By MICHAEL GUERIN
City Rogue should be able to handle the scourge of his career a little easier at Cambridge tonight.
The outstanding southern 3-year-old is set to start favourite in the $17,500 Waikato Guineas even after copping yet another second line draw, which is quickly becoming the story of his unlucky racing life.
At his best City Rogue is as good as any of his age in New Zealand, a point reaffirmed by his courageous last start fourth in the Great Northern Derby after starting from the outside of the second line.
City Rogue originally drew barrier 11 for tonight's 2200m mobile which in a full field would have made his task an unenviable one.
But with five scratchings the field has ben reduced to eight starters, comprising five off the front line and three off the second line.
That means City Rogue should be able to secure a run handy to the pace without too much early exertion and from there he will be the horse to beat. However, he will still have to be at his peak though against a trio of Mark Purdon stars.
The trio will be headed by the greatly improved Perfect Seelster and one of the failures of the Derby in Taihape Tickler.
The latter has the stamina to put even the favourite under pressure if he can find the front although tonight will be his first start away from Alexandra Park.
Tonight's other feature, the $27,500 Flying Mile looks a Lyell Creek benefit as long as the ghost of Show Day does not return to haunt him.
On that occasion at Addington on November 17 Lyell Creek got too fired up after being crossed from barrier one, choked and galloped in the straight, ending his unbeaten streak.
With not a lot of gate speed in tonight sprint and the ace draw being a huge advantage at the mile start point Lyell Creek should hold the lead, from where he could trot a 1:56 mile and win without too many problems.
If he was to get crossed at the start it would appear only Mountain Gold has the speed to do so and that would still gift Lyell Creek the passing lane run.
Earlier in the evening a small but talented field meet in the Elliot Futurity heat where Cool Hand Luke deserves to be favourite after some luckless yet gutsy efforts at Alexandra Park in the last six weeks.
He will be well suited by the small field and 2700m distance while stablemate Hunka Hickling also looks on the improve after hitting a flat patch last month.
Their biggest danger should be Falcon Rise, who showed again with his last-start win here he is a better pacer on left-handed tracks. He has won three times from four starts at Cambridge, including smashing the national allcomers 2200m standing start record last season as a 3-year-old with a 14 length win.
Racing: Horror draw improves for outstanding Rogue
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