Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer
RICHARD AZAN'S FLORENCE gets the ideal distance in this afternoon's Cup race, the Dr Clifford Grey Memorial at 1300 metres for three-year-old maidens.
FLORENCE showed her preference for middle-distance events last time out, losing at 1400m in a driving finish to CALVIN THE GREAT on June 14.
Azan's filly renews her rivalry with ROYAL DREAMER and A TASTE OF RILEYS, both of whom she had behind her that afternoon.
A TASTE OF RILEYS showed more speed at a mile on Saturday, when fitted with the visor by trainer Richard Phillips, duelling PIECE A FOOT into the lane before being relegated to third, early in the stretch run, by MAHARANI.
Phillips has gone a step further and will have A TASTE OF RILEYS administered lasix for the first time as he seeks every advantage possible for the trophy event.
However, FLORENCE seems to have more pace, which should allow her first run on the speedsters, ABHIRAJ, KING OF THE TRACK, DOLLA WIN and RENATA.
She should also relish the reduction in journey from 1400 to 1300m. Trevor Simpson should do the rest and get her home.
Meanwhile, Super-6 and Pick-9 players hunting what should be massive jackpots due to carryovers of $1.2 million and $16 million respectively, should look to Lawrence Freemantle's I AM PAID FOR as a five-star banker in the seventh race at 1820m.
Outclassed among Overnight Allowance runners on June 7, I AM PAID FOR reports down in class and working reasonably well to put away $390,000 claimers at his favourite distance.
Throw I AM PAID FOR's last run out the window and note his third-place finish to STRONG DELIVERY and UNLEADED at 1820m on May 31 and a fifth-place run behind CHADMAN, UNLEADED and DR SOCRATES on May 3.
Freemantle watched the staying six-year-old gelding gallop a half-mile out of the chute in 50.0 last Friday morning and should be reasonably satisfied with that blowout.
Richie Mitchell has been supremely confident aboard his mounts of late and I AM PAID FOR's running style, from off the pace, should suit him well.
Look out for GABROUSHE
Look out for Azan's GABROU-SHE in the one-mile third event for which DaCosta's GOOD HOPE should start favourite.
GABROUSHE is a likely upsetter. He was spotted making a sweeping move leaving the three-furlong pole on last when finishing fourth behind HOMBRE, PRIDE'N'GLORY and RAHMAN at 1820m on June 21.
GABROUSHE stayed third to well inside the final furlong before PRIDE'N'GLORY came with his one-paced run. Now going a mile, GABROUSHE should track the speedy PLEASURE FLIGHT, who could run GOOD HOPE into the ground.
Elsewhere on the card, PRINCESS SHEILA gets the nod for the Overnight Allowance event at 1100m after catching the eye last week, closing best of the rest for second behind course specialist NASATOL at 1000m straight.
