Sensational Move tough to beat

SENSATIONAL MOVE’s brave mid-stretch bid against speedster CALIFORNIA CROWN, after being hindered shortly after the start when last out, makes the five-year-old tough to beat among overnight-allowance winners in Saturday’s James B Dawes Memorial at five and a half furlongs.

Already drawn next-to-widest at stall 12, SENSATIONAL MOVE was boxed in shortly after the start by JOY IS GOLDEN and TALONA, causing Dane Dawkins to take a pull, effectively ending any chance he had of catching CALIFORNIA CROWN at five furlongs round two Saturdays past.

One of the most improved natives in training last season, SENSATIONAL MOVE recovered from sixth place at the half-mile marker with topweight 126lb, pulling within a length and a half of CALIFORNIA CROWN a furlong and a half out.

However, having to make his way to the rail down the backstretch after being hindered, while CALIFORNIA CROWN was relaxed on the lead with 118lb, was too much to overcome after Dawkins urged SENSATIONAL MOVE forward coming off the turn.

CALIFORNIA CROWN, last year’s 2000 Guineas winner, responded by slipping into fifth gear with his eight-pound advantage, winning in 1:00.2, but ridden out flat by Robert Halledeen inside the last half-furlong.

Dawkins accepted defeat as if saying, “We’ll be back”, confirmed by Gary Subratie’s two-week turnaround for the James B Dawes.

SENSATIONAL MOVE faces another Jason DaCosta classic winner, last year’s Hotline Stakes, Thornbird Stakes, and Oaks champion, BANADURA, a versatile runner, who kept pace with the best-of-the-best for the first half-mile in December’s Mouttet Mile.

Halledeen knows the four-year-old filly all too well, having partnered her to three of four career victories. However, DaCosta retaining the bustling rider to go at least four pounds overweight could be to the filly’s undoing against SENSATIONAL MOVE, who has kept company with hot-steppers such as Canadian ATLANTIC CONVOY, winner of the Bruceontheloose Sprint.

Philip Feanny’s imported FEARLESS FORCE returns hunting a hat-trick of wins since fitted with a visor. However, the American is up in class after beating native non-winners of four races, collaring MACK AND ROME at the wire going six furlongs.

Though eased nine pounds at the scale, FEARLESS FORCE will have to be much closer to the pace if she is to outfinish SENSATIONAL MOVE, who cruised 1:6.3 for the trip on New Year’s Day.