Tallis looks a treat if he can pull off Perfect Style
Some of the best rolling form in winter gets another chance to pay up punters at Monday's feature and rain-soaked Cessnock meeting.
For a long while now, the exclusive country-only Highway races in Sydney on Saturdays have proved juicy form references for gallopers coming in and out of metropolitan assignments.
Wyong five-year-old Perfect Style looms as Tallis' primary threat in race 5.Credit:Morgan Hancock
Again that form is under the spotlight, with last-start Highway winner Tallis looking a huge chance in a strong Class 3 Hcp over 1150m.
Admittedly, that win was via a leader's paradise on the Kensington track, but prior to that Tallis still finished only two lengths from Leo in a deeper Highway on the Randwick course proper.
However, there is a rival formline worth noting. Wyong five-year-old Perfect Style resumes off a nice trial win at home by beating Mornay, who then charged home to win a Class 2 first-up at Dubbo.
Earlier, in a competitive Class 2 Hcp (1570m) progressive, Scone-based three-year-old Rich And Shameless will test more Highway form two starts after he was well beaten behind smart Rothenburg at Rosehill before a much-improved effort in a BM 66 back at home.
And in a BM 58 Hcp to close the meeting, Scone mare Modernity was also soundly beaten in Rothenburg's Highway, but she too improved sharply in a BM 66 at home behind Eiger, who then came out and blew away a Highway field at Rosehill on Saturday.
Meanwhile, promising Newcastle three-year-old Star Raider makes his long-awaited return to the track as a gelding in a modest BM 58 Hcp over 900m for the Kris Lees yard.
A dominant winner on debut last spring, Star Raider has been well prepared through two impressive trials, and looks one of the stand-out bets on the card.
Tips supplied by Racing NSW.
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au