Floral Insight at peak for metro return

Wednesday 24 April 2013, 2:39pm

It took a course record to beat Floral Insight the last time he raced at Warwick Farm and his trainer is certain the country sprinter is the same form for his return to the track on Thursday.

Floral Insight has 61kg in the El Alamein Handicap (1000m) but despite a record that shows he has been a proven weight carrier in most of his 11 wins, trainer Jim Delaney opted for apprentice Sam Clipperton's 2kg claim.

"I'd like a few more of him around the stable," Delaney said. "I can't remember him ever letting me down."

The only city win on Floral Insight's CV was posted at Warwick Farm in December 2011 and it was also the venue for one of his best performances in defeat.

As he usually does, Floral Insight mixed it with the speed until he conceded late in a 1000m race in January when placed third to Sessions.

"They ran a course record that day and he broke the Port Macquarie course record when he resumed so he's going as well as ever," Delaney said.

It could be a provincial speedster with a big pull in the weights who is also in record-breaking form who might pose the biggest danger to Floral Insight.

Watch The Magic has set track records in recent short-course wins at Wyong and Newcastle and he will carry just 52kg after Shaun Guymer's claim.

Out-of-town form from a different angle also promises to hold the key to the race with recent Canberra dead-heaters Diamond To Pegasus and Shamus renewing acquaintances.

They shared the spoils in the Camarena Quality on Black Opal Stakes day last month and they meet on the same terms on Thursday.

Tony McEvoy is planning on taking a small team to Brisbane for winter carnival assignments including import Mouro, who has his second-up start in the Anzac Day Handicap (1600m).

"I'm considering taking him north to Brisbane," McEvoy said. "I want to get him to 2000 metres."

Mouro finished midfield first-up over 1400m at Randwick where his condition just gave out, but McEvoy said he had come on nicely since.

– AAP

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