Australian Racing: Key Legend can lock out rivals

There are four meetings set to take place on Tuesday, including at Armidale, where seven races have been scheduled.

Race 5 Armidale

Key Legend @ 2.70

Race 3 Kembla Grange

Satness @ 7.50

Race 6 Townsville

Chartwell @ 2.40

Legend for Armidale victory

The fifth race of the day at Armidale is a 1300m Benchmark 66 handicap expected to take place on a good 4 track.

Silver Halo is likely to feature prominently in the betting for the race, having registered some good efforts in defeat this prep.

Those efforts include a close second when contesting a 1262m Benchmark 66 handicap at Taree on her penultimate start.

The grey raced on a wet track on that occasion and went on to record an eighth of 14 in a 1280m Open Handicap at Muswellbrook subsequently.

Izzy Neale is set to take three kilograms off the filly’s back and, while she holds obvious claims, preference is for KEY LEGEND.

The gelding is a three-time winner this prep, including by one-and-a-half-lengths in a Class 1 handicap over 1305m at Coffs Harbour at the end of December.

This four-year-old has gone on to record two wins from his four subsequent outings, with both of those triumphs coming in Benchmark 58 handicap company at Grafton.

The son of Churchill’s most recent success saw him come home nearly a length clear of his rivals in a 1420m event held on a good 3 surface there in February.

Tony Newing’s representative has been given a short break since that success and, with the drop in distance no issue, he looks capable of following up.

Satness to salute at Kembla Grange

A good 4 track is expected at Kembla Grange with the sixth race on the card a 1400m Benchmark 64 handicap.

Colophon lost out by a narrow margin when racing over 1200m at this track on his penultimate start and he is expected to jump as favourite.

The gelding contested a Class 1 handicap on a sound surface when jumping from next to the rail that day and he performed with credit when fifth over 1400m at Kensington next time.

The son of Written Tycoon drops in grade for this contest and Michael Freedman’s representative looks to hold strong claims in this field.

Coriah Keatings’ mount SATNESS is preferred here, however, having won when racing at this level over 1600m here on his penultimate start.

The six-year-old came home nearly a length clear of his rivals when racing on a soft track that day and he came close to following up at Rosehill subsequently.

Satness lost out by half-a-length when competing in a Benchmark 72 handicap held on good going at Rosehill and he is another for whom the drop in grade is a positive.

Trained by Robert & Luke Price, the 1400m distance shouldn’t be an issue, having won and placed over this trip in the past.

The son of Sweynesse boasts a good barrier four from the rail in this contest and looks capable of recording his fifth win at this track.

Chartwell to record win at Townsville

Seven races have been programmed for Townsville, with the penultimate event a 1200m Benchmark 65 handicap.

The Rhein Sewell-trained CHARTWELL has been in good form at this venue this prep, registering four consecutive top-four finishes.

Those efforts include a narrow defeat when contesting a similar event to this over 1000m three starts back.

Chartwell went on to make amends by finishing one place better in recording the second win of his career in a 1300m Class 1 handicap event.

The five-year-old raced on a wet track that day and again encountered wet conditions when runner-up stepped up to 1400m for a Class 3 Plate event here when last in action earlier this month.

The drop back in distance is no issue here and with Justin P Stanley, on board for his win here last month up, he looks capable of returning to winning ways.