Wednesday, 21 March 2012: Honest galloper Fast Clip can return to winning form in today's Group 3 HSG Newcastle Newmarket Handicap (race 7) at Newcastle.
 | | Photo by Racing and Sports | |
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The gelding, rarely out of the finish, is fitter for one run from a spell and on his fresh up effort looks hard to beat in today's 1400m feature on the big open Broadmeadow course.
Last campaign, the Gai Waterhouse trained gelding resumed his spring preparation with a solid third in the Group 2 Theo Marks Quality over 1300m at Rosehill.
He then stepped up to 1500m for the Group 2 Shannon Stakes and tried to lead throughout but just couldn't hold off King Lionheart, finishing runner up.
He then headed to Melbourne for the Group 1 Toorak Handicap and there had to work early from his wide gate to take up the running.
Turning in front, the early effort told and he weakened in the straight finishing ninth behind King Mufhasa when beaten four lengths.
He stayed in Melbourne for one more run, in the Sale Cup, where he again took up the running and led into the straight before fading late to finish fourth behind Pinnacles.
After a good spell over the summer,
Fast Clip 
again resumed over 1300m, this time in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup.
There he settled third and turned there before looming up out wider and peaking on his run, finishing third behind Ofcourseican.
The gelding will strip much fitter for the run and has a sound second up record.
The firmer track will help and Nash Rawiller is re-united with him today over the slightly longer journey.
From gate four he should be able to hold a forward position and with the run under his belt will take beating today.
Victorian visitor
Under The Eiffel turned in a nice fresh up run and looks well placed here.
Prepared by
Tony Vasil at Caulfield, the gelding won all three runs during the spring, kicking off over 1300m at Sale and proving too classy for that company.
He then went up to 1400m at Flemington and ran on to score with 59kg in a big win on Derby day.
Last start before a spell, over 1500m in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes, he sat closer to the speed with the lighter weight and proved too strong again, kicking away to score.
After a break he resumed over 1200m at Moonee Valley where he carried 58.5kg and after settling off the pace worked home well into third.
He drops in weight for this and is unbeaten in three second up runs.
The trip suits and he should be camped off the speed and hard to hold out.
The Roger James trained
He's Remarkable is unbeaten fresh and should run a bold race in this class.
The Kiwi galloper had a great spring campaign in Melbourne, finishing third in the Group 2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley fresh up then winning over a mile at Flemington on Oaks day.
He then went to Perth and finished runner up in the Group 1 Railway Stakes where he was first past the post but lost the race on protest.
Fresh up he has raced twice for two wins and over the 1400m trip today should be hard to hold out in this class.
Latin News is racing honestly and looks a strong each way chance again.
Star Of Octagonal is going well and although not well in at the weights can add some value to the multiples with a big run today.
After finishing runner up at his first three form a spell he was placed in the Magic Millions Cup before a fourth in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes last time.
This suits and although yet to win beyond 1250m is very honest and looks an each way hope again.
