Beaten only once in five starts this term, Garth Puller’s runner Sea Urchin has been something of a late starter. The gelding has come into his own as a seven-year-old and five of his eight successes have come in his last seven starts.

He steps out under top weight in the opening leg of the Pick 6 on the Greyville poly today and there is not reason to doubt that he can go to the well again.

Sea Urchin has crept up the ratings and only got a three-point raise after his last win where he kept finding under apprentice Jason Gates. Gates will be aboard again this afternoon, this time only claiming 2.5kg, but he is a much improved rider in spite of his many brushes with the ‘law’.

Ronnie Rocket has been a soldier for Pat Lunn and he made all to beat the well-fancied Wayward over the Scottsville 1200m. The gelding gets on well with Keagan de Melo who will know exactly what he is up against have partnered Sea Urchin to victory on two occasions.

Buckleberry and Solid Gold are others to consider.

Brighteyebushytail has had to overcome a myriad of problems and was one of the worst affected by the virus that plague the stable last season. Duncan Howells appears to have nursed him back to form and he caught the eye when just out of the money behind the promising Last Of The Legend, giving the winner 6kg.

He has the steadier of 61kg in the saddle but has dropped in class so should be up to the task. Lyle Hewitson is riding up a storm of late so Zanzibarian must be a contender along with What A Scorcher, promising Clouds Of Witness and Haddington whose stable was in red-hot form on Sunday.

Hewitson and Louis Goosen teamed up with Jo Mambo to close off the meeting on Sunday and Duke’s Dozen looks set to make a winning debut for his new stable as he is stepped up to what looks to be a more suitable trip given his pedigree. He was touched off over a mile on the poly last time out and rates the one to beat.

The seventh is a wide open affair with any number of runners in with solid winning chances. The Private only got going when the race was all but over last time and the extra furlong could be more to his liking. But he will face serious challengers in Noble Joshua, Sovereign Soldier, Victorious Man and local debutant Gimmie A Cohiba to name but a few contenders.

Punters face a similar dilemma in the last, another extremely competitive handicap. Paul Gadsby could hold the key here with Arrow’s Mark. The gelding has his third run after a lay-off and takes a drop in trip. He also has a pedigree that suggests that the poly track may be his forte and Gadsby has declared blinkers on his charge. Grand Maestro and recent maiden winner Maa Nonu look possible threats.

By Andrew Harrison