Rusty for Heroes Day Stakes

RUSTY has always had POSITIVE ID’s ticket, even in route races, beating him at nine furlongs and 25 yards last December, leaving the closer among non-winners-of-two races.

After graduating from non-winners-of-two in January with a mile victory over HEAVENLY GLITTER, it took POSITIVE ID seven months to win a non-winner of three, bullying the same filly at a distance in his favour, pulling clear to win by nine and a quarter lengths.

Renewing rivalry with a sharpened RUSTY at a mile in Monday’s Heroes Day Stakes, POSITIVE ID will have trouble keeping pace when the accelerators are pressed at the half-mile marker.

Even though it took RUSTY nine months to conquer non-winners-of-three, it should be noted that he had gone off on a four-month break, returning in April after beating HEAVENLY GLITTER and POSITIVE ID last December.

RUSTY’s April run among non-threes was followed by a second four-month lay-up, returning up in class among non-fours, placing a respectable fourth behind SWEET MAJESTY, POSITIVE ID and REGAL AND ROYAL.

POSITIVE ID has been racing almost twice per month all year, three times in August, the third being his second-place finish behind SWEET MAJESTY when RUSTY reported off his second four-month break.

POSITIVE ID needs a fast pace to pounce on short runners. However, RUSTY is much fitter after clocking 1:39.2 to dismiss KHAI ALEXIS at a mile a month ago.

RUSTY should use his pace to get the first run on IANNAI LINKS, who won at seven and a half furlongs two Saturdays ago. IANNAI LINKS was no match for RUSTY in his previous race, beaten 15 lengths by the middle-distance pacer.