Generational to end Nelson drought

GENERATIONAL is among the mounts three-time champion jockey, Dane Nelson, will be looking to for a rally in the riders' standings after being dramatically swatted off the lead by 2019 winner, Anthony Thomas, whose barrage of winners, eight at last weekend's two-day meet, has handed him a seven-win lead atop the table.

Nelson actually started last weekend one winner ahead of a seemingly inconspicuous Thomas, 45-44, before all hell broke loose, sentencing the 2012-14 riders' champion to three consecutive meets without a win whereas his rival went on a rampage.

Having secured hot mounts on Saturday's 10-race card, Nelson should not only break his barren spell but also reignite the rivalry among the barns of 18-time champion trainer Wayne DaCosta and leader Anthony Nunes, who defeated him last season to lift his first crown.

Local-bred

Nelson is aboard Nunes' non-winner-of-two, local-bred GENERATIONAL, in the five-and-a-half furlong sprint for three-year-olds whereas Thomas has the leg up on DaCosta's imported maiden, WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF, who ran a big race with the tongue tie removed in the Miracle Cure Sprint two Saturdays ago, finishing fourth in a four-way photo won by ALEXA'S LODGE.

GENERATIONAL's form, before and after getting off the mark on July 25, has been littered with return winners. Though he finished fourth in back-to-back races since beating CITY COUNSEL at five and a half furlongs, the likes of FEARLESS CHAMPION, SHEPANZA and BASILICUS emerged as winners from both events, leaving GENERATIONAL to frank the form.

A hot pace is expected with WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF renewing rivalry with DOUBLE JEOPARDY, who had inherited the lead in the Miracle Cure Sprint from PRINCESS KYRA before both were cut down by ALEXA'S LODGE near the wire.

WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF's stablemate, CASUAL AFFAIR, is also a useful sprinter, so too Richard Azan's VOYTEK, both having raced prominently against winner BASILICUS at four furlongs straight on September 6.

Nelson has been aboard GENERATIONAL for his last three races and knows the lay of the land, how to keep out of trouble in what will be a mad rush to the half-mile.

Though WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF appears improved, GENERATIONAL has kept stronger company and was particularly impressive when beaten into fourth by GREEN GOLD RUSH, FEARLESS CHAMPION and SHEPANZA at seven furlongs, showing grit to the furlong pole where he was eventually collared.