It won’t rival the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier boxing rematches of the 70s but Allan Hughes says he is looking forward to Twin City Soldier renewing acquaintances with Fine Equity at Carnarvon on Saturday.
Hughes is hoping The Medal of Honour gelding can reassert his dominance and turn the tables on Fine Equity after running fourth to the Zach Tyler-trained five-year-old when they clashed last month.
Twin City Soldier was on the hunt for consecutive victories after a sensational eight length win over 1200m on May 10, but he didn’t handle the drop back to 1000m and finished 3 ½ lengths adrift of Fine Equity.
Twin City Soldier gains a 4 ½ kg weight swing on Fine Equity and has the barrier advantage in the Gascoyne Bookmakers Handicap (1200m), drawing perfectly in barrier one for top apprentice Danielle Conroy.
Fine Equity, who is chasing a winning hatrick after holding out Stated by a half-head two weeks back, carries the top weight of 60.5kg with the claim of Sasha Starley and jumps from gate eight in the field of 12.
“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself and count the chickens before they hatch but there are a lot of things in his favour,” said Hughes.
“My major worry is Fine Equity who went on to score another good win after beating my horse and has a very good record at the track.
“But Twin City Soldier has had four weeks between runs, has worked well and I think he is going to be hard to beat.”
Hughes expects Light That Smile to show improvement, despite the seven-year-old already displaying positive signs this campaign.
The Hurricane Sky gelding has split his three starts with one win and two placings including a second to Tell Me This on June 8.
Hughes believes a significant weight drop, from 60kg to 54.5kg, will help offset a class rise in the Barry Evans Handicap (1400m).
“He’s had a few issues including a bruised bulb and got away from me,” said Hughes.
“He had to burn the candles at both ends last time out and blew up big.
“I think he is weighted to give a lot of cheek.”
Hughes has urged punters not to give up on Non Campus who is out to end his drought in the ANZ Carnarvon Maiden (1000m).
The Balmont four-year-old is an 16 start maiden but flashed home for a long-neck second to Catching Fire when first-up three weeks back.
“He did this to me last year but he is a year older and more mature,” said Hughes.
“He will be hard to beat.”