Rangeela returns to the scene of his all-the-way victory last time out in an attempt to win the Stock Exchange Challenge Cup at Happy Valley tonight.
The strapping Lawrie Fownes-trained four-year-old may seem an unlikely course specialist for the city track but he showed them all the proverbial clean pair of heels over 1,650 metres last time.
It was a victory in Class Four that was never really in doubt. Rangeela, strongly supported on the night, strode along confidently under Wendyll Woods and had a length and a half over Cash Fortune and Quick Speed on the line.
Quick Speed has franked that form since but Rangeela does have to contend with what can be an inhibiting rise from Class Four. A growing number of what seemed fluent Class Four winners have struggled on their immediate debuts in the higher grade, sparking considerable comment from various trainers.
Rangeela certainly looks a type with scope for improvement and Fownes has given him quite a break since his last successful run and, clearly working on the logical principle, has sent him back to where he won.
Rangeela was not missed by the handicapper and tackles this Class Three field carrying just seven pounds less weight that he was burdened with in a noticeably weaker grade.