Paul Lafferty was bullish about the chances of his charge Dark Moon Rising in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting 1900 to be run on the Greyville turf on Saturday.

He said about the progressive four-year-old Ideal World gelding, “He only got going late in the Sledgehammer (0,8 length third) and now it is 100m further. His best trip will be 2400m. He is doing well at home and is improving all the time.”

This rangy sort is officially the worst weighted horse in the race, which is run under merit rated band conditions. He is 5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse Fort Ember and 2,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted male horse, It’s My Turn. However, the merit ratings can be misleading due to the number of sub-rules which bind the handicappers. Furthermore, typical of the progeny of Ideal World, he is improving all the time and has cracked another plum draw of two. His Sledgehammer pilot Craig Zackey keeps the ride.

By David Thiselton

Featured Image: Dark Moon Rising (Candiese Marnewick)