Typewriter tuned for three-peat

Spencer Chung appears to have tuned the keys on two-time defending champion TYPEWRITER for tomorrow's Burger King Superstakes.

The six-year-old gelding has looked vastly improved at exercise since going down by almost five lengths to ante-post PERFECT NEIGHBOUR in the Governor General's Stakes seven weeks ago.

It's almost deja vu for this year's Superstakes. TYPEWRITER had similarly seemed a spent force leading up to last year's event, beaten in back-to-back grade-one races by COMMANDING CHIEF.

Even though he rebounded with a pair of victories, down in class, among open allowance company, TYPEWRITER hadn't looked convincing and was sent off at 2-1 in the Superstakes, which he romped by almost 10 lengths, running away from UNCLE TAF and PERFECT NEIGHBOUR a half mile out.

PERFECT NEIGHBOUR is logically expected to start favourite with three grade-one victories under his girth, twice at 10 furlongs, the Prime Minister's and Governor General's stakes, topped off with a strong win against imported UPPA TUNE in the 1400-metre Gold Cup on October 17.

Governor General's Stakes

However, he was in receipt of nine pounds from TYPEWRITER when beating the six-year-old by four and three-quarter lengths in the Governor General's Stakes. In addition, that was TYPEWRITER's second run for the year, returning off an eight-month lay-up.

Chung has taken the old warrior to task at exercise. TYPEWRITER has been on the exercise track almost every morning since mid-October. Galloping six furlongs on October 17, he was clocked in 1:14.4. He returned a second sharper, eight days later, to post 1:13.3 for the distance.

With Superday approaching fast, Chung drilled TYPEWRITER in a flat five-furlong gallop, 1:00.3, last Wednesday. He was back on the track, Monday morning, zipping seven furlongs in 1:27.2, the best he has looked this season.

In his preparation, PERFECT NEIGHBOUR, now sitting level with TYPEWRITER, 57.0 kilos, galloped six furlongs in 1:15.1, last week Monday. He returned

on Sunday and was two-fifths slower, 1:15.3, showing no improvement on his workout a week prior.

Not the fastest of horses, PERFECT NEIGBOUR will break from post-position one with TYPEWRITER next to him. Going into the clubhouse turn could get tricky for the ante-post favourite with the likes of FRANFIELD and UNCLE TAF also on his outside.

TYPEWRITER has good tactical speed in addition to stamina. From what he has shown at exercise, the six-year-old looks set to join four-time winner MENUDO and MARK MY WORD as Superstakes hat-trick heroes.