Dinner time in Race 8

Dinner time in Race 8

Jimmie

STAR Writer

DINNER BY SEVEN has the high draw in her favour tomorrow afternoon when she renews rivalry with LOVE TRAIN at 1000 metres straight. They had finished second and third, respectively, behind United States-bred JENNANDROSESGIRL last month.

Both were outclassed by the American but ran creditably enough to catch the eye. DINNER BY SEVEN has been training really well since, especially at 1000 metres straight, galloping 1:00.2 two Mondays ago.

LOVE TRAIN, however, showed her form on the racetrack. She returned two weeks after her third-place run. The Harry Parsard-trained runner tried to steal a march at 1200 metres but was caught by SEEKING HOPE approaching the last half furlong.

Going against LOVE TRAIN, however, is post-position three, similar to when she had drawn stall four and was badly hindered at the start last month. She managed to improve into third a furlong out but was forced to remain on the inside and was no match for JENNANDROSESGIRL or DINNER BY SEVEN inside the last half furlong.

flying start

From a better start tomorrow, LOVE TRAIN will be a dangerous contender. However, the bias over the straight course is against her, taking away any advantage a flying start might hand her against DINNER BY SEVEN, who couldn't have asked for a better draw, post-position 13, with only BIMINI being wider.

Both horses will carry 51.0 kilos so there is no weight advantage going LOVE TRAIN's way to make up for her bad draw.

Richard Azan's ABBEY ROAD returns off a four-month lay-up, drawn in mid-track. He has worked reasonably well, 1:07.1 with stablemate EDISON, on Monday, and could be a threat from off the pace.

The dodgy nine-race card appears an obstacle course for punters, evidenced by the 14 stand-alone selections thrown up by STAR Post To Post tipsters. Most of the races feature stand-alone selections.

The Clockman, second in the overall standings, three ahead of third-place Jimmie has WINIT in the seventh. Jimmie has GRAN CORAZON in the sixth as his stand-alone tip.

Meanwhile, Indian Flame, 14 clear of The Clockman in the overall standings and one ahead of The Editor in the monthly incentive race, has RAJ KAPOOR in the seventh.

Track and Pools' Kirk Kong has left it late, the ninth event, for his stand-alone shot, STAROFTHETOWN. Meanwhile, the country's most dangerous longshot tipster, The Editor, has PRINCESS SHEMIKA, GREAT BROWN, SAMORA and ABBEY ROAD as he looks to upset Indian Flame's plans of winning back-to-back monthly incentives.

Johnny Handsome has STORMONTHESEA in the seventh. His rival, Gizzy, never one to one underestimated on dodgy programmes, has PRINCESS TABOKIE, YOUR EMINENCE, EL CLIENTE and MISTY as he looks to save face after choking when challenged by Indian Flame last month.