Friday, 30 March 2012: Honest galloper Shoot Thru Blu can bounce back to winning form in today's Custom Security Services Handicap (race 5) at Canberra.
 | | Photo by Racing and Sports | |
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The locally trained sprinter has won four of his six career runs and missed the placings for the first time last start but can return to the winners circle here in this Benchmark 65 over 1000m.
Prepared by Mathew Dale,
Shoot Thru Blu 
won his debut on the Acton track here when leading throughout and scoring by 3.5 lengths.
He then raced over 1010m at Moruya in a Class 1 and again had too much on his rivals, scoring by 3.3 lengths, this time sitting just off the pace before drawing clear.
At his last run before a spell, in a Class 2 over 1000m at Wagga, he led to the turn but was joined there before fading to finish third.
Dale obviously thought he had had enough so sent him for a good spell.
Resuming on the Sapphire Coast over 1000m in a Benchmark 60, he sat fourth but loomed up and fought on well for a narrow win.
Back home for a Benchmark 65 over 1000m, he wasn't the best away and had to muster speed to settle in fifth place.
Launching his claim around the bend he drew level and forged again with another narrow win.
Last start, at his first try over 1200m in a Benchmark 65 here, he drew wide and was ridden up to take up the running before being joining into the bend.
He kicked clear but the early run told and he was swamped late, finishing fourth when beaten 3.5 lengths behind In Top Gear.
Today the gelding tackles the same grade but has been kept fresh as he drops back to 1000m.
From gate six he should be able to take a sit off what should be a strong pace and on his honest record, especially at this trip, he should be hard to hold out again.
The Bernie Howlett trained
Party Dress was a last start winner here in this class and should be hard to hold out again.
The lightly raced filly has a similar record to Shoot Thru Blu, with four wins from six starts as well.
She won her first two then was spelled, before resuming here in a Benchmark 55 and leading throughout to score.
She was then fifth at Warwick Farm before a fifth here in tougher grade when trying to lead throughout over 1200m.
Back to 1000m in this class, she sat off the pace early and worked home strongly out wide to score a length win before going for another break.
She resumes here in the same grade but carries less weight after the claim. She has drawn wide but may settle back and finish on strongly.
Perfect Rouge has started just three times and kicked off with a Kembla Grange maiden win.
He then found traffic, although beaten at the time, when a fading seventh at Gosford before a better effort when third at Wyong, trying to lead throughout carrying 60kg.
He will strip fitter for the run and drops nicely in the weights here after the claim.
From a good gate he should be prominent throughout.
Ambergris has been super honest over a long campaign but looks an each way chance again.
The mare has placed at her last two, the latest at Albury in the Flat Knack when third.
She rises in weight here but has a solid record at the course and looks an each way hope.
