Race 5 - WOODLANDS STUD BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 21 (2YO COLTS & GELDINGS) FINAL (GROUP 1)

How does one adequately describe the intra-club rivalry between CENTENARIO (4) and HURRICANE HARLEY (5)? Perhaps the best analogy for those old enough to remember them is Borg vs McEnroe. CENTENARIO (4) is Borg. Like the Swedish tennis great he is slightly stonger and more psychologically stable than his counterpart here while like McEnroe HURRICANE HARLEY (5) is a freakish natural talent who can appear unstoppable on his day but can also be subject to unexpected concentration fades and moments of madness. To continue the analogy, the first set of this Group 1 final will mean plenty. If HURRICANE HARLEY (5) burns his adversary off in the early stages as he did in a heat of the Vicbred Super Series he can lead or trail and should win wither way but if CENTENARIO (4) holds Harley wide the race is squarely on his racquet. The major advantage for HURRICANE HARLEY (5) aside from his brilliant high end speed is the fact that he can come off speed and still prevail while his rival probably can’t. There is a fair gap between that pair and the rest though IM ANOTHERPMASTERPIECE (9) went well enough last weekend to suggest he won’t be far away and HARDHITTER (8) still has his fans despite appearing a half-step off his more brilliant stablemates.