Blueblood rivals
BETWEEN them, three-year-old relatives Lara Mitch Lombo and Class Above Lombo have the bloodlines to claim a Breeders Crown title apiece and develop into champions.
But before those lofty dreams can be realised they will face one another in the Christies Welding Pace at Echuca tonight.
The daughter of Lombo Mandingo and Australian Pacing Gold placegetter Lady Lara Lombo, Lara Mitch Lombo is also a great granddaughter to Lombo Pocket Watch.
Class Above Lombo is even more closely related to Lombo Pocket Watch as his grandson, while he can also lay claim to being the half-brother of 62-time winner Lombo Skyrider.
Drawn the pole in just her second race start Lara Mitch Lombo has been assessed a $21 outsider by Harness Racing Victoria form expert Michael Polster, while Class Above Lombo is a $6 chance.
Rankings released
DESPITE defeating a crack field in The Gammalite last Friday night, Caribbean Blaster was elevated just one position when latest rankings for the New Zealand Cup were released earlier this week.
Originally seeded 14th for the Addington feature, Andy Gath’s Breeders Crown winner slipped as low as 15th but is now 13th and seemingly safe to secure a start on November 13.
Anthony Butt-trained six-year-old Mah Sish was the key mover, jumping from 11th to 9th courtesy of his New Brighton Cup placing behind defending NZ Cup champion Terror To Love.
Major Mark also rose two positions from 19th to 17th but remains in limbo at that ranking.
Stunin Cullen (9th to 10th), Gold Ace (10th to 11th) and Sleepy Tripp (13 to 14th) all slid slightly from their previous assessments on September 25.
Master Blaster
CARIBBEAN BLASTER will get another chance to impress NZ Cup selectors this weekend after the TAB opened him a $1.40 favourite for Friday night’s City of Melton Plate at Tabcorp Park.
Broadly recognised as one of Australia’s best four and five-year-old features, the Group 2 City of Melton Plate boasts a recent honour roll including Bitobliss, Make Mine Cullen and Bonavista Bay.
Caribbean Blaster is clearly this year’s class runner but he will face significant opposition from a field rich in class.
Former Kiwi four-year-old and impressive Graduate winner Chancellor Cullen is at $5.50 with the TAB clear of Vicbred Super Series placegetter Keayang Cullen at $7.
Bendigo based Tontine winner Saint Flash is next in commission at $14 ahead of the unbeaten Im Barney Rubble ($15), while the value player of the race may be Savesomtimetodream at ($21) after back-to back wins.
Sushi ready
AFTER recovering from a low grade virus, Sushi Sushi must now overcome a 30m handicap for first up success in the Group 3 Methven Cup this Sunday afternoon.
An impressive trial winner at Methven, a grass track 90km south-west of Christchurch last weekend, Mark Purdon’s star recruit will kick off his NZ Cup campaign in the 3000m Group 3 marathon.
Among Sushi Sushi’s rivals will be star stablemates Fly Like An Eagle and Major Mark.
Rangataua Ray and Donegal Delight will also provide stiff opposition for the former Australian Three-Year-Old of the Year along with Robert Dunn’s rising star, Kotare Yaakov.
