Bruce Wayne aims at Saratoga Sight

BRUCE WAYNE was forced to change lanes midway the stretch run to avoid a bumping match a furlong out, yet still managed to finish ahead of SARATOGA SIGHT, who had turned for home challenging the leaders at a mile two Saturdays ago, setting up what should be an interesting rematch in Thursday's Ren Gonsalves Trophy.

Even-money favourite SARATOGA SIGHT appeared as though he would have swept past rivals after making his move at the half-mile marker, swinging into the lane five-wide and full of running. However, unable to see from his right eye, he bumped into LOTTERY TICKET when apprentice Tevin Foster applied the whip before getting a taste of his own medicine, a chain reaction sparked by MY ELLE BELLE slamming unlucky LOTTERY TICKET a furlong out.

Having a ringside view of the bumping match, Linton Steadman shifted seventh-into-the-lane BRUCE WAYNE from behind six horses - eventual rail-scraping winner UNCLE FRANK, MY SISTER, MADAM SECRETARY, MY ELLE BELLE, LOTTERY TICKET and SARATOGA SIGHT - costing the much-improved five-year-old what would have been a better placing than third.

Nevertheless, the effort was good enough to take BRUCE WAYNE past all but the first two past the post, UNCLE FRANK and subsequently disqualified MY ELLE BELLE, as the others, including SARATOGA SIGHT, flattened out inside the last half-furlong.

THE EDGE

Going two turns, SARATOGA SIGHT's big effort on December 12, caught stealing home by HOVER CRAFT at nine furlongs and 25 yards, appears to give him the edge over BRUCE WAYNE, who has no such record in a route race. However, returning six pounds lighter with patient-as-Job Anthony Thomas gives the super-fit local-bred a sound chance.

Gary Subratie sharpened SARATOGA SIGHT Sunday morning with a half-mile gallop of 47.3, making intentions clear that the American will have to be caught. In addition, he's drawn at post-position one, which keeps his rivals within sight of his working right eye.

Despite his lack of experience at two turns, the manner in which BRUCE WAYNE rushed past SARATOGA SIGHT a furlong out at a mile suggests the local-bred is much improved and should get 10 furlongs, especially with the handicaps in his favour.