried similar weights in its two wins at 1400 metres over I Am Spartacus at the EBTC this season.
Esperance based trainer Gary Burger will step up True Chance in grade to the open class after the fives-year-old’s run of four wins in a row at the Esperance Bay track this season.
To be ridden by Simone Altieri, True Chance will enjoy a 4.5kg weight relief from its last start win in easier company over 1975 metres 20 days ago and a 6kg advantage in the weights compared to Uncompromised.
The consistent Wheatstack Thief, a last start winner over 1600 metres, trained by Jane Hossell to be ridden Kyra Yuill and the runner up from the same race at the last EBTC Ladies Day meeting, Kallaroo trained by Rod Brown are not without chances of causing an upset over the more fancied pair.
The remainder of the card features solid fields for the punters to dissect with the last race of the afternoon scheduled to commence at 5.55pm.
Horses to Follow:Uncompromised, Flinders Lane, West Coast Warrior, Pearly Nuggett , Dancing Choose, Sure Thing, Some Sort, Red With Ted.
